OF THE POLAR SEA. 



469 



November 9.— This morning was pleasantly fine. Crooked-Foot 

 caught four large trout in Winter Lake, which were very much 

 prized, especially by the Doctor and myself, who had taken a dislike 

 to meat, in consequence of our sufferings from repletion, which 

 rendered us almost incapable of moving. Adam and Hepburn in 

 a good measure escaped this. Though the night was stormy, and 

 our apartment freely admitted the wind, we felt no inconvenience, 

 the Indians were so very careful in covering us up, and in keeping 

 a good fire ; and our plentiful cheer gave such power of resisting 

 the cold, that we could scarcely believe otherwise than that the 

 season had become milder. 



On the 13th, the weather was stormy, with constant snow. The 

 Indians became desponding at the non-arrival of the supply, and 

 would neither go to hunt or fish. They frequently expressed their 

 fears of some misfortune having befallen Boudel-kell ; and, in the 

 evening, went off suddenly, without apprizing us of their intention, 

 having first given to each of us a handful of pounded meat, which 

 they had reserved. Their departure, at first, gave rise to a suspi- 

 cion of their having deserted us, not meaning to return, especially 

 as the explanations of Adam, who appeared to be in their secret, 

 were very unsatisfactory. At length, by interrogations, we got from 

 him the information, that they designed to march night and day, 

 until they should reach Akaitcho's encampment, whence they would 

 send us aid. As we had combated their fears about Boudel-kell, 

 they, perhaps, apprehended that we should oppose their determina- 

 tion, and therefore concealed it. We were now left a second time 

 without food, and with appetites recovered, and strongly excited by 

 recent indulgence. 



On the following day the Doctor and Hepburn resumed their 

 former occupation of collecting wood, and I was able to assist a 

 little in bringing it into the house. Adam, whose expectation of 

 the arrival of the Indians had been raised by the fineness of the 



