462 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



The morning of the 31st was very cold, the wind being strong 

 from the north. Hepburn went again in quest of deer, and the 

 Doctor endeavoured to kill some partridges: both were unsuccessful. 

 A large herd of deer passed close to the house, the Doctor fired 

 once at them, but was unable to pursue them. Adam was easier 

 this day, and left his bed. Peltier and Semandre were much weaker, 

 and could not assist in the labours of the day. Both complained of 

 soreness in the throat, and Semandre suffered much from cramps in 

 his fingers. The Doctor and Hepburn began this day to cut the 

 wood, and also brought it to the house, Being too weak to aid in 

 these laborious tasks, I was employed in searching for bones, and 

 cooking, and attending to our more weakly companions. 



In the evening Peltier, complaining much of cold, requested of me 

 a portion of a blanket to repair his shirt and drawers, The mending 

 of these articles occupied him and Semandre until past one A.M., 

 and their spirits were so much revived by the employment, that 

 they conversed even cheerfully the whole time. Adam sat up 

 with them. The Doctor, Hepburn, and myself, went to bed. We 

 were afterwards agreeably surprised to see Peltier and Semandre 

 carry three or four logs of wood across the room to replenish the 

 fire, which induced us to hope they still possessed more strength 

 than we had supposed. 



November 1. — This day was fine and mild. Hepburn went 

 hunting, but was as usual unsuccessful. As his strength was rapidly 

 declining, we advised him to desist from the pursuit of deer ; and 

 only to go out for a short time, and endeavour to kill a few partridges 

 for Peltier and Semandre. The Doctor obtained a little tripe de 

 roche, but Peltier could not eat any of it, and Semandre only a few 

 spoonfuls, owing to the soreness of their throats. In the afternoon 

 Peltier was so much exhausted, that he sat up with difficulty, and 

 looked piteously ; at length he slided from his stool upon his bed, 

 as we supposed to sleep, and in this composed state he remained 



