A GREAT FROZEN LAKE 



far as the eye could reach, there appeared a vast white plain 

 shrouded in drifting clouds of mist. It was evidently a 

 great lake, still covered in the month of August with a field 

 of ice, and was probably the DubaAvnt or Tobaunt Lake, 

 blown in a legendary way to the Athabasca Indians, and 

 sighted over one hundred years ago by Samuel Heame when 

 on his journey to the Coppermine River. Its re-discovery 

 was now a matter of the deepest interest to us. Was it to 

 form an insurmountable obstacle in our path? was the ques- 

 tion at once suggested, and, judging from appearances, most 

 of the men were of opinion that it would. 



On Monday morning, the 7th of August, all undismayed, 

 we broke camp early, and bidding good-bye to the last vestige 

 of growing timber to be seen, continued down the river toward 

 the frozen lake. Four more rapids were passed, and about 

 10 a.m., retarded by a strong east wind, we went ashore on 

 a little island in the broad mouth of the river. Here we built 

 another cairn of rocks, upon which were painted, with red 

 enamel, the latitude of the spot and the date and name of the 

 expedition. 



In the afternoon, the wind having moderated, we started 

 out for the mainland to the north. We followed it for some 

 miles to the eastward, and then struck across to a long point, 

 which appeared to be the outermost point of the river shore. 

 Up to this time we had seen nothing of the ice-field, but here 

 it was, tight in against the shore, and defying farther advance 

 by canoe. Towards the edge of the pack the ice was much 

 broken and honey-combed, but it was far too heavy to be 

 tackled by canoes or even stout boats. It was decided, there- 

 fore, to turn into what we supposed was a bay, just passed, 

 and from the shore get a view of the pack. We had no 

 sooner altered our course than a deer was sighted close by, 

 shot, and taken on board as fresh meat. It was found that 

 the point was that of a long island, and that the_ supposed bay 



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