366 Thirty Years 
pendence, began to be scarce, so that we could only 
collect sufficient to make half a kettleful, which, with 
"the addition of a partridge each, that St. Germain had 
killed, made us a tolerable meal; during this day I 
felt very weak and sore in the joints, particularly be- 
tween the shoulders. At night we encamped among a 
small clump of willows. 
_ On the 6th we set out at an early hour, pursuing 
our route over a range of hills, at the foot of one of 
which we saw several large pines, and a great quan- 
_tity of willows ; a sight that encouraged us to quicken 
our pace, as we were now certain we could not be far 
from the woods. Indeed we were making considerable 
progress, when Belanger unfortunately broke through 
the ice, and sunk up to the hips. The weather being 
cold, he was in danger of freezing, but some brushwood 
on the borders of the lake enabled us to make a fire 
to dry him. At-the same time we took the oppor- 
tunity of refreshing ourselves with a kettle of swamp 
tea, os 
My increasing debility had for some time obliged 
me to use a stick for the purpose of extending my 
arms ; the pain in my shoulders being so acute, that I 
could not bear them to remain in the usual position 
for two minutes together. We halted at five among 
some small brushwood, and made a sorry meal of an 
old pair of leather trowsers, and some swamp tea. 
