In the evening Michel returned, having met with no success.
Next day he refused either to hunt or cut wood, spoke in a very surly manner, and threatened to leave us.

Under these circumstances Mr.Hood and I deemed it better to promise if he would hunt diligently for four days that then we would give Hepburn a letter for Mr.Franklin, a compass, inform him what course to pursue, and let them proceed together to the fort.

The non-arrival of the Indians to our relief now led us to fear that some accident had happened to Mr.Franklin, and we placed no confidence in the exertions of the Canadians that accompanied him but we had the fullest confidence in Hepburn's returning the moment he could obtain assistance.
On the 17th I went to conduct Michel to where Vaillant's blanket was left and after walking about three miles pointed out the hills to him at a distance, and returned to the hut, having gathered a bagful of tripe de roche on the way.

It was easier to gather this weed on a march than at the tent, for the exercise of walking produced a glow of heat which enabled us to withstand for a time the cold to which we were exposed in scraping the frozen surface of the rocks.

On the contrary when we left the fire to collect it in the neighbourhood of the hut we became chilled at once and were obliged to return very quickly.
Michel proposed to remain out all night and to hunt next day on his way back.