in took my rod in hand, and in half an hour
caught enough fish to last me for a couple of days. I had lost my hat
in the river, so I now made myself a curious conical-shaped
head-covering with some rushes and long grass, and what with my bare
legs, my feet swathed in bandages, and my sleeveless jacket, I must have
had a very Robinson Crusoe appearance. As there was no one to see me,
this was of no consequence.

I now shouldered my pole and fishing-rod, and with my rifle slung at my
back, continued my course.

I kept down the stream for some way; but as I had not passed the tracks
which my friends must have left, I felt convinced that they were to the
north of the line on which I had been travelling. I therefore crossed
the stream by a ford, at which I arrived in the afternoon, and with much
regret left its pure waters to wander into what might prove an arid
desert. I had, unfortunately, nothing in which I could carry water, so
that I had to depend on the supply which I might find in my path. I
pushed on as fast as I could. It was almost night, however, before I
reached a pool of water. It was stagnant, and so bad tasted that I
could only moisten my lips with it, after I had cooked and eaten one of
my fish. A number of birch trees were growing near. I quickly built a
shanty with their bark, and with the same material formed myself a
mattress and an ample covering for my body.

After my long vigil on the previous night I speedily fell asleep, but
even in my slumbers I heard the occasional serenades of bears and
wolves, who seemed to be the principal inhabitants of that wild region.
I awoke more than once, and was convinced that the noise was a reality,
and not the fancy of my brain; but I felt that unless they had come and
routed me out, as the bear had on the previous night, nothing would have
induced me to stir. Off I went to sleep; but much to my satisfaction
day returned without any of them having found me out.

I need not record the adventures of each day. I suffered so much from
my feet that my progress was of necessity slow. My fish were gone, I
had found no other friendly stream; but I hoped to come across one
before long. I had dried the remnant of my powder. I had enough for
one full charge and a little over. I loaded my rifle, still wishing, if
possible, to keep it for my defence. This was early one morning. I had
had no breakfast. As the day advanced I grew very hungry. A small
animal, l