Chap. X. FRANKLIN AND RICHARDSON'S JOURNEY, 391 



declared themselves unable to proceed, and begged 

 most earnestly to go back to the party left be- 

 hind, which was granted. Two more were seized 

 with dizziness, and betrayed other symptoms of 

 extreme debility ; one of them, bursting into tears, 

 declared his inability to go on, and the other, the 

 next day, was completely exhausted ; each, at his 

 own request, was permitted to return to Dr. 

 Richardson's encampment, where fire and rock- 

 tripe were to be obtained. One of them, however 

 (Michel the Iroquois), only arrived; the other three 

 were no more heard of; and fortunate indeed would 

 it have been if the survivor had perished with the 

 rest. 



Franklin's party was now reduced to five ; the 

 last that parted from him was one of the most faith- 

 ful, and for whom he had a sincere regard ; his name 

 Antonio Fontano, an Italian, who had served many 

 years in De Meuron's regiment. The poor fellow, 

 on taking leave, had entreated Franklin, should he 

 survive, to take him to England, to put him in the 

 way of reaching home. The five remaining were, 

 Franklin, Adam, Peltier, Benoit, and Samandre. 

 The sufferings on the journey met with no alle- 

 viation, till that of the last day, when they enjoyed 

 the comfort of a large fire, the first deserving that 

 name since leaving the coast; but there was no 

 tripe de roche ; " and we drank tea and ate some 

 of our shoes for supper." " The next morning/' 



