154 Thirty Years 



with Heburn to join Mr. Back, and directed Mr. Hood 

 to proceed with the Canadians, and halt with them at 

 a spot where the hunters had killed a deer. Though 

 Mr. Back was much fatigued, he set off with me im- 

 mediately, and in the evening we rejoined our friends 

 on the borders of the Big Lake. The Indians inform- 

 ed us that Fontano only remained a few hours with 

 them, and then continued his journey. We had to 

 oppose a violent gale and frequent snow storms 

 through the day, which unseasonable weather caused 

 the temperature to descend below the freezing point 

 this evening. The situation of our encampment being 

 bleak, and our fuel stunted green willows, we passed 

 a very cold and uncomfortable night. 



June 18. — Though the breeze was moderate this 

 morning, the atmosphere was piercingly keen. When 

 on the point of starting, we perceived Mr. Wentzel's 

 party coming, and awaited his arrival t<> Learn whether 

 the canoes had received any injury during the severe 

 weather of yesterday. Finding that they had nut, we 

 proceeded to get upon the ice on the lake, which could 

 not be effected without walking up to the waist in 

 water, for some distance from it3 borders. We bad 

 not the command of our feel In this situation, ami the 

 men fell often; poor Junius broke through tie- ice 

 with his heavy burden on his back, but fortunately 



was not hurl. 



