ike
feeble: among other things he said whilst we were resting that he should
never get beyond the next encampment for his strength had quite failed
him. I endeavoured to encourage him by explaining the mercy of the
Supreme Being who ever beholds with an eye of pity those that seek His
aid. This passed as common discourse. When he inquired where we were to
put up St. Germain pointed to a small clump of pines near us, the only
place indeed that offered for fuel. "Well," replied the poor man, "take
your axe, Mr. Back, and I will follow at my leisure, I shall join you by
the time the encampment is made." This is a usual practice of the country
and St. Germain and myself went on towards the spot; it was five o'clock
and not very cold but rather milder than we had experienced it for some
time when, on leaving the ice, we saw a number of crows perched on the
top of some high pines near us. St. Germain immediately said there must
be some dead animal thereabouts and proceeded to search, when we saw
several heads of deer half buried in the snow and ice without eyes or
tongues, the previous severity of the weather having obliged the wolves
and other animals to abandon them. An expression of "Oh merciful God! we
are saved," broke from us both, and with feelings more easily imagined
than described we shook hands, not knowing what to say for joy. It was
twilight and a fog was rapidly darkening the surface of the lake when St.
Germain commenced making the encampment; the task was too laborious for
me to render him any assistance and, had we not thus providentially found
provision, I feel convinced that the next twenty-four hours would have
terminated my existence. But this good fortune in some measure renovated
me for the moment and, putting out my whole strength, I contrived to
collect a few heads and with incredible difficulty carried them singly
about thirty paces to the fire.

Darkness stole on us apace and I became extremely anxious about
Beauparlant; several guns were fired to each of which he answered. We
then called out and again heard his responses though faintly, when I told
St. Germain to go and look for him as I had not strength myself, being
quite exhausted. He said that he had already placed a pine branch on the
ice and he could then scarcely find his way back, but if he went now he
should certainly be lost. In this situation I could only hope that, as
Beauparlant had my blanket and everything requisite to light a fire, h