FALL INTO THE RIGHT COURSE. 271 



ceived that we were actually on the western 

 main shore; though, so great is the difference 

 between a summer and winter prospect, and so 

 deceptive an appearance does the snow give to 

 heights, that I could not, by any strain of 

 memory, recollect the outline of a single part, 

 the whole being, in fact, entirely changed. 

 Nevertheless, we were fortunate enough to hit 

 upon the right course ; and, after some hard 

 walking, were stopped by a ridge or barrier 

 of ice and a lane of water, which compelled 

 us to make a long detour before the line of 

 route could be recovered. In doing this, we 

 got sight of two sand-hills, which I remembered; 

 and about 4 a. m., June 15th, we encamped 

 under the shelter of a high rocky hill, about a 

 quarter of a mile from the river, at which we 

 expected to find the Indians. Had they been 

 with us, much of the late tedious and unsatis- 

 factory march would have been avoided, greatly 

 to the benefit of the feet of all the party ; for this 

 continual walking on spikes was certainly doing 

 severe penance, and most sensibly did we feel that 

 two thirds or more of the original distance was 

 yet to be performed. 



Snow showers ushered in the morning ; and, 

 when these cleared off, it was seen that we were 

 on the borders of a swamp, caused by the melting 

 of the snow from the upper lands, which, from 



