tea and some bone broth.  I also ate some of the really delicious rawhide, boiled with the bones, and it made me stronger—­strong to write this.  The boys have only tea and one half pound pea meal (erbswurst).  Our parting was most affecting.  I did not feel so bad.  George said, “The Lord help us, Hubbard.  With His help I’ll save you if I can get out.”  Then he cried.  So did Wallace.  Wallace stooped and kissed my cheek with his poor, sunken, bearded lips several times—­ and I kissed George did the same, and I kissed his cheek.  Then they went away.  God bless and help them.

I am not so greatly in doubt as to the outcome.  I believe they will reach the flour and be strengthened, that Wallace will reach me, that George will find Blake’s cache and camp and send help.  So I believe we will all get out.

My tent is pitched in open tent style in front of a big rock.  The rock reflects the fire, but now it is going out because of the rain.  I think I shall let it go and close the tent, till the rain is over, thus keeping out wind and saving wood.  To-night or to-morrow perhaps the weather will improve so I can build a fire, eat the rest of my moccasins and have some bone broth.  Then I can boil my belt and oil-tanned moccasins and a pair of cowhide mittens.  They ought to help some.  I am not suffering.  The acute pangs of hunger have given way to indifference.  I am sleepy.  I think death from starvation is not so bad.  But let no one suppose that I expect it.  I am prepared, that is all.  I think the boys will be able with the Lord’s help to save me.

NARRATIVE BY GEORGE ELSON

LAST DAYS TOGETHER

Friday, October 9th.—­We got up good and early.  Only tea we had, expecting when we got to our rapid to have something to eat.  After going about 2 miles we came to our old camp where we camped on our way up where we had a goose that Mr. Hubbard had killed.  I also had killed one.  We went ashore to see if we could find some of the old bones.  We gathered all we could find and ate them all.

Mr. Hubbard said, “I often have seen dogs eating bones and thought it was pretty hard lines for them, but it must be only fun for them.”

Before coming to our rapid, the rapid we had always talked about where we thought we would get lots of fish, I told Mr. Hubbard and Wallace my dream I had that night.  It did not seem like a dream but more like some one talking to me.  When travelling this summer when we began to be out of grub, if we dreamt of having a good meal at some restaurant we often told it to each other next morning.  This morning my dream was:—­

A man came to me and told me, “You will get to the rapid to-day and I cannot spare you more than two or three meals of fish, and do not waste much time there.  Go right on and don’t leave the river, but follow the river on.  It is only the way you can save your lives.  Follow the river down.”