nd I had my own pistol and compass. The pistols we fastened
to our belts along with a sheath knife and tin cup. Having a case for
my compass, I wore it also on my belt; George placed his in his pocket.
Each of us had half a blanket, this to be our only covering at night.
George placed his half, together with a tea pail and some tea, in the
waterproof bag he had been using to carry food. This bag he bound with
a pack strap, leaving a loop to sling over his shoulder. I also bound
my half a blanket with a pack strap, thinking as I did so that I soon
might want to eat the strap. And then, when George and I had filled
our waterproof boxes with wax taper matches, and placed a handful of
pistol cartridges in our pockets, we were ready to start.

At this point I suggested it might be well for each man to make a note
of such disposition as he desired made of his effects. George made an
entry in his note book, and asked Hubbard to write when we were gone a
letter to Mr. King, the Hudson's Bay Company's agent at Missanabie, in
reference to his (George's) affairs at that post. I then made the last
entry in my diary, and with it wrote what I believed might be a last
message to my sisters and my friend and associate in business, Mr.
Alonzo G. McLaughlin. I put the diary with my other papers in my camp
bag, and placed the bag in the rear of the tent, where the note Hubbard
was to write for George was also to be placed; we believed that if
worst came to worst the tent was more likely to be found than our
bodies down on the trail. Hubbard had been watching us silently while
we did these things, and now he said:

"Wallace, if you get out of this, and I don't, you'll have to write the
story of the trip."

I expressed some doubt as to my ability, but he made me promise I would
do the best I could. I also promised, at his request, that if I
survived him I should place his diary in his wife's hands.

"Thank you, b'y," he said. "And now before you leave me won't you read
to me again?--I want to hear that fourteenth chapter of John and the
thirteenth of First Corinthians. I fell asleep last night while you
were reading, I was so tired. I'm sleepy now, very sleepy; but I'll
keep awake this time while you read."

I got my testament from my camp bag and read both chapters through,
noting as I read that the look of happiness and peace was returning to
Hubbard's poor, wan face. When I had finished, he said quietly:

"Thank you, b