154 Thirty Years 
with Heburn to. join Mr. Back, and directed Mr. Hood 
io proceed with the Canadians, and halt with them at 
1 spot where the hunters had killed a deer. Though 
Mr. Back was much fatigued, he set off with me im- 
nediately, and in the evening we rejoined our friends 
yn the borders of the Big Lake. The Indians inform- 
2d us that Fontano only remained a few hours with 
them, and then continued his journey. .We had to 
yppose 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 mederate this 
morning, the atmosphere was piercingly keen. When 
on the point of starting, we perceived Mr. Wentzel’s 
party coming, and awaited his arrival to learn whether 
the canoes had received any injury during the severe 
weather of yesterday. Finding that they had not, 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 its borders. "We-had 
not the command of our feet in this situation, and the 
men fell often ; poor Junius broke through the ice 
with his heavy burden on his back, but fortunately 
was not hurt. 
