were now earnestly entreated to
bring him to the fire, but they declared themselves unequal to the task,
and on the contrary urged me to allow them to throw down their loads and
proceed to Fort Enterprise with the utmost speed. A compliance with their
desire would have caused the loss of the whole party, for the men were
totally ignorant of the course to be pursued, and none of the officers
who could have directed the march were sufficiently strong to keep up at
the pace they would then walk, besides, even supposing them to have found
their way, the strongest men would certainly have deserted the weak.
Something however was absolutely necessary to be done to relieve them as
much as possible from their burdens, and the officers consulted on the
subject. Mr. Hood and Dr. Richardson proposed to remain behind with a
single attendant at the first place where sufficient wood and tripe de
roche should be found for ten days' consumption, and that I should
proceed as expeditiously as possible with the men to the house and thence
send them immediate relief. They strongly urged that this arrangement
would contribute to the safety of the rest of the party by relieving them
from the burden of a tent and several other articles, and that they might
afford aid to Credit if he should unexpectedly come up. I was distressed
beyond description at the thought of leaving them in such a dangerous
situation and for a long time combated their proposal, but they
strenuously urged that this step afforded the only chance of safety for
the party and I reluctantly acceded to it. The ammunition, of which we
had a small barrel, was also to be left with them, and it was hoped that
this deposit would be a strong inducement for the Indians to venture
across the barren grounds to their aid. We communicated this resolution
to the men who were cheered at the slightest prospect of alleviation to
their present miseries and promised with great appearance of earnestness
to return to those officers upon the first supply of food.

The party then moved on; Vaillant's blanket and other necessaries were
left in the track at the request of the Canadians, without any hope
however of his being able to reach them. After marching till dusk without
seeing a favourable place for encamping, night compelled us to take
shelter under the lee of a hill amongst some willows, with which, after
many attempts, we at length made a fire. It was not sufficient however to
warm the whol