left him, and this is what I read:

"Sunday, October 18th, 1903.

"Alone in camp, junction Nascaupee and some other stream--estimated
(overestimated, I hope) distance above head of Grand Lake 33 miles.

"For two days past we have travelled down our old trail with light
packs. We left a bit of flour--wet--about 11 miles below here--12
miles (approx.) below that about a pound of milk powder--4 miles below
that about 4 pounds of lard. We counted on all these to help us out in
our effort to reach the head of Grand Lake where we hoped to find
Skipper Tom Blake's trapping camp and cache. On Thursday, as stated, I
busted. Friday and Saturday it was the same. I saw it was probably
hopeless for me to try to go farther with the boys, so we counselled
last night and decided they should take merely half a blanket each,
socks, etc., some tea, tea pail, cups and the pistols, and go on. They
will try to reach the flour to-morrow. Then Wallace will try to bring
a little and come back to me. George will go on to the milk and lard
and to Skipper Blake's, if he can, and send or lead help to us. I want
to say here that they are two of the very best, bravest and grandest
men I ever knew, and if I die it will not be because they did not put
forth their best efforts. Our past two days have been trying ones. I
have not written my diary because so very weak. Day before yesterday
we caught sight of a caribou, but it was on our lee, and winding us got
away before a shot could be fired. Yesterday at our old camp we found
the end we had cut from a flour bag. It had a bit of flour sticking to
it. We boiled it with our old caribou bones, and it strengthened the
broth a little. We also found a can of mustard we had thrown away.
Mina gave it to me as we were coming away, saying she had no use for it
and it might be good for plasters here. I sat and held it in my hand a
long time thinking how it came from Congers and our home, and what a
happy home it was, and what a dear, dear girl presided. Then I took a
bite of it and it was very good. We mixed some in our bone soup and it
seemed to stimulate us. We had a bit of caribou skin in that same pot.
It swelled up thick and was very good. Last night I fell asleep while
the boys were reading to me. This morning I was very, very sleepy.
After the boys left--they left me tea, the caribou bones and another
end of a flour sack found here, a rawhide caribou moccasin and some
yeast cakes--