OF THE POLAR SEA. 33 
hurried down the rapid. Fortunately, however, 
it grounded against a rock high enough to pre- 
vent the current from oversetting it, and the 
crews of the other boats having come to our 
assistance, we succeeded, after several trials, in 
throwing a rope tothem, with which they dragged 
our almost sinking vessel stern foremost up the 
stream, and rescued us from our perilous situa- 
tion. We encamped in the dusk of the evening 
amidst a heavy thunder-storm, having advanced 
two miles and three quarters. 
About ten’ in the morning of the 23d we ar- 
rived at the Dramstone, which is hailed with 
pleasure by the boats’ crews, as marking the ter- 
mination of the laborious ascent of Hill River. 
We complied with the custom from whence it 
derives its name, and soon after landing upon 
Sail Island prepared breakfast. In the mean 
time our boatmen cut down and rigged a new 
mast, the old one having been thrown over- 
board at the mouth of Steel River, where’ it 
ceased to be useful. We left Sail Island with 
a fair wind, and soon afterwards arrived at a 
depot situated on Swampy Lake, where we: re- 
ceived a supply of mouldy pemmican*. Mr. 
Calder and his attendant were the only tenants 
of this cheerless abode, and their only food was 
__ * Buffalo meat, dried and pounded, and mixed with melted fat. 
