234 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



Once more on land, a camp was made, and a fire 

 kindled to thaw out our stiffened limbs, while we 

 awaited an opportunity to cross. The mist continued 

 the rest of the day, preventing us from making a second 

 attempt, and so we lay up for the night. 



Next morning the fog had cleared away, revealing a 

 dismal sight. On the south side the river was frozen 

 over, and the ice firmly set for a mile or more from shore, 

 while the channel of open water to the north was running 

 full of heavy ice, making it quite impossible to use the 

 boat, and equally impossible to effect a crossing on foot. 



We had no alternative but to remain where we were, 

 and hope for a change in the condition of the river. 

 Not the least unpleasant feature of this waiting was 

 that our provisions were now gone. 



The men were at once sent out to hunt, and returned 

 in the evening with nine ptarmigan, with which a good 

 bouillon was made for supper. Besides this, Eli, the 

 Indian boy, gave us some comforting information as to 

 the existence of a fish cache of his father's, not far dis- 

 tant. With this consoling knowledge we rolled up in 

 our blankets and were soon dreaming of better times. 



The next morning, there being no change in the river, 

 two men and the dogs were sent after William's fish 

 cache, and four others went off hunting, while the rest 

 remained at camp, collected wood, and kept the fire 

 burning. 



We had nothing to eat this day until evening, when 

 the sledding party returned with a little bag and can of 

 pounded dried fish, two or three gallons of seal oil, and 

 some seal blubber for the dogs, all of which, though not 

 exactly luxurious, we were heartily glad to receive. 



