he had wintered
last year; but imagine my surprise when he gave me a note from the
Commander, and said that Benoit and Augustus, two of the men, had just
joined them. The note was so confused, by the pencil marks being partly
rubbed out, that I could not decipher it clearly; but it informed me,
that he had attempted to come with the two men, but finding his strength
inadequate to the task, he relinquished his design, and returned to Fort
Enterprise, to await relief with the others. There was another note for
the gentleman in charge of Fort Providence, desiring him to send meat,
blankets, shoes, and tobacco. Akaitcho wished me to join him on the
ensuing day, at a place which the boy knew, where they were going to
fish; and I was the more anxious to do so, on account of my companions:
but particularly that I might hear a full relation of what had happened,
and of the Commander's true situation, which I suspected to be much
worse than he had described.

In the afternoon I joined the Indians, and repeated to Akaitcho what St.
Germain had told him; he seemed much affected, and said, he would have
sent relief directly, though I had not been there; indeed, his conduct
was generous and humane. The next morning, at an early hour, three
Indians, with loaded sledges of meat, skins, shoes, and a blanket, set
out for Fort Enterprise; one of them was to return directly with an
answer from Captain Franklin, to whom I wrote; but in the event of his
death, he was to bring away all the papers he could find; and he
promised to travel with such haste, as to be able to return to us on the
fourth day. I was now somewhat more at ease, having done all in my power
to succour my unfortunate companions; but was very anxious for the
return of the messenger. The Indians brought me meat in small
quantities, though sufficient for our daily consumption; and, as we had
a little ammunition, many were paid on the spot for what they gave.

On the 9th I had the satisfaction of seeing the Indian arrive from Fort
Enterprise. At first he said they were all dead, but shortly after he
gave me a note, which was from the Commander, and then I learned all the
fatal particulars which had befallen them. I now proposed that the Chief
should immediately send three sledges, loaded with meat, to Fort
Enterprise, should make a _cache_ of provision at our present
encampment, and also, that he should here await the arrival of the
Commander. By noon two large trains, laden