256 ‘Thirty Years 
upon our socks and shoes to prevent them from freez- 
ing. This plan was afterwards adopted throughout 
the journey. 
At half-past five in the morning we proceeded ; and 
after walking about two miles, came to Cracroft’s Riv- 
er, flowing to the westward, with a very rapid current 
over a rocky channel. We had much difficulty in 
crossing this, the canoe being useless, not only from 
the bottom of the channel being obstructed by large 
stones, but also from its requiring gumming, an opera- 
tion which, owing to the want of wood and the frost, 
we were unable to perform. However, after following 
the course of the river some way, we effected a pass- 
age by means of a range of large rocks that crossed a 
rapid. As the current was strong, and many of the 
rocks were covered with water to the depth of two or 
three feet, the men were exposed to much danger in 
carrying their heavy burdens across, and several of 
them actually slipped into the stream, but were im- 
mediately rescued by the others. Junius went farther 
up the river in search of a better crossing place, and 
did not rejoin us to-day. As several of the party were 
drenched from head to foot, and we were all wet to 
the middle, our clothes became stiff with the frost, and 
we walked with much pain for the remainder of the 
day. The march was continued to a late hour, being 
anxious to rejoin the hunters who had gone before, but 
