62 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Next day the wind was so keen, that the men pro- 

 posed conveying me in a sledge that I might be 

 the less exposed, to which, after some hesitation, 

 I consented. Accordingly a rein-deer skin and 

 a blanket were laid along the sledge, and in these 

 I was wrapped tight up to the chin, and lashed to 

 the vehicle, with just leaving sufficient play for 

 my head to perceive when I was about to be 

 upset on some rough projecting piece of ice. 

 Thus equipped, we set off before the wind (a 

 favourable circumstance on a lake), and went on 

 very well until noon ; when the ice being driven 

 up m ridges, in such a manner as to obstruct us 

 very much, I was released ; and I confess not un- 

 willingly, though I had to walk the remainder of 

 the day. 



" There are large openings in many parts where 

 the ice had separated ; and in attempting to cross 

 one of them, the dogs fell into the water, and 

 were saved with difficulty. The poor animals 

 suffered dreadfully from the cold, and narrowly 

 escaped being frozen to death. We had quick- 

 ened our pace towards the close of the day, but 

 could not get sight of the land ; and it was not 

 till the sun had set that we perceived it about 

 four miles to our left, which obliged us to turn 

 back, and head the wind. It was then so cold, 

 that two of the party were frozen ahnost immedi- 



