It may be worthy of remark that poor Peltier, from the time of Benoit’s departure, had fixed on the first of November as the time when he should cease to expect any relief from the Indians, and had repeatedly said that if they did not arrive by that day he should not survive.

Peltier had endeared himself to each of us by his cheerfulness, his unceasing activity, and affectionate care and attentions ever since our arrival at this place.  He had nursed Adam with the tenderest solicitude the whole time.  Poor Samandre was willing to have taken his share in the labours of the party had he not been wholly incapacitated by his weakness and low spirits.  The severe shock occasioned by the sudden dissolution of our two companions rendered us very melancholy.  Adam became low and despondent, a change which we lamented the more as we had perceived he had been gaining strength and spirits for the two preceding days.  I was particularly distressed by the thought that the labour of collecting wood must now devolve upon Dr. Richardson and Hepburn, and that my debility would disable me from affording them any material assistance; indeed both of them most kindly urged me not to make the attempt.  They were occupied the whole of the next day in tearing down the logs of which the storehouse was built but the mud plastered between them was so hard frozen that the labour of separation exceeded their strength, and they were completely exhausted by bringing in wood sufficient for less than twelve hours’ consumption.

I found it necessary in their absence to remain constantly near Adam and to converse with him in order to prevent his reflecting on our condition, and to keep up his spirits as far as possible.  I also lay by his side at night.

On the 3rd the weather was very cold though the atmosphere was cloudy.  This morning Hepburn was affected with swelling in his limbs, his strength as well as that of the Doctor was rapidly declining; they continued however to be full of hope.  Their utmost exertions could only supply wood to renew the fire thrice and on making it up the last time we went to bed.  Adam was in rather better spirits but he could not bear to be left alone.  Our stock of bones was exhausted by a small quantity of soup we made this evening.  The toil of separating the hair from the skins, which in fact were our chief support, had now become so wearisome as to prevent us from eating as much as we should otherwise have done.

November 4.

Calm and comparatively mild weather.  The Doctor and Hepburn, exclusive of their usual occupation, gathered some tripe de roche.  I went a few yards from the house in search of bones and returned quite fatigued, having found but three.  The Doctor again made incisions in Adam’s leg which discharged a considerable quantity of water and gave him great relief.  We read prayers and a portion of the New Testament in the morning and evening, as had been our practice since Dr. Richardson’s arrival, and I may remark that the performance of these duties always afforded us the greatest consolation, serving to reanimate our hope in the mercy of the Omnipotent, who alone could save and deliver us.