170 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



gave rise, and made some arrangements for 

 the journey to Fort Providence. 



October 18. — While we were this day- 

 occupied in scraping together the remains 

 of some deer's meat, we observed Belanger 

 coming round a point, apparently scarcely 

 moving. I went to meet him, and made 

 immediate inquiries about my friends. Five, 

 with the Captain, he said, were at the 

 house, the rest were left near the river un- 

 able to proceed ; but he was too weak to 

 relate the whole. He was conducted to the 

 encampment, and paid every attention to, 

 and by degrees we heard the remainder of 

 his tragic tale, at which the interpreter 

 could not avoid crying. He then gave me 

 a letter from my friend the Commander, 

 which indeed was truly afflicting. The 

 simple story of Belanger I could hear, but 

 when I read it in another language, mingled 

 with the pious resignation of a good man, 

 I could not sustain it any longer. The 

 poor man was much affected at the death 

 of our lamented companion, but his appetite 



