320 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



our party, and the canoe men who had been encamped near to 

 The thermometer at three P.M. was 46°, at nine 34 



We commenced the following day by crossing a lake about four 

 miles in length, and then passed over a succession of rugged hills 

 for nearly the same distance. The men being anxious to reach 

 some pine-trees, which they had seen on their former journey 

 walked a quick pace, though they were suffering from swelled legs 

 and rheumatic pains ; we could not, however, attain the desired 

 point, and therefore encamped on the declivity of a hill, which 

 sheltered us from the wind ; and used the rein-deer moss for fuel, 



* 



which afforded us more warmth than we expected. We perceived 

 several patches of snow yet remaining on the surrounding hills. The 



thermometer varied to-day between 55° and 45°. 



On the 20th of June we began our march by crossing a small 

 lake, not without much risk, as the surface of the ice was covered 

 with water to the depth of two feet, and there were many holes into 

 which we slipped, in spite of our efforts to avoid them. A few of 

 the men, being fearful of attempting the traverse with their heavy 

 loads, walked round the eastern end of the lake. The parties 

 met on the sandy ridge, which separates the streams that fall 

 into Winter Lake from those that flow to the northward ; and here 

 we killed three deer. Near to the base of this ridge we crossed a 

 small but rapid stream, in which there is a remarkable cascade of 

 about fifty feet descent. Some Indians joined us here, and gave 

 us information respecting the situation of Dr. Richardson's tent, 

 which our hunters considered was sufficient for our guidance, and 

 therefore proceeded as quickly as they could. We marched a few 

 miles farther in the evening, and encamped among some pines ; 

 but the comfort o£ a good fire did not compensate for the torment 

 we suffered from the host of musquitoes we found at this spot. The 



temperature was 52°. 



We set off next morning at a very early hour. The men took the 



