108 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



judge from my own case, excused himself 

 from so doing by a desire of not shocking the 

 feelings of the others, for we were sensible 

 of one another's weakness of intellect, though 

 blind to our own. Yet we were calm and 

 resigned to our fate, not a murmur escaped 

 us, and we were punctual and fervent in our 

 addresses to the Supreme Being. 



On the 19th Michel refused to hunt, or 

 even to assist in carrying a log of wood to 

 the fire, which was too heavy for Hepburn's 

 strength and mine. Mr. Hood endeavoured 

 to point out to him the necessity and duty 

 of exertion, and the cruelty of his quitting 

 us without leaving something for our sup- 

 port ; but the discourse, far from producing 

 any beneficial effect, seemed only to excite 

 his anger, and amongst other expressions, 

 he made use of the following remarkable 

 one: " It is no use hunting; there are no 

 animals; you had better kill and eat me." 

 At length, however, he went out, but re- 

 turned very soon, with a report that he had 

 seen three deer, which he was unable to 

 follow from having wet his foot in a small 



