the cold incapable of further exertion and Adam attempted to embark
Belanger but found it impossible. An attempt was next made to carry out
to him a line made of the slings of the men's loads. This also failed,
the current acting so strongly upon it as to prevent the canoe from
steering and it was finally broken and carried down the stream. At length
when Belanger's strength seemed almost exhausted the canoe reached him
with a small cord belonging to one of the nets and he was dragged
perfectly senseless through the rapid. By the direction of Dr. Richardson
he was instantly stripped and, being rolled up in blankets, two men
undressed themselves and went to bed with him: but it was some hours
before he recovered his warmth and sensations. As soon as Belanger was
placed in his bed the officers sent over my blankets and a person to make
a fire. Augustus brought the canoe over and in returning he was obliged
to descend both the rapids before he could get across the stream, which
hazardous service he performed with the greatest coolness and judgment.
It is impossible to describe my sensations as I witnessed the various
unsuccessful attempts to relieve Belanger. The distance prevented my
seeing distinctly what was going on and I continued pacing up and down
upon the rock on which I landed, regardless of the coldness of my
drenched and stiffening garments. The canoe in every attempt to reach him
was hurried down the rapid, and was lost to view amongst the rocky islets
with a rapidity that seemed to threaten certain destruction; once indeed
I fancied that I saw it overwhelmed in the waves. Such an event would
have been fatal to the whole party. Separated as I was from my companions
without gun, ammunition, hatchet, or the means of making a fire, and in
wet clothes, my doom would have been speedily sealed. My companions too,
driven to the necessity of coasting the lake, must have sunk under the
fatigue of rounding its innumerable arms and bays which as we have
learned from the Indians are very extensive. By the goodness of
Providence however we were spared at that time and some of us have been
permitted to offer up our thanksgivings in a civilised land for the
signal deliverances we then and afterwards experienced.

By this accident I had the misfortune to lose my portfolio containing my
journal from Fort Enterprise together with all the astronomical and
meteorological observations made during the descent of the Copper-Mine
River