

ADVENTURES BY LAND AND SEA. 187 



we were glad to find that the wind had fallen sufficiently 

 to allow us to launch. Without delay the canoes were 

 loaded and a fair run made. Several sea-ducks were 

 shot during the day, and thus supper was secured. 



The next day, again storm-bound by a gale from the 

 south-west, the whole party started out to hunt for 

 food. We were not altogether unsuccessful, assembling 

 in the evening with five marmots (little animals about 

 the size of squirrels). 



The following morning, though a strong breeze was 

 blowing, we determined to make a start, for to remain 

 where we were meant that we must soon starve to 

 death. We were already much reduced and weakened 

 from the effects of cold and hunger, and the condition 

 of the weather had of late been most disheartening. 

 Churchill, the nearest habitation of man, was still fully 

 three hundred miles distant. We had not one bite of 

 food. The country was covered with snow, the climate 

 piercingly cold. No fuel was to be had, and worst of all, 

 the weather was such, the greater part of the time, that 

 we were unable to travel. It was difficult to be cheerful 

 under such circumstances, but we kept up courage and 

 pushed on. 



While we were bending to our paddles, after making 

 perhaps seven or eight miles south-westerly along the 

 coast, a band of deer was seen upon the shore. Our 

 course was quickly altered and a landing effected, 

 though with some difficulty, as the tide was falling and 

 the water rapidly receding. The men were left to keep 

 the canoes afloat while my brother and I, with our 

 rifles, went in pursuit of the deer, which were at this 

 time much more difficult to hunt than earlier in the 

 season, when they run in great herds. The country 



