OF THE POLAR SEA. 



235 



sleep ; for the nature of the ground obliged us to pass the night in 

 a demi-erect position, with our backs against a bank of earth. The 

 thermometer was 16° at six P.M. 



After enjoying a more comfortable night's rest than we had expected, 

 we set off at day-break: the thermometer then standing at 18°. 

 The ground was covered with snow, the small lakes were frozen, 

 and the whole scene had a wintry appearance. We got on but slowly 

 at first, owing to an old sprained ancle, which had been very trou- 

 blesome to me for the last three days, and was this morning exces- 

 sively painful. In fording a rivulet, however, the application of cold 

 wa er gave me immediate relief, and I walked with ease the re- 

 mainder of the day. In the afternoon we rejoined our track outwards 

 an' came to the place where Keskarrah had made his deposit of 

 provision, which proved a very acceptable supply, as our stock was 

 exhausted. We then crossed to some sand hills, and encamped 



amidst a few small pines, having walked thirteen miles. 



The comfort of a good fire made us soon insensible to the 



fatigue we had experienced through the day, in marching over the 



rugged stones, whose surface was rendered slippery by the frost. 



The thermometer at seven P.M. stood at 27°. 



We set off at sunrise next morning, and our provision being ex- 

 pended pushed on as fast as we could to Fort Enterprise, where we 

 arrived at eight P.M., almost exhausted by a harassing day's march 

 of twenty-two miles. A substantial supper of rein-deer steaks 

 soon restored our vigour. We had the happiness of meeting our 

 friends Mr. Back and Mr. Hood, who had returned from their ex- 

 cursion on the day succeeding that on which we set out; and I 

 received from them the following account of their journey. 



They proceeded up the Winter River to the north end of the 

 Martin Lake, and then the guide, being unacquainted with the 

 route by water to the Copper-Mine River, proposed that the canoe 

 should be left. Upon this they ascended the loftiest hill in the 



2 H 2 



