484 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



would have terminated my existence. But this good fortune, in 

 some measure renovated me for the moment, and putting out my 

 whole strength, I contrived to collect a few heads, and with in- 

 credible difficulty carried them singly about thirty paces to the fire. 



Darkness stole on us apace, and I became extremely anxious 

 about Beauparlant ; several guns were fired, to each of which he 

 answered. We then called out, and again heard his responses 

 though faintly, when I told St. Germain to go and look for him, as I 

 had not strength myself, being quite exhausted. He said, that he 

 had already placed a pine branch on the ice, and he could then 

 scarcely find his way back, but if he went now he should certainly 

 be lost. In this situation I could only hope that as Beauparlant 

 had my blanket, and every thing requisite to light a fire, he might 

 have encamped at a little distance from us. 



October 17. — The night was cold and clear, but we could not 

 sleep at all, from the pains of having eaten. We suffered the most 

 excruciating torments, though I in particular did not eat a quarter 

 of what would have satisfied me ; it might have been from using a 

 quantity of raw or frozen sinews of the legs of deer, which neither 

 of us could avoid doing, so great was our hunger. In the morning, 

 being much agitated for the safety of Beauparlant, I desired St. Ger- 

 main to go in search of him, and to return with him as quick as 

 possible, when I would have something prepared for them to eat. 



It was, however, late when he arrived, with a small bundle which 

 Beauparlant was accustomed to carry, and with tears in his eyes, 

 told me that he had found our poor companion dead. Dead! I 

 could not believe him. " It is so, Sir," said St. Germain, " after 

 hallooing and calling his name to no purpose, I went towards our 

 last encampment, about three quarters of a mile, and found him 

 stretched upon his back on a sand bank frozen to death, his limbs 

 all extended and swelled enormously, and as hard as the ice that 

 was near him ; his bundle was behind him, as if it had rolled away 



