of the day. As the insides of our mouths had become sore from
eating the bone-soUp, we relinquished the use of it, and now boiled
the skin, which mode of dressing we found more palatable than
frying it, as we had hitherto done.
On the 29th, Peltier felt his pains more severe, and could only
cut a few pieces of wood. SamandrC, who was still almost as weak,
relieved him a little time, and I aided them in carrying in the wood.
We endeavoured to pick some tripe de roche, but in vain, as it was
entirely frozen. In turning up the snow, in searching for bones, I
found several pieces of bark, which proved a valuable acquisition, as
we were almost destitute of dry wood proper for kindling the fire.
We saw a herd of rein-deer sporting on the river, about half a mile
from the house; they remained there a long time, but none of the
party felt themselves strong enough to go after them, nor was there
one of us who could have fired a gun without resting it.
Whilst we weTe seated round the fire this evening, discoursing
about the anticipated relief, the conversation was suddenly interrupted
by Peltier’s exclaiming with joy, “ Ah! le monde!” imagining
that he heard the Indians in the other room; immediately afterwards,
to his bitter disappointment, Dr. Richardson and Hepburn
entered, each carrying his bundle. Peltier, however, soon recovered
himself enough to express his delight at their safe arrival, and his
regret that their companions were not with them. When I saw
them alone my own mind was instantly filled with apprehensions
respecting my friend Hood, and our other companions, which were
immediately confirmed by the Doctor’s melancholy communication,
that Mr. Hood and Michel were dead. Perrault and Fontano had
neither reached the tent, nor been heard of by them. This intelligence
produced a melancholy despondency in the minds of my
party, and on that account the particulars were deferred until
another opportunity. We were all shocked at beholding the emaciated
countenances of the Doctor and Hepburn, as they strongly
evidenced their .extremely, debilitated state. The alteration in our
appearance was equally distressing to them, for since the swellings
had subsided we were little more than skin and bone. The Doctor
particularly remarked the sepulchral tone of our voices, which he
requested us to .make more cheerful if possible, unconscious that
his own partook of the same key.
Hepburn. having shot a partridge, which was brought to the
house, the Doctor tore out the feathers, and having held it to the
fire a few minutes divided it into six portions. I and my three
companions ravenously devoured our shares, as it was the first
morsel of flesh any of us had tasted for thirty-one days, unless,
indeed, the small grizzly particles which we found occasionally adhering
to the pounded bones may be termed flesh. Our spirits
were revived by this small supply, and the Doctor endeavoured to
raise them still higher by the prospect of Hepburn’s being able to
kill a deer next day, as they had seen, and even fired at, several near
the house.. He endeavoured, too, to rouse us into some attention
to the comfort of our apartment, and particularly to roll up, in the
day, our blankets, which (expressly for the convenience of Adam and
Samandre) we had been in the habit of leaving by the fire where we
lay on; them. The Doctor having brought his prayer, book and
testament, some prayers .and psalms, and portions of scripture, appropriate
to our situation, were read, and we retired to bed.
Next morning the Doctor and Hepburn went out early in search
of deer; but though they saw several herds and fired some shots,
they were not so fortunate as to kill any, being too weak to hold
their guns steadily. The cold compelled the former to return soon,
but Hepburn persisted until late in the evening.
My occupation was to search for skins under the snow, it being
now our object immediately to got all that we could, but I had not
strength to drag in more than two of those which were within
twenty yards of the house, until the Doctor came and assisted me.