To it was beaten, we proposed to him to return thither
as we thought it probable he would find the men still there; at any rate
he would be able to get fuel to keep him warm during the night, and on
the next day he could follow their track to the officers' tent and,
should the path be covered by the snow, the pines we had passed yesterday
would guide him as they were yet in view.
I cannot describe my anguish on the occasion of separating from another
companion under circumstances so distressing. There was however no
alternative. The extreme debility of the rest of the party put the
carrying him quite out of the question, as he himself admitted, and it
was evident that the frequent delays he must occasion if he accompanied
us and did not gain strength would endanger the lives of the whole. By
returning he had the prospect of getting to the tent where tripe de roche
could be obtained, which agreed with him better than with any other of
the party, and which he was always very assiduous in gathering. After
some hesitation he determined on going back and set out, having bid each
of us farewell in the tenderest manner. We watched him with inexpressible
anxiety for some time, and were rejoiced to find, though he got on
slowly, that he kept on his legs better than before. Antonio Fontano was
an Italian and had served for many years in De Meuron's regiment. He had
spoken to me that very morning and after his first attack of dizziness
about his father, and had begged that, should he survive, I would take
him with me to England and put him in the way of reaching home.
The party was now reduced to five persons, Adam, Peltier, Benoit,
Samandre and myself. Continuing the journey we came after an hour's walk
to some willows and encamped under the shelter of a rock, having walked
in the whole four miles and a half. We made an attempt to gather some
tripe de roche but could not, owing to the severity of the weather. Our
supper therefore consisted of tea and a few morsels of leather.
Augustus did not make his appearance but we felt no alarm at his absence,
supposing he would go to the tent if he missed our track. Having fire we
procured a little sleep. Next morning the breeze was light and the
weather mild which enabled us to collect some tripe de roche and to enjoy
the only meal we had had for four days. We derived great benefit from it
and walked with considerably more ease than yesterday. Without the
strength it supplied we should certainly have been unable to oppose the
strong breeze we met in the afternoon.
