-370 Thirty Years 
selves, and then to go in search of the Indians, and in 
the event of missing them, to proceed to the first trad- 
ing establishment, which was distant about one hun- 
dred-and thirty miles, and from thence send succor to 
my companions. This indeed I should have done im- 
mediately, as the most certain manner of executing 
my purpose, had ‘there been ‘any probability of the 
river and lakes being frozen to the southward, or had 
we possessed sufficient strength to have clambered over 
the rocks and mountains which impeded the direct 
way ; but as we were aware of our inability to do ) $0, 
I listened to St. Germain’s proposal, which was, to 
follow. the deer into the woods, (so long as they did 
not lead us out of our route to the Indians,) and if 
possible to collect sufficient food to carry us to Fort 
Providence. We now set about making mittens and 
snow-shoes, whilst Belanger searched under the snow, 
and collected a mass of old bones, which when burned 
and used with a little salt, we found palatable enough, 
and made a tolerable meal. At night St. Germain 
returned, having seen plenty of tracks, but no ani- 
mals ; the day was cloudy, with fresh breezes, and the 
river was frozen at the borders. : 
On the 11th we prepared for our journey, having 
first collected a few old skins of deer, to serve us as 
food, and written a note to be left for our commander, 
to apprize him of our-intentionsy We pursued the 
