a moment he could amend it, but that by all returning to the Fort
we might, perhaps, have better success in hunting; with this view
I despatched Belanger, much against his inclination, and told him to
return as quickly as possible to a place about four miles further on,
where we intended to fish, and to await his arrival. The men were
so weak this day, that I could get neither of them to move from the
encampment; and it was only necessity that compelled them to cut
wood for fuel, in performing which operation Beauparlant’s face
became so dreadfully swelled that he could scarcely see; I myself
lost my temper on the most trivial circumstances, and was become
very peevish; the day was fine but cold, with a freezing north-east
wind. We had nothing to eat.
October 15.—The night was calm and clear, but it was not before
two in the afternoon that we set out; and the one was so weak, and
the other so full of complaints, that we did not get more than three-
quarters of a mile from our last encampment, before we were obliged
to put up; but in this distance we were fortunate enough to kill a
partridge, the bones of which were eaten, and the remainder reserved
for baits to fish with. We, however, collected sufficient tripe
de roche to make a meal; and I anxiously awaited Belanger’s return,
to know what course to take. I was now so much reduced, that my
shoulders were as if they would fall from my body, my legs seemed
unable to support me, and in the disposition in which I then found
myself, had it not been for the remembrance of my friends behind,
who relied on me for relief, as well as the persons of whom I had
charge, I certainly should have preferred remaining where I was, to
the miserable pain of attempting to move.
October 16.—We waited until two in the afternoon for Belanger;
but not seeing any thing of him on the lake, we set out, purposing
to encamp at the Narrows, the place which was said to be so good
for fishing, and where, according to St. Germain’s account, the
Indians never failed to catch plenty; its distance at most could not
be more than two miles. We had not proceeded far before Beau-
parlant began to complain of increasing weakness; but this was so
usual with us that no particular notice was taken of it, for in fact
there was little difference, all being alike feeble: among other
things, he said, whilst we were resting, that he should never get
beyond the next encampment, for his strength had quite failed him.
I endeavoured to encourage him by explaining the mercy of the
Supreme Being, who ever beholds with an eye of pity those that
seek his aid. This passed as common discourse, when he inquired
where we were to put up; St. Germain pointed to a small clump of
pines near us, the only place indeed that offered for fuel. “ Well,
replied the poor man, “ take your axe, Mr. Back, and I will follow at
my leisure, I shall join you by the time the encampment is made.”
This is a usual practice of the country, and St. Germain and myself
went on towards the spot; it was five o’clock and not very cold, but
rather milder than we had experienced it for some time, when on
leaving the ice, we saw a number of crows perched on the top of
some high pines near us. St. Germain immediately said there must
be some dead animal thereabouts, and proceeded to search, when we
saw several heads of deer half buried in the snow and ice, without
eyes or tongues: the previous severity of the weather having obliged
the wolves and other animals to abandon them. An expression of
“ Oh merciful God! we are saved,” broke from us both; and with
feelings more easily imagined than described, we shook hands, not
knowing what to say for joy. It was twilight, and a fog was rapidly
darkening the surface of the lake, when St. Germain commenced
making the encampment; the task was too laborious for me to
render him any assistance, and had we not thus providentially found
provision, I feel convinced that the next twenty-four hours would
have terminated my existence. But this good fortune in some
renovated me for the moment, and putting out my whole
3 Q 2 measure