422 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



spring. It was putrid, but it was little less acceptable to uswi that 

 account, in our present circumstances ; and a fire being kindled, a 

 large portion of it was devoured on the spot, affording us an un- 

 expected breakfast, for in order to husband our small remaining 

 portion of meat, we had agreed to make only one scanty meal a day. 

 The men, cheered by this unlooked-for supply, became sanguine in 

 the hope of being able to cross the stream on a raft of willows, 

 although they had before declared such a project impracticable, and 

 they unanimously entreated us to return back to the rapid, a request 

 which accorded with our own opinion, and was therefore acceded 



to. Credit and Junius, however, were missing, and it was also 

 necessary to send notice of our intention to Mr. Back and his party. 

 Augustus being promised a reward, undertook the task, and we 

 agreed to wait for him at the rapid. It was supposed he could 

 not fail meeting with the two stragglers on his way to or from 

 Mr. Back, as it was likely they would keep on the borders of the 

 lake. He accordingly set out after Mr. Back, whilst we returned 

 about a mile towards the rapid, and encamped in a deep valley 

 amongst some large willows. We supped on the remains of the 

 putrid deer, and the men having gone to the spot where it was 

 found, scraped together the contents of its intestines which were 

 scattered on the rock, and added them to their meal. We also 

 enjoyed the luxury to-day of eating a large quantity of excellent 

 blue-berries and cran-berries, (vaccinium uliginosum and v. vitis 

 idaaj which were laid bare by the melting of the snow, but 

 nothing could allay our inordinate appetites. 



In the night we heard the report of Credit's gun in answer to our 

 signal muskets, and he rejoined us in the morning, but we got no in- 

 telligence of Junius. We set out about an hour after daybreak, and 

 encamped at two P.M. between the rapids, where the river 

 about one hundred and thirty yards wide, being its narrowest part. 



Eight deer were seen by Michel and Credit, who loitered behind 



was 



