236 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



All hands excepting Michel, who was still unable to 

 walk, engaged in the work. The boat was launched, 

 and by means of a long line we managed to tow it 

 about half a mile up shore, but there the ice became 

 so thick that we had to haul it out to prevent its being 

 crushed. Our objective point was about a mile farther 

 up, so an effort was made to haul the boat along the 

 shore. It was all the ten of us could manage, but by 

 about night-fall we had succeeded. The night being 

 clear and light, we moved camp to the boat, that we 

 might be prepared to cross in the morning if it were 

 possible. 



The next morning was bitterly cold and a fog was 

 rising from the river. We towed the boat half a mile 

 still farther up, until the Seal Islands were reached. 

 Here we pushed out into the stream and commenced the 

 struggle. 



Every man was armed with an oar, a pole or an axe, 

 and all of these were vigorously applied in forcing our 

 way through the ice and the current. For a time we 

 made fair progress, but before long were caught in the 

 grip of the ice-pack and hurried down with the stream 

 toward the sea. 



We pushed and we pulled, we pounded and hacked, 

 and at length got into a channel of open water. Again 

 we were beset, but again got free, and so after much 

 exertion we crossed the channel and landed upon the 

 stationary ice. We had taken this for shore-ice, but 

 were sorely disappointed to find it was only a jam in 

 the middle of the channel. 



What was now to be done ? It was impossible to tow 

 the boat around the upper end of the jam; and to allow 



