Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/225

 caused us much anxiety. His brother Louis was also in a wretched condition from the effects of severe dysentery caused by exposure and starvation, and was unable to walk.

On the morning of the 17th, feeling somewhat revived after a long night's rest, I undertook to go hunting ptarmigan, which we were glad to find were plentiful in the woods about us. Had it not been for the fact that our ammunition was almost exhausted, the occurrence of these birds in abundance would have afforded us greater consolation, but being, as we were, reduced to a dozen or two charges, the opportunity for living on feathered game seemed limited to a short period. We were hoping that Jim and John might be successful in reaching Churchill. Before I had walked a hundred yards from camp, I was forced to realize how weak I had become, and after making a circuit of about half a mile and shooting only two or three birds, I was scarcely able to crawl back to the tent. On my return, François, taking the shot-gun, went out and returned in the evening with a fine bag of game.

On waking the next morning, my brother amused us by relating an extraordinary dream, in which he imagined he was luxuriating in good things, and particularly sweet currant cakes, for which he was exhibiting a wonderful capacity. But alas! with the visions of the night the cakes had vanished, and for breakfast he was forced to be content with unseasoned boiled ptarmigan.

At about one o'clock in the day, as we were seated within the tent partaking of our second meal, we were suddenly startled by hearing the exclamation, "Hullo, Jim!" The eagerness with which we scrambled over