pot. This night we had plenty of dry wood.

On the 29th we had clear and fine weather. We set out at sunrise, and
hurried on in our anxiety to reach the house, but our progress was much
impeded by the great depth of the snow in the valleys. Although every
spot of ground over which we travelled to-day, had been repeatedly
trodden by us, yet we got bewildered in a small lake. We took it for
Marten Lake, which was three times its size, and fancied that we saw the
rapids and the grounds about the Fort, although they were still far
distant. Our disappointment when this illusion was dispelled, by our
reaching the end of the lake, so operated on our feeble minds as to
exhaust our strength, and we decided upon encamping; but upon ascending
a small eminence to look for a clump of wood, we caught a glimpse of the
Big Stone, a well-known rock upon the summit of a hill opposite to the
Fort, and determined upon proceeding. In the evening we saw several
large herds of rein-deer, but Hepburn, who used to be{48} considered a
good marksman, was now unable to hold the gun straight, and although he
got near them all his efforts proved fruitless. In passing through a
small clump of pines we saw a flock of partridges, and he succeeded in
killing one after firing several shots. We came in sight of the Fort at
dusk, and it is impossible to describe our sensations, when on attaining
the eminence that overlooks it, we beheld the smoke issuing from one of
the chimneys. From not having met with any footsteps in the snow, as we
drew nigh our once cheerful residence, we had been agitated by many
melancholy forebodings. Upon entering the now desolate building, we had
the satisfaction of embracing Captain Franklin, but no words can convey
an idea of the filth and wretchedness that met our eyes on looking
around. Our own misery had stolen upon us by degrees, and we were
accustomed to the contemplation of each others emaciated figures, but
the ghastly countenances, dilated eye-balls, and sepulchral voices of
Captain Franklin and those with him were more than we could at first
bear.

_Conclusion of Dr. Richardson's Narrative._

* * * * *

The morning of the 31st was very cold, the wind being strong from the
north. Hepburn went again in quest of deer, and the Doctor endeavoured
to kill some partridges: both were unsuccessful. A large herd of deer
passed close to the house, the Doctor fired once at them, but was unable