opping
place George abandoned his waterproof camp bag and his personal effects
that he might be able to carry Hubbard's rifle. This relieved Hubbard
of seven pounds, but he again failed before we reached our night camp.
It was like the previous evening. With jaws set he tottered grimly on
until his legs refused to carry him farther, and he sank to the ground.
Again I helped him into camp, and returned for his pack.

We pitched the tent facing a big rock so that the heat from the fire,
blazing between, might be reflected into the tent, the front of which
was thrown wide open. Of course George and I did all the camp work.
Fortunately there was not much to do; our camps being pitched on the
sites of previous ones, we had stakes ready to hand for the tent, and
in this part of the country we were able to find branches and logs that
we could burn without cutting. We still had one axe with us, but
neither George nor I had the strength to swing it.

The night was cold and damp. For supper we had another piece of the
caribou hide, and water from the much-boiled bones with what I believed
was the last of the pea meal--about two spoonfuls that Hubbard shook
into the pot from the package, which he then threw away. As we
reclined in the open front of the tent before the fire, I again read
from the Bible, and again a feeling of religious exaltation came to
Hubbard. "I'm so happy, and oh! so sleepy," he murmured, and was
quiet. He did not make his usual entry in his diary. In my own diary
for this date I find:

"Hubbard's condition is pitiable, but he bears himself like the hero
that he is--trying always to cheer and encourage us. He is visibly
failing. His voice is very weak and low. I fear he will break down at
every step. O God, what can we do! How can we save him!"

On Saturday (October 17th) threatening clouds overcast the sky, and a
raw wind was blowing. It penetrated our rags and set us a-shiver. At
dawn we had more water from the bones and more of the hide. Cold and
utterly miserable, we forced our way along. Our progress was becoming
slower and slower. But every step was taking us nearer home, we said,
and with that thought we encouraged ourselves. At noon we came upon
our first camp above the Susan River. There George picked up one of
our old flour bags. A few lumps of mouldy flour were clinging to it,
and he scraped them carefully into the pot to give a little substance
to the bone water. We also fo