﻿330 A NIGHT WITHOUT FUEL. Sept. 



bounded them, and the contrast of the dark surface 

 of their waters with the unbroken snow of their 

 borders, combined with the loss of all definite out- 

 line in the fog, caused them to resemble hideous 

 pits sinking to an unknown depth. The country 

 over which we travelled is composed chiefly of 

 granite ; and after walking till half-past five with- 

 out perceiving a single tree, or the slightest shelter, 

 we came to a convex rock, from which the snow 

 had been swept by the wind. On this we resolved 

 to spread our blankets, as it was just big enough 

 to accommodate the party. There being no fuel of 

 any kind on the spot, we went supperless to bed. 

 Some of the party had no rest, and we heard them 

 groaning bitterly ; but others, among whom were 

 Mr. E,ae and I, slept well. We learned afterwards 

 that a clump of wood grew within a mile and 

 a half of our bivouack ; but even had we been 

 apprised of its existence, we could scarcely have 

 found it in the fog. Several showers of snow 

 occurred in the day, and some fell in the night. 



Had it not been for the fog, we should have met 

 James Hope and two Indians this day, for they 

 were not many miles distant in the morning; 

 but, notwithstanding their acquaintance with the 

 country, they went astray in the thick weather, 

 and did not reach the place where we crossed 

 the Kendall till the second day afterwards. 



