68 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



possible, having no shelter, we could not 

 keep ourselves sufficiently warm to sleep. 

 A strong gale came on after midnight, which 

 increased the severity of the weather. In 

 the morning Belanger and Michel renewed 

 their request to be permitted to go back to 

 the tent, assuring me they were still weaker 

 than on the preceding evening, and less ca- 

 pable of going forward ; and they urged 

 that the stopping at a place where there 

 was a supply of tripe de roclie was their only 

 chance of preserving life : under these cir- 

 cumstances I could not do otherwise than 

 yield to their desire. I wrote a note to Dr. 

 Richardson and Mr. Hood, informing them 

 of the pines we had passed, and recom- 

 mending their removing thither. Having 

 found that Michel was carrying a consider- 

 able quantity of ammunition, I desired him 

 to divide it among my party, leaving him 

 only ten balls and a little shot, to kill any 

 animals he might meet on his way to the 

 tent. This man was very particular in his 

 inquiries respecting the direction of the 

 house, and the course we meant to pursue ; 



