A SNOW STORM. 9TJ5 



(Carron) broke through, and sunk over head : 

 his next companion fortunately looked behind 

 him at the moment, and on his re-appearance 

 instantly seized him by the arm, and saved him 

 from being swept away by the current. The 

 weather, always cold and gloomy, soon became 

 squally, which, at about 9 p.m., settled into a 

 storm of sleet and wet snow, coming from ahead, 

 which, driving upon our faces, so injured our eyes 

 that we were frequently compelled to turn round 

 to shelter and recruit them. A second rapid 

 was gained, and, the channel about it being 

 interrupted by ice, the former plan of dragging 

 the boat on runners was again resorted to. In 

 less than an hour, a third rapid made it necessary 

 again to launch her, which having surmounted, 

 we got fairly on the lake, not far from the island 

 where, last season, I had made my cache of 

 pemmican. It was here that I depended on 

 finding our two Indians ; and, as they might be 

 either asleep or hunting, I encamped, to give 

 them an opportunity of seeing the white tent, 

 which, on the barren lands, was a conspicuous 

 object. 



The thermometer stood at 33°, with snow, and 

 a raw cold wind that pierced through us in 

 spite of cloaks or blankets. It was two o'clock 

 in the morning ; and, as I had not yet dined, 



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