The canoe being finished it was brought to the encampment and, the whole
party being assembled in anxious expectation on the beach, St. Germain
embarked and, amidst our prayers for his success, succeeded in reaching
the opposite shore. The canoe was then drawn back again and another
person transported, and in this manner, by drawing it backwards and
forwards, we were all conveyed over without any serious accident. By
these frequent traverses the canoe was materially injured, and latterly
it filled each time with water before reaching the shore, so that all our
garments and bedding were wet and there was not a sufficiency of willows
upon the side on which we now were to make a fire to dry them.
That no time might be lost in procuring relief I immediately despatched
Mr. Back with St. Germain, Solomon Belanger, and Beauparlant to search
for the Indians, directing him to go to Fort Enterprise where we expected
they would be or where at least a note from Mr. Wentzel would be found to
direct us in our search for them. If St. Germain should kill any animals
on his way a portion of the meat was to be put up securely for us and
conspicuous marks placed over it.
It is impossible to imagine a more gratifying change than was produced in
our voyagers after we were all safely landed on the southern banks of the
river. Their spirits immediately revived, each of them shook the officers
cordially by the hand and declared they now considered the worst of their
difficulties over as they did not doubt of reaching Fort Enterprise in a
few days, even in their feeble condition. We had indeed every reason to
be grateful and our joy would have been complete had it not been mingled
with sincere regret at the separation of our poor Esquimaux, the faithful
Junius.
EXTREME MISERY OF THE WHOLE PARTY.
The want of tripe de roche caused us to go supperless to bed. Showers of
snow fell frequently during the night. The breeze was light next morning,
the weather cold and clear. We were all on foot by daybreak but, from the
frozen state of our tents and bedclothes, it was long before the bundles
could be made and as usual the men lingered over a small fire they had
kindled so that it was eight o'clock before we started. Our advance from
the depth of the snow was slow, and about noon, coming to a spot where
there was some tripe de roche, we stopped to collect it and breakfasted.
Mr. Hood, who was now very feeble, and Dr. Richardson, who attached
himself to him, walked together at a gentle pace in the rear of the
party. I kept with the foremost men to cause them to halt occasionally
until the stragglers came up.
