4
This constable, Robertson declared, had shown him many personal kindnesses, and refused nothing in his power; nevertheless, on their departure, he joined with his four companions in robbing him of every article he had, not leaving him even a loaf of bread to subsist on, though he was without a morsel, and three days must have elapsed before he could obtain any more from the main settlement; and Robertson had, besides, at various times, tried to be accessary to his death, by letting a tree fall upon him without giving him notice, or by other mean, for no other earthly reason than because he was a constable, and the unwilling or passive instrument of flogging the men; and he, therefore, hated him. One would have thought that these five men, thus embarked in a most perilous journey, would have been knit together in one interest for their mutual safety and protection. They viewed each other with the most murderous feeling, jealous of the possession of the only axe which they ⟨carried⟩ amongst them, lest one should drive it into the head of the other; for that was the mode of slaughter upon on another, while the wretched victim was asleep. The demon of evil had possession, and walked in the midst of them. Every principle—every feeling of
