IN OUR PASSAGE. 349 



that if we could only get along the low southern 

 shore, which, though apparently unpromising, 

 yet from its shallowness and greater radiation of 

 heat favoured the chance of a narrow lane, we 

 might by making a few portages be fortunate 

 enough to succeed in reaching the open water ; 

 and at all events, whether we reached it or not, 

 the people would be occupied, and prevented 

 from brooding over their difficulties, and alarm- 

 ing themselves with the anticipation of imaginary 

 evils. 



For several hours we continued to creep slowly 

 to the south, sometimes wedged in the ice, at 

 others cutting through it with axes, and breaking 

 huge masses away, — now bringing the weight 

 of the boat and cargo to act, then lifting her 

 with fenders on each side cautiously through the 

 openings ; and thus was the way groped nearly 

 all day, till, as the sun got low, a shallow part 

 defied every attempt to pass it. In vain did 

 the people wade and carry the pieces to lighten 

 the boat ; still she would not float over the large 

 stones that paved the bottom. The ice, there- 

 fore, was the only chance ; and after making a 

 portage for some distance over an extremely 

 rotten part, she was absolutely lifted over the re- 

 maining obstructions, and again loaded ; after 

 which our progress was more satisfactory, and 



