On the 3d June, the whole of the men came in from the fishery, and brought with them the melancholy tidings, that the Indians had been at Fort Resolution without hearing anything about poor Williamson, who, it was now conjectured, must have got bewildered among the islands away from the track, or met with some accident so as to incapacitate him from making a fire, and thereby indicating his situation. The remains of Augustus also had been discovered not far from the Rivière à Jean. It appeared that the gallant little fellow was retracing his steps to the establishment, when, either exhausted by suffering and privation, or caught in the midst of an open traverse in one of those terrible snow storms which may be almost said to blow through the frame, he had sunk to rise no more. was the miserable end of poor Augustus!-a faithful, disinterested, kind-hearted creature, who had won the regard not of myself only, but I may add of Sir John Franklin and Dr. Richardson also, by qualities, which, wherever found, in the lowest as in the highest forms of social life, are the ornament and charm of humanity. Such These were not very cheering auspices for the eve of our departure; but past griefs must yield to present necessities, and the sharpness of the feeling gradually wore off under the pressure of mental and bodily occupation. By the 5th June, I had got Mr. McLeod, the Indians, and all the men but three, from the Fort. It was arranged that the former, with a chosen party, should precede us to hunt, and should make caches of meat along the line of route, so as to save the pemmican; while the other Indians, with part of the men, should assist in dragging the baggage. One Indian was left with us as a guide; but his friends were scarcely out of sight, when he began deliberately to pack up, with the intention of following them. This caprice (for he had remained voluntarily) was owing, it seemed, to distrust of the constancy of his young wife, who was somewhere to the north; and it was only by threatening to discharge him altogether from the service, that I could prevail on him to stay. We had in vain tried every allurement to induce some Indian family to remain and take care of the establishment during the absence of Mr. McLeod: no temptation was strong enough to entice the poorest among them to accept of so dangerous a trust; all agreeing that it would be impossible to procure a livelihood there at this season of the year. No more convincing proof can be given of the wretched poverty of the country; for the people will suffer any privation short of death to obtain their favourite tobacco, ammunition, and clothing; and as it is acknowledged that an Indian can live where a wolf would starve, the neighbourhood of our residence must be a miserable spot indeed. I was consequently obliged to trust to chance for the safety of the papers containing the observations, journal, drawings, and survey. A platform was erected in the hall, on which the remainder of our stores were deposited, and carefully secured against wet, and marauding wolvereens. Some things were lowered into a cellar, the opening of which was closed and nailed down. The stronger boxes were piled into a heap, and covered with a tarpaulin; and a very small quantity of brandy, which we were unable to take, though not unwilling, had economy permitted, to drink, was buried "full fathom five"-then, and not till then, being considered safe from biped or quadruped, Indian or bear. It now only remained to block up the windows and doors; which done, the four persons remaining with me, including the guide, were laden with burdens of ninety pounds each, and two dogs, equipped with saddle bags, carrying meat for the journey; and thus appointed, I left Fort Reliance, accompanied by Mr. King, a little past noon of the 7th June. 256 CHAP. IX. Reflections. Halt for the Night. March resumed. Obstacles encountered. - The Boats finished. - Eastern Shore of Artillery Lake. - Pursue the Track of Mr. McLeod. Two Deer shot. Stunted Pines. Encampment. Difficulty in tracing our Route.News from Mr. McLeod. - A Snow Storm.- Fires lighted on the Hills. Accident to Peter Taylor. Deviate from our Course. Accident to James Spence. Boisterous Weather. - Plunder of a Cache. the runaway Guides. The Ice unsafe. Find Enter upon Lake Aylmer. A dense Fog. -Sand-hill Bay. - THERE is something exciting in the first start even upon an ordinary journey. The bustle of preparation - the act of departing, which seems like a decided step taken the prospect of change, and consequent stretching out of the imagination—have at all times the effect of stirring the blood, and giving a quicker motion to the spirits. It may be conceived then with what sensations I set forth on my journey into the Arctic wilderness. I had escaped from the wretchedness of a dreary and disastrous win ter-from scenes and tales of suffering and death from wearisome inaction and monotony from disappointment and heart-sickening care. Before me were novelty and enterprise; hope, curiosity, and the love of adventure were my companions; and even the prospect of difficulties and dangers to be encountered, with the responsibility inseparable from command, instead of damping rather heightened the enjoyment of the moment. In turning my back on the Fort, I felt my breast lightened, and my spirit, as it were, set free again; and with a quick step, Mr. King and I (for my companion seemed to share in the feeling) went on our way rejoicing. Taking a northerly direction through the woods, we soon got into a succession of swamps; then ascended steep rocks; and subsequently gained a sight of the Ah-hel-dessy, which seemed in that part to be navigable, though, from the noise, it was certain that a heavy fall was not far distant. We passed many sand-hills, variegated by the arbutus plant, called, as I have elsewhere said, by the traders "sac à commis," cranberry and crowberry. These hills were generally hemmed in by broken cliffs of red feldspar and barren granitic rocks, with here and there thick masses of snow filling up their chasms, or sloping from the lower parts of ver S |