moderate-sized lake, which lay in our track, but we found this
operation far more harassing. As the surface of the ice was perfectly
smooth, we slipped at almost every step, and were frequently
blown down by the wind, with such force as to shake our whole
frames.
Poor Fontano was completely exhausted by the labour of this
traverse, and we made a halt until his strength was recruited, by
which time the party was benumbed with cold. Proceeding again,
he got on tolerably well for a little time; but being again seized
with faintness and dizziness, he fell often, and at length exclaimed
that he could go no further. We immediately stopped, and endeavoured
to encourage him to persevere, until we should find some
willows to encamp; he insisted, however, that he could not march
any longer through this deep snow; and said, that if he should even
reach our encampment this evening, he must be left there, provided
tripe de roche could not be procured to recruit his strength. The
poor man was overwhelmed with grief, and seemed desirous to remain
at that spot. We were about two miles from the place where the
other men had been left, and as the track to it was beaten, we proposed
to him to return thither, as we thought it probable he would
find the men still there; at any rate, he would be able to get fuel to
keep him warm during the night; and, on the next day, he could
follow their track to the officer’s tent; and, should the path be
covered by the snow, the pines we had passed yesterday would guide
him, as they were yet in view.
I cannot describe my anguish on the occasion of separating from
another companion under circumstances so distressing. There was,
however, no alternative. The extreme debility of the rest of the
party put the carrying him quite out of the question, as he himself
admitted; and it was evident that the frequent delays he must
occasion if he accompanied us, and did not gain strength, would
endanger the fives of the whole. By returning he had the prospect
of getting to the tent where tripe de roche could be obtained, which
agreed with him better than with any other of the party, and which
he was always very assiduous in gathering. After some hesitation,
he determined on going back, and set out, having bid each of us
farewell in the tenderest manner. We watched him with inexpressible
anxiety for some time, and were rejoiced to find, though
he got on slowly, that he kept on his legs better than before.
Antonio Fontano was an Italian, and had served many years in
De Meuron’s regiment. He had spoken to me that very morning,
and after his first attack of dizziness, about his father; and had
begged, that should he survive, I would take him with me to
England, and put him in the way of reaching home.
The party was now reduced to five persons, Adam, Peltier, Benoit,
Samandre, and myself. Continuing the journey, we came, after an
hour’s walk, to some willows, and encamped under the shelter of a
rock, having walked in the whole four miles and a half. We made
an attempt to gather some tripe de roche, but could not, owing to
the severity of the weather. Our supper, therefore, consisted of tea
and a few morsels of leather.
Augustus did not make his appearance, but we felt no alarm at
his absence, supposing he would go to the tent if he missed our
track Having fire, we procured a little sleep. Next morning the
breeze was fight and the weather mild, which enabled us to collect
some tripe de roche, and to enjoy the only meal we had had for four
days. We derived great benefit from it, and walked with considerably
more ease than yesterday. Without the strength it supplied,
we s h o u ld certainly have been unable to oppose the. strong breeze we
met in the afternoon. After walking about five miles, we came upon
the borders of Marten Lake, and were rejoiced to find it frozen, so that
we could continue our course straight for Fort Enterprise. We
encamped at the first rapid in Winter Giver amidst willows and
alders; but these were so frozen, and the snow fell so thick, that the