On the following morning the rain had so wasted the snow that the tracks of Mr.
Back and his companions, who had gone before with the hunters, were traced with difficulty, and the frequent showers during the day almost obliterated them.

The men became furious at the apprehension of being deserted by the hunters and some of the strongest, throwing down their bundles, prepared to set out after them, intending to leave the more weak to follow as they could.

The entreaties and threats of the officers however prevented their executing this mad scheme, but not before Solomon Belanger was despatched with orders for Mr.Back to halt until we should join him.

Soon afterwards a thick fog came on, but we continued our march and overtook Mr.Back, who had been detained in consequence of his companions having followed some recent tracks of deer.

After halting an hour, during which we refreshed ourselves with eating our old shoes and a few scraps of leather, we set forward in the hope of ascertaining whether an adjoining piece of water was the Copper-Mine River or not, but were soon compelled to return and encamp for fear of a separation of the party, as we could not see each other at ten yards' distance.