OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 



229 



subsequently pleased to inform the reader in regard to the 

 behavior of this particular bear, although he may be as- 

 sured that it was most unsatisfactory. 



This record has been brought down to the 5th of No- 

 vember, which finds us nearly buried beneath the snow, 

 while the cold wind comes to us this morninof from the 

 northwest. The snow-storm continues, but is less severe 

 than it was yesterday, although the weather is colder. The 

 lakes are freezing rapidly, and it is with much difficulty 

 that we can pass our canoes through the ice that has 

 already formed, and it is very evident that navigation in 

 this reofion will be closed within a few hours. 



The captain and the author took their departure from 

 the buried tent on Camp Lake about half-past nine o'clock 

 this morning. The sun had already made a few ineffectual 

 attempts to send forth her cheering rays, but the rapidly- 

 moving veil of clouds which covered its face has thus far 

 defeated this benign effort. The wind is blowing; it causes 

 the snow to fly in a very lively style from the evergreen- 

 trees, on which some still reposes ; while in addition to 

 this, there are numerous attempts to renew the snow- 

 storm. The paddling of our canoe requires the united 

 efforts of the captain and myself, since it is necessary that 

 one should be almost constantly breaking the ice with the 

 paddle while the other pushes the frail bark forward. 

 Neither was our progress on land more rapid or less 

 laborious, since we were compelled to wallow through the 

 deep snow, which also served to cover fallen trees, bushes, 

 etc., while these in turn frequently entrapped our feet and 

 plunged us headlong into this cold bed. The author is 



