34 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
was better than lying shivering in the darkness and rain, so I 
resumed my tramp, or track survey, as a real pleasure, and 
hoped for better days, but they were not to come iust yet. I 
took advantage of all the daylight the 22nd could afford me for 
travel and made a good day, but the next brought a repetition 
of the storm, a gale from the northeast, with driving rain and~ 
sleet, so severe that I was forced to seek shelter, which to some 
extent I found on the lee side of a rock. | Here I spread my 
canvas, and wrapping my wet blanket about me, remained for 
two days until the storm of wind, rain and snow had spent its 
fury. My biscuits were now all gone, and the only stimulant 
I had at this camp was the remainder of my flask of brandy, of 
which I gladly availed myself. 
My condition had become decidedly serious. I had nor 
slept a night since I had left my canoe, and this wretched 
weather and lack of food was already telling seriously upon me. 
The barren ground is a most inhospitable place in bad weather, 
but having exposed myself to its inhospitalitv there was only 
one thing for me to do, and that was to get out again as best I 
could, and this I was quite resolved to do. 
The morning of the 25th brought a slight improvement in 
the state of the weather, so that I was able to get on my feet 
again and stagger along under mv load made doubly heavy by 
its weight of water. By noon the rain ceased entirely, when I 
was able to make a heather fire and cook some venison, which 
revived me. The next morning I found a quarter of an inch 
of new ice on the pond, but getting under way I soon came to 
the shore of a very large lake, the one I believe shown by Back 
on his Indian sketch, and recently named Campbell Lake. 
Its shores are formed of high white sand ridges and af- 
forded good travel, which was most accentable to my sore feet 
and worn-out moccasins. ‘The country in the vicinity of Camp- 
bell Lake presented a less rugged and more pleasing appearance 
than. it had done since leaving the Thelon. Berries of several 
kinds had again made their appearance, and deer trails were 
well defined and deep, although it might be noticed that these 
latter were everywhere to be seen throughout my journey. 
