13 1 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



We put up, at eight P.M., in a spot which afforded 

 us but a few twigs for fuel. The party was much 

 fatigued, and several of the men were affected by 

 an inflammation on the inside of the thigh at- 

 tended with hardness and swelling. The distance 

 made to-day was six miles. 



We started at ten next morning. The day 

 was extremely hot, and the men were soon jaded ; 

 their lameness increased very much, and some 

 not previously affected began to complain. The 

 dogs too shewed symptoms of great weakness, 

 and one of them stretched himself obstinately on 

 the ice, and was obliged to be released from the 

 harness. Under these circumstances we were 

 compelled to encamp at an early hour, having 

 come only four miles. The sufferings of the peo- 

 ple m this early stage of our journey were truly 

 discouraging to them, and very distressing to us, 

 whose situation was comparatively easy. I, 

 therefore, determined on leaving the third canoe, 

 which had been principaUy carried to provide 

 against any accident happening to the others. By 

 this we gained three men, to lighten the loads of 

 those who were most lame, and an additional dog 

 for each of the other canoes. It was accordingly 

 properly secured on a stage erected for the pur- 

 pose near the encampment. Dried meat was 

 issued for supper, but in the course of the evening 



