266 Thirty Tears 



attempt was next made to carry out to him a line, 

 made of the slings of the men's loads. This also 

 failed, the current acting so strongly upon it, as to 

 prevent the canoe from steering, and it was finally 

 broken and carried down the stream. At length, 

 when Belanger's strength seemed almost exhausted, 

 the canoe reached him with a small cord belonging to 

 one of the nets, and he was dragged perfectly sense- 

 less through the rapid. By the direction of Dr. Bich- 

 ardson, he was instantly stripped, and being rolled 

 up in blankets, two men undressed themselves and 

 went to bed with him ; but it was some hours before 

 he recovered his warmth and sensations. As soon as 

 Belanger was placed in his bed, the officers immedia- 

 tely sent over my blankets and a person to make a 

 fire. Augustus brought the canoe over, and in return- 

 ing he was obliged to descend both the rapids, be- 

 fore he could get across the stream ; which hazardous 

 service he performed with the greatest coolness and 

 judgment. Et is impossible to describe my sensations 

 as I witnessed the various unsuccessful attempts to 

 relieve Belanger. The distance prevented my seeing 



distinctly what was going on, and I continued pacing 

 Up and down upon the rock on which 1 landed, reganl- 



less of the coldness of my drenched and stiffening gar- 

 ments. The • is every attempt to reach him, 

 urrii il (1 wn the rapid, and was LosJ to thi 



