332 Thirty Tears 



wet his foot in a small stream of water thinly covered 

 with ice, and being consequently obliged to come to 

 the fire. The day was rather mild, and Hepburn and 

 I gathered a large kettleful of tripe de roche ; Michel 

 slept in the tent this night. 



Sunday, October 20. — In the morning we again 

 urged Michel to go a hunting, that he might if possi- 

 ble leave us some provision, to-morrow being the day 

 appointed for his quitting us ; but he shewed great 

 unwillingness to go out, and lingered about the fire, 

 under the pretense of cleaning his gun. After we had 

 read the morning service, I went about noon to gather 

 some tripe de roche. leaving Mr. Hood sitting before 

 the tent at the fire-side, arguing with Michel ; Hep- 

 burn was employed cutting down a tree at a short dis- 

 tance from the tent, being desirous of accumulating a 

 quantity of fire-wood before he left us. A short time 

 niter I went out I heard the report of a gun, and 

 about ten minutes afterwards Hepburn called to me in 

 a voice of great alarm, to come directly. When I ar- 

 rived, 1 found pom- Hood lying lifeless at the fire-side, 

 a ball having apparently entered his forehead. I was 

 at first horror-struck with the idea, thai in a lit of 

 despondency he had hurried himself into the presence 

 of hi i almighty -I udge, by an act. of his ou □ hand ; but 

 induct of Michel Boon gave rise to other thoughts, 

 and excited suspicions which were confirmed, when 



