^42 UNCERTAIN FATE OF AUGUSTUS. 



Three days after the arrival of this sad news 

 the other part of the packet was brought by one 

 of my former men, who had been guided by an 

 Indian ; and I then learned from Mr. M c Donell, 

 the gentleman in charge of Fort Resolution, that 

 on the arrival of the Canadian and Iroquois 

 without Augustus, he had the same day de- 

 spatched two more Iroquois with plenty of pro- 

 vision, and instructions to follow the same track, 

 search for Augustus, and, if found, conduct him 

 to us. But, strange to say, after a similar lapse 

 of time, viz. eighteen days, these two men also 

 made their appearance at the Fort; and Mr. 

 M c Donell had the mortification to hear that; 

 they, like the first, had got bewildered, and 

 having exhausted their provisions were com- 

 pelled to explore their way back. An Indian, 

 who happened to be with him at the time, was 

 engaged as a guide to the present bearer ; and 

 he added, " I hope the packet will reach you 

 safe at last, As no one has come hither from 

 you, I apprehend that poor Augustus has been 

 starved to death." There was, indeed, every 

 reason to fear the worst ; but the account of his 

 companions, that they had heard the report of 

 two or three guns in the direction of the place 

 where they had left him, afforded me a feeble 

 hope that he might have fallen in with some 

 party, and be yet alive. As far as was in my 

 power I circulated the fact among the Indians, 



