And also found three pair snowshoes. I also picked out the pair I
would have taken and said, "This pair I would take."
Then I went in his house and found two barrels of flour.
So I said, "Well, after all I would have found more flour than I
could carry to take up to the boys," for I told them when I left,
that if I found grub any place on the road, and no one there, I
will just help myself and try and bring up a load. In that house I
spent some time, thinking and planning of what I would have done.
Friday, October 30th. - I was staying at Donald's, killing quite a
few partridges and making myself at home; but yet not feeling very
happy, as I did not get much rest at nights, thinking about Mr.
Hubbard and anxious to hear from them soon. I had good hopes of
Mr. Wallace, because the mouldy flour he had would yet keep him
alive. And my troubles were: "Now I feel safe and in good hopes of
getting home; but should Mr. Hubbard and Wallace starve in there,
the people may not believe me in what I say, and will think that I
run away from them, and haven't done fair whatever," and when I got
home I would get in trouble, after I had done all I could for them
as well as myself.
When I would wake up at night it would just come into my mind. And
more than that, Mr. Hubbard had been so good to me, and to remember
what a friend he was, and what a brave man he was. Oh! wasn't he a
brave man. I have seen a good many fine people in my time; but I
never have seen a man like Hubbard, and I never expect to see
another.
I was thinking too how things happened, about being on the wrong
river, and what made us believe we were on the right river, though
at the same time thinking that it was too small to feed Grand Lake,
but when it came out just at the head of the lake, as it shows in
the map, made us think it was the Nascaupee. And besides how we
proved as we were going up, as the people had told us at Northwest
River post, that after we got up the Nascaupee River, 18 miles up,
we would come to the Red Wine River, branching off from the south
side of the Nascaupee River, and also how that happened. When we
got up, about 18 miles up, a little river branching off from the
south into this river we thought was the Nascaupee, and of course,
we called this little river the Red Wine River. And besides how we
found the old portage trail, and also the steel trap, and how all
these things kept on making us think for sure we were on the right
route. And besides none knew, or ever thought, there was any other
river. And I could not forget about it, and was so sorry about it.
Only one river.
Saturday evening, October 3lst. - Donald Blake and Allan Goudy
returned from their trip, and sorry to hear the death of Mr.
Hubbard. They suppose he died the first evening we left him, by
telling of the signs, as he hasn't been out of the tent after the
first snow. Three or four caribou has been coming right near the
tent door, and going round the tent.
Donald and Allan tells of Mr. Hubbard and how they had found him
wrapped up in his blanket, like as he had been falling asleep, and
the tent door closed and all pinned up. I could tell then pretty
well how he has being, and that be has being doing as he said he
would, and has fallen asleep and has never woke. For I myself was
nearly at my finish, and knew how I felt, and how weak and sleepy I
used to feel, and often felt that I could just fall asleep and
never wake up again.
Donald and Allan brought all that was at the tent, Mr. Hubbard's
camera and his rifle and his diary. And I was so very much
surprised to see what he has written, and found a letter he has
been writing for me to Mr. S. A. King, in case I should fail, and
telling him how I had tried so hard to help him. I was so glad to
see this letter, and remembered how he did speak of me this summer,
and was so always pleased of my work. And further, to see here
what he has written about me, even to his very last.
Then I knew his letter would help if the people would not believe
me in what I said.
They fixed Mr. Hubbard's body the best way they could and returned
to Mr. Wallace. Going up they found Mr. Wallace 1 mile above from
where we got the flour from, where Wallace and I parted. They came
on to his trail first. Then they followed him up. He has crossed
the river on the ice to the south shore, just near where they came
to him along the river, where some caribou had been going across.
He had a little fire, but was unable to make a start or to travel
any more. Allan Goudy says he right away gave Wallace some bread
and butter, and after he ate that he did want some more: "But we
would not give him more. We were afraid to give him too much, for
fear he would eat too much.
