410 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



enabled to empty it, and the third attempt brought us to the shore. 

 In the mean time Belanger was suffering extremely, immersed to 

 his middle in the centre of a rapid, the temperature of which was 

 very little above the freezing point, and the upper part of his body 

 covered with wet clothes, exposed in a temperature not much above 

 zero, to a strong breeze. He called piteously for relief, and 

 St. Germain on his return endeavoured to embark him, but in vain. 

 The canoe was hurried down the rapid, and when he landed he was 

 rendered by the cold incapable of further exertion, and Adam at- 

 tempted to embark Belanger, but found it impossible. An attempt 

 was next made to carry out to him a line, made of the slings of the 

 men's loads. This also failed, the current acting so strongly upon 

 it, as to prevent the canoe from steering, and it was finally broken 

 and carried down the stream. At length, when Belanger's strength 

 seemed almost exhausted, the canoe reached him with a small cord 

 belonging to one of the nets, and he was dragged perfectly senseless 

 through the rapid. By the direction of Dr. Richardson, he was 

 instantly stripped, and being rolled up in blankets, two men un- 

 dressed themselves and went to bed with him; but it was some 

 hours before he recovered his warmth and sensations. As soon as 

 Belanger was placed in his bed, the officers immediately sent over 

 my blankets, and a person to make a fire. Augustus brought the 

 canoe over, and in returning he was obliged to descend both the 

 rapids, before he could get across the stream; which hazardous 

 service he performed with the greatest coolness and judgment. It 

 is impossible to describe my sensations as I witnessed the various 

 unsuccessful attempts to relieve Belanger. The distance prevented 

 my seeing distinctly what was going on, and I continued pacing up 

 and down upon the rock on which I landed, regardless of the 

 coldness of my drenched and stiffening garments. The canoe, in 

 every attempt to reach him, was hurried down the rapid, and was 

 lost to the view amongst the rocky islets, with a rapidity that 



