272 JOHN LEDTARD. 



fix upon a plan that would at once answer the pur- 

 poses of safety and expedition. An armed body 

 would proceed slowly, and, if they should be cut off 

 by the Indians, the loss in our present circumstances 

 would be irreparable; and a single person would 

 entirely risk his life, though he would be much 

 more expeditious if unmolested, and if he should 

 be killed the loss would be only one. The latter 

 seemed the best; but it was extremely hard to single 

 out an individual and command him to go upon 

 such an expedition ; and it was therefore thought 

 proper to send a volunteer or none. I was at this 

 time, and indeed ever after, an intimate friend of 

 John Gore, first lieutenant of the Resolution, a 

 native of America as well as myself, and superior 

 to me in command. He recommended me to Cap- 

 tain Cook to undertake the expedition, with which 

 I immediately acquiesced. Captain Cook assured 

 me that he was happy I had undertaken it, as 

 he was convinced I should persevere; and, after 

 giving me some instructions how to proceed, he 

 wished me well, and desired I would not be longer 

 absent than a week if possible, at the expiration of 

 which he should expect me to return. If I did not 

 return by that time he should wait another week 

 for me, and no longer. The young chief before 

 mentioned and his two attendants were to be my 



