758 THE VOYAGE OF THE JE ANNETTE. 



Ordered tea made and pemmican served out. We 

 opened our last can (forty-five pounds), and in order to 

 make it hold out as long as possible, I so cut it that it 

 must suffice for four days' food. Then we are at the 

 end of our provisions, and must eat the dog, unless 

 Providence sends something in our way. When the 

 dog is eaten — ? 



I was much impressed, and derive great encourage- 

 ment from an accident of last Sunday. Our Bible got 

 soaking wet, and I had to read the epistle and gospel 

 out of my prayer-book. According to my rough calcu- 

 lation it was the fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, and the 

 gospel contained some promises which seemed peculi- 

 arly adapted to our condition. 1 



During the forenoon we had almost got out of the 

 ridges of drift-wood, and I began to be uneasy lest we 

 should wander so far aw r ay from them as to jeopardize 

 our tea and warmth. At 12.30 w^ent ahead again, and 

 almost immediately struck deer tracks comparatively 

 fresh. Elated beyond expression, I pushed ahead, fol- 

 lowing them, and heading about south, and soon came 

 to large masses of drift-wood again. Three traps of 

 some kind were here found, but whether to catch deer, 

 w r olves, or foxes I cannot sny. A fog was rising from 

 the southward, and I began to be in hopes that we were 

 close to the river, when a shout from the rear caused 

 me to notice that my party was straggling out too 

 much. Upon their closing up, I learned that Ericksen 

 had lain clown, desiring to be left. I rushed back, fol- 

 lowed by the doctor, and, by rating the man soundly 

 for his folly, got him on his feet again and drove him 



1 The passage is in Matthew vi. 24 : " Take no thought for your life, 

 what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye 

 :-hall put on," etc. 



