302 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



The weather was mild next 

 left the encampment at nine, and a Uttle before 

 noon came to a pretty extensive thicket of small 

 willows, near which there appeared a supply of 

 tripe de roche on the face of the rocks. At this 

 place Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hood determined 

 to remain, with John Hepburn, w^ho volunteered 

 to stop with them. The tent was securely 

 pitched, a few willows collected, and the ammu- 

 nition and all other articles were deposited, ex- 

 cept each man's clothing, one tent, a sufficiency 

 of ammunition for the journey, and the officers' 

 journals. I had only one blanket, which was 

 carried for me, and two pair of shoes. The offer 

 was now made for any of the men, who felt them- 

 selves too weak to proceed, to remain with the 

 officers, but none of them accepted it. Michel 

 alone felt some incUnation to do so. After we 

 had united in thanksgiving and prayers to 

 Almighty God, I separated from my companions, 

 deeply afflicted that a train of melancholy cir- 

 cumstances should have demanded of me the 

 severe trial of parting from friends in such a con- 

 dition, who had become endeared to me by their 

 constant kindness and co-operation, and a parti- 

 cipation of numerous sufferings. This trial I 

 could not have been induced to undergo, but for 

 the reasons they had so strongly urged the day 



