OP THE POLAR SEA. 185 



journey at five in the morning, and travelled 

 through the remaining part of the lake on the ice. 

 Its surface being quite smooth, the canoes were 

 dragged along expeditiously by the dogs, and the 

 rest of the party had to walk very quick to keep 

 pace with them, which occasioned them to get 

 many heavy falls. By the time we had reached 

 the end of the lake, the wind had increased to a 

 perfect gale, and the atmosphere was so cold that 

 we could not proceed further with the canoes 

 without the risk of breaking the bark, and se- 

 riously injuring them ; Vv e therefore crossed Win- 

 ter River in them, and put up in a well-sheltered 

 place on a ridge of sand hills. But as the stock 

 of provision was scanty, we determined on pro- 

 ceeding as quick as possible, and leaving the 

 canoe-party under the charge of Mr. Wentzel. 

 We parted from them in the afternoon, and first 

 directed our course towards a range of hills, 

 where we expected to find Antonio Fontano, who 

 had separated from us in the morning. In cross- 

 ing towards these hills I fell through the ice into 

 the lake, with my bundle on my shoulders, but 

 was soon extricated without receiving any injury; 

 and Mr. Back, who left us to go in search of the 

 straggler, met with a similar accident in the even- 

 ing. We put up on a ridge of sand hills, where 

 we found some pines, and made a large fire to 



