330 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



being impatient, had left the fire about two hours 

 earlier, and, as he had not arrived, he supposed 

 he had gone astray. It will be seen in the sequel, 

 that we had more than sufficient reason to doubt 

 the truth of this story, 



Michel now produced a hare and a partridge 

 which he had killed in the morning. This unex- 

 pected supply of provision was received by us 

 with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty 

 for his goodness, and we looked upon Michel as 

 the instrument he had chosen to preserve all our 

 lives. He complained of cold, and Mr. Hood 

 offered to share his buffalo robe with him at 

 night : I gave him one of two shirts which I wore, 

 whilst Hepburn, in the warmth of his heart, ex- 

 claimed, *' How I shall love this man if I find 

 that he does not tell lies like the others." Our 

 meals being finished, we arranged that the greatest 

 part of the things should be carried to the pines 

 the next day ; and, after reading the evening 

 service, retired to bed full of hope. 



Early in the morning Hepburn, Michel, and 

 myself, carried the ammunition, and most of the 

 other heavy articles to the pines. Michel was 

 our guide, and it did not occur to us at the time 

 that his conducting us perfectly straight was in- 

 compatible with his story of having gone astray 



