62 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



ten days' consumption, and that I should 

 proceed as expeditiously as possible with 

 the men to the house, and thence send them 

 immediate relief. * They strongly urged 

 that this arrangement would contribute to 

 the safety of the rest of the party, by 

 relieving them from the burden of a tent 

 and several other articles, and that they 

 might afford aid to Credit, if he should 

 unexpectedly come up. I was distressed 

 beyond description at the thought of leaving 

 them in such a dangerous situation, and for 

 a long time combated their proposal; but 

 they strenuously urged that this step 

 afforded the only chance of safety for the 

 party, and I reluctantly acceded to it. The 

 ammunition, of which we had a small barrel, 

 was also to be left with them, and it was 

 hoped that this deposit would be a strong 

 inducement for the Indians to venture 

 across the barren grounds to their aid. 

 We communicated this resolution to the 

 men, who were cheered at the slightest 

 prospect of alleviation to their present 

 miseries, and promised, with great appear- 



