202 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



climbed upon boulders, vainly hoping to at least get a 

 glimpse of the land. Of course, we knew the direction 

 in which the shore lay, but it was so low, and we were 

 so far out, that it was beyond our view. 



Soon the shades of night began to fall about us, our 

 canoes were leaking badly and the weather was bitterly 

 cold. Failing to reach the shore, we resolved to wait 

 for high tide, about ten o'clock, hoping we might with 

 it do better. The tide came, but left us still in the same 

 condition, no more able to penetrate the ice or gain the 

 shore than before. It had become intensely dark, and 

 we were in great danger of being smashed on the ice or 

 rocks. We were utterly helpless and could do nothing 

 but remain where we were, or go where the tide chose 

 to carry us, until the return of daylight. 



The hours of that night were the longest I have ever 

 experienced, and the odds seemed to be against us sur- 

 viving until morning ; but at last the day returned and 

 found us still alive. My brother was nearly frozen, 

 having been obliged to sit or lie in icy water all night. 

 Poor little Michel had both of his feet frozen, and the 

 rest of us were badly used up. Still we were in the 

 same position as on the night before. We could not 

 hold out much longer; we must gain the shore or 

 perish. At the time of high tide, the ice being some- 

 what loosened, our canoes were thrust into the pack, and 

 by great exertion as well as much care we succeeded 

 about one o'clock in reaching solid ice, upon which we 

 were able to land and, for the last time, haul out our 

 noble little crafts. We had been in them just thirty 

 hours, battling with the ice, exposed to a chilling winter 



