Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/44

 “Oct. 4. – The canoe being finished, 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 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 southern side of the river to dry them.”

That no time might be lost in procuring relief. Captain Franklin immediately despatched Mr. Back, with three men to search for the Copper-Indians, directing him to go to Fort Enterprise, where it was expected they would be, or where, at least, a note from Mr. Wentzel would be found to direct him in his search for them. Junius, the Esquimaux, had previously strayed in search of the remains of animals, and never rejoined the expedition. The remainder of the officers and men went supperless to bed.

“Showers of snow fell frequently during the night. We were all on foot by day-break, but from the frozen state of our tents and bed-clothes, it was long before the bundles could be made, so that it was eight o’clock before we started. I kept with the foremost men, to cause them to halt occasionally until the stragglers came up. All of us were much fatigued, particularly Mathew Crédit; the tripe de roche disagreed with this man and with Registe Vaillant, in consequence of which, they were the first whose strength totally failed. We had a small quantity of this weed in the evening, and the rest of our supper was made up of scraps of roasted leather. The distance walked to-day was six miles.

“As Credit was very weak in the morning, his load was reduced to little more than his personal luggage, consisting of his blanket, shoes, and gun. Previous to setting out, the whole party ate the remains of their old shoes and whatever scraps of leather they had, to strengthen their stomachs. We left the encampment at nine, and pursued our route over a range of black hills. The wind having increased to a strong gale, became piercingly cold, and the drift rendered it difficult for those in the rear to follow the track over the heights; whilst in the valleys, where it was sufficiently marked, from the depth of the snow, the labour of walking was proportionably great. About noon, François Samandré coming up, informed us that Crédit and Vaillant could advance no further. Some willows being discovered in a valley near us, I proposed to halt there, whilst Dr. Richardson (weak as he was from his late exertion) went back to visit them. He found Vaillant about a mile and a half in the rear, much exhausted with cold and fatigue. Having encouraged him to advance to the fire, after