He was so glad about it and said, “It will be better, of course, if you would stay, as you could make a better guess for the things than I would.”

Saturday, October 17th.—­We followed the river, and without anything to eat all day.  Only tea we had.  Sometimes we would be completely done out.  Then we would make some tea and help us some and start on again.  This we kept on doing all day.

That evening we came to the junction of the river where it branches off.  About half an hour before we came to the branch we had a fire, as Mr. Hubbard was feeling cold and chilly all day.  Just at the forks we found a few red berries, and to see if I could find some more I just went about 20 yards from them.  When I found none and returned to see them, Mr. Hubbard was lying down on the damp rocks and moss.  He looked so pitiful and Wallace sitting near him.  I told him not to lie on the damp moss, and asked him if I’d better make him a cup of tea.

“Yes,” he said, “I think if I had a cup of hot tea I’d feel better and then go on again.”

He could hardly speak.  I knew he was very weak.  I asked him if he could get to where we camped before going up, where it was nice and dry, about 20 yards.  He said he would try.  I took his and my pack and he followed us.  He could just barely walk.  We made him a place near the fire, and gave him a cup of hot tea, and made him a cup of pea meal.

We put the camp up the best way we could and gathered enough wood to last all night.

The flour we were coming for was yet 10 miles away, and the advance in covering so many miles each day, became less and less each day.  So after we had some tea and bone broth, I thought, seeing it was no use trying to keep it to ourselves any longer, the danger before us, I would tell them what was in my mind (not about restaurants this time) before it was too late.  Seeing that death was just near, which anyone else, if in our place, would expect nothing else but death, they were quite satisfied and each did the same.

Mr. Hubbard talked about Mrs. Hubbard, and his father and mother, and his brother and sister, but most about Mrs. Hubbard.  Wallace talked of his sisters and I did the same, especially my youngest brother, as my father and mother died some years ago and he was left under my care.  It was quite a different talk beside the other nights’ talk, as we never let a night pass without being talking about good restaurants, and what we would do when we got home.

About 10 miles from there the flour was we were looking forward to.  So I told Mr. Hubbard to see what he would think.  If he couldn’t really have the strength of going any farther, that Wallace and I would try and go and find the flour, and if we found it one would return and bring some of the flour to him, and the other would try and make his way out to Northwest River, as it is nearly 80 miles to Northwest River post, and may be I might come across some trappers and be able to help him.