while he was at a little distance from it fishing.  Le Clerc found him in forlorn condition.  His fishing had been unsuccessful.  During twelve days that he had been wandering alone through these savage mountains, he had found scarce anything to eat.  He had been ill, wayworn, sick at heart, still he had kept forward; but now his strength and his stubbornness were exhausted.  He expressed his satisfaction at hearing that Mr. Stuart and his party were near, and said he would wait at his camp for their arrival, in hopes they would give him something to eat, for without food he declared he should not be able to proceed much further.

When the party reached the place, they found the poor fellow lying on a parcel of withered grass, wasted to a perfect skeleton, and so feeble that he could scarce raise his head or speak.  The presence of his old comrades seemed to revive him, but they had no food to give him, for they themselves were almost starving.  They urged him to rise and accompany them, but he shook his head.  It was all in vain, he said; there was no prospect of their getting speedy relief, and without it he should perish by the way; he might as well, therefore, stay and die where he was.  At length, after much persuasion, they got him upon his legs; his rifle and other effects were shared among them, and he was cheered and aided forward.  In this way they proceeded for seventeen miles, over a level plain of sand, until seeing a few antelopes in the distance, they encamped on the margin of a small stream.  All now that were capable of the exertion, turned out to hunt for a meal.  Their efforts were fruitless, and after dark they returned to their camp, famished almost to desperation.

As they were preparing for the third time to lay down to sleep without a mouthful to eat, Le Clerc, one of the Canadians, gaunt and wild with hunger, approached Mr. Stuart with his gun in his hand.  “It was all in vain,” he said, “to attempt to proceed any further without food.  They had a barren plain before them, three or four days’ journey in extent, on which nothing was to be procured.  They must all perish before they could get to the end of it.  It was better, therefore, that one should die to save the rest.”  He proposed, therefore, that they should cast lots; adding, as an inducement for Mr. Stuart to assent to the proposition, that he, as leader of the party, should be exempted.

Mr. Stuart shuddered at the horrible proposition, and endeavored to reason with the man, but his words were unavailing.  At length, snatching up his rifle, he threatened to shoot him on the spot if he persisted.  The famished wretch dropped on his knees, begged pardon in the most abject terms, and promised never again to offend him with such a suggestion.

Quiet being restored to the forlorn encampment, each one sought repose.  Mr. Stuart, however, was so exhausted by the agitation of the past scene, acting upon his emaciated frame, that he could scarce crawl to his miserable couch; where, notwithstanding his fatigues, he passed a sleepless night, revolving upon their dreary situation, and the desperate prospect before them.