310 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



shelter of a rock, having walked in the whole four 

 miles and a half. We made an attempt to gather 

 some tripe de roche, but could not, owing to the 

 severity of the weather. Our supper, therefore, 

 consisted of tea and a few morsels of leather. 



Augustus did not make his appearance, but 

 we felt no alarm at his absence, supposing he 

 would go to the tent if he missed our track. 

 Having fire, we procured a little sleep. Next 

 morning the breeze was light and the weather 

 mild, which enabled us to collect some tripe de 

 roche, and to enjoy the only meal we had for four 

 days. We derived great benefit from it, and 

 walked with considerably more ease than yester- 

 day. Without the strength it supplied, we should 

 certainly have been unable to oppose the strong 

 breeze we had in the afternoon. After walking 

 about five miles, we came upon the borders of 

 Marten Lake, and were rejoiced to find it frozen, 

 so that we could continue our course straight for 

 Fort Enterprise. We encamped at the first rapid 

 in Winter River amidst willows and alders ; but 

 these were so frozen, and the snow fell so thick, 

 that the men had great difficulty in making a 

 fire. This proving insufficient to warm us, or 

 even thaw our shoes, and having no food to pre- 

 pare, we crept under our blankets. The arrival 



