THE FATAL MONTH. 783 



to a settlement, for I have long since realized that we 

 are powerless to help ourselves. 



A bright, calm, beautiful clay. Bright sunshine to 

 cheer us up, an icy road, and one day's rations yet. 

 Boots frozen, of course, and balled up. No hut in 

 sight, and we halt on a bluff to spend a cold and com- 

 fortless night. Supper one half pound meat and tea. 

 Made a rousing fire, built a log bed, set a watch (two 

 hours each) to keep the fire going, and at eight p. M. 

 crawled into our blankets. 



October 2d, Sunday. — I think we all slept fairly 

 well until midnight ; but from that time it was so cold 

 and uncomfortable that sleep was out of the question. 

 At 4.30 we were all out and in front of the fire, day- 

 light just appearing. Ericksen kept talking in his sleep 

 all night, and effectually kept those awake who were 

 not already awakened by the cold. 



Breakfast five a. m. One half pound meat and tea. 

 Bright, cloudless morning. Light N. airs. At seven 

 went ahead, following frozen water wherever we could 

 find it, and at 9.20 I feel quite sure we have gone some 

 distance on the main river. I think our gait was at 

 least two miles an hour, and our time under way two 

 hours four minutes. I call our forenoon w T ork at least 

 six miles : 7.00 to 7.35, 7.45 to 8.05, 8.15 to 8.30, 8.40 

 to 8.50, 9.20 to 9.40, 9.50 to 10.12, 10.22 to 10.40, 

 10.55 to 11.15. Dinner camp. 1.00 to 1.30, 1.40 to 

 2.00, 2.15 to 2.35, 2.45 to 3.00, 3.20 to 3.40, 3.50 to 

 4.05, 4.15 to 4.20. 



Divine service before dinner. Dinner one half pound 

 meat and tea. Started ahead at one p. m., and by 4.15 

 had completed two marching hours and made four miles. 

 I was much bewildered by the frequent narrowing of 

 the river to a small vein of ice, and the irregular ram- 



