I told him I would be very much in a hurry to go home, and wouldn't
wish to stay out here for the winter. "But if you wish, and rather
have me stay, I will stay for the winter and try and get the things
out for you."
He was so glad about it and said, "It will be better, of course, if
you would stay, as you could make a better guess for the things
than I would."
Saturday, October 17th. - We followed the river, and without
anything to eat all day. Only tea we had. Sometimes we would be
completely done out. Then we would make some tea and help us some
and start on again. This we kept on doing all day.
That evening we came to the junction of the river where it branches
off. About half an hour before we came to the branch we had a
fire, as Mr. Hubbard was feeling cold and chilly all day. Just at
the forks we found a few red berries, and to see if I could find
some more I just went about 20 yards from them. When I found none
and returned to see them, Mr. Hubbard was lying down on the damp
rocks and moss. He looked so pitiful and Wallace sitting near him.
I told him not to lie on the damp moss, and asked him if I'd better
make him a cup of tea.
"Yes," he said, "I think if I had a cup of hot tea I'd feel better
and then go on again."
He could hardly speak. I knew he was very weak. I asked him if he
could get to where we camped before going up, where it was nice and
dry, about 20 yards. He said he would try. I took his and my pack
and he followed us. He could just barely walk. We made him a
place near the fire, and gave him a cup of hot tea, and made him a
cup of pea meal.
We put the camp up the best way we could and gathered enough wood
to last all night.
The flour we were coming for was yet 10 miles away, and the advance
in covering so many miles each day, became less and less each day.
So after we had some tea and bone broth, I thought, seeing it was
no use trying to keep it to ourselves any longer, the danger before
us, I would tell them what was in my mind (not about restaurants
this time) before it was too late. Seeing that death was just
near, which anyone else, if in our place, would expect nothing else
but death, they were quite satisfied and each did the same.
Mr. Hubbard talked about Mrs. Hubbard, and his father and mother,
and his brother and sister, but most about Mrs. Hubbard.
