398 Thirty Years 



CHAPTER XV. 



r^nd 9 ' On our arrival at the Bear Lake River, we 

 were mortified to find the ice drifting down in large 

 masses, with such rapidity as to render embarkation 

 unsafe. The same cause detained us the whole of 

 the following day ; and as we had brought no more 

 provision from the house than sufficient for an unin- 

 terrupted passage to Fort Norman, we sent for a sup- 

 ply of fish. This was a very sultry day, the thermom- 

 eter in the shade being 71° at noon, and 74° at three 

 p. M. 



The descent of the ice having ceased at eight in 

 the morning of the 24th, we embarked. The heavy 

 stores were put into a bateau, manned by Canadians, 

 who were experienced in the paBsage through rapids, 

 and the rest of the boats were ordered to follow in its 

 wake, keeping at such a distance from each other as 

 to allow of any evolution that might be necessary to 

 avoid the stones. The boats struck several times, 

 but received no injury. At the foot of the rapid we 



