I had no success as yesterday's snow-drift was so frozen on the surface of the rocks that I could not collect any of the weed, but on my return to the tent I found that Michel the Iroquois had come with a note from Mr.Franklin which stated that, this man and Jean Baptiste Belanger being unable to proceed, were about to return to us, and that a mile beyond our present encampment there was a clump of pine-trees to which he recommended us to remove the tent.

Michel informed us that he quitted Mr.Franklin's party yesterday morning but that having missed his way he had passed the night on the snow a mile or two to the northward of us.

Belanger he said, being impatient, left the fire about two hours earlier and, as he had not arrived, he supposed must have gone astray.

It will be seen in the sequel that we had more than sufficient reason to doubt the truth of this story.
Michel now produced a hare and a partridge which he had killed in the morning.

This unexpected supply of provision was received by us with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty for His goodness, and we looked upon Michel as the instrument He had chosen to preserve all our lives.