ACKOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



was a channel through which we might pass unobstructed 

 by ice. 



By this time, however, the wind was again blowing 

 strongly, and a cold, heavy rain setting in drove us to camp. 

 During the night the wind increased to a gale, accompanied 

 by torrents of rain, which flooded the tents and saturated our 

 clothing and blankets. ITot a vestige of fuel was to be found 

 in the country, but with a spirit lamp we made hot tea and 

 appeased our sharp appetites with some remnants of boiled 

 venison. Eor three days the storm continued. On the fourth 

 it turned to snow and the temperature went down to freez- 

 ing — rather inhospitable weather for the 10th of August. 



IsText morning, the gale having sufficiently subsided, camp 

 was called about four o'clock, and we continued on our way 

 through the channel we had entered, and along the west shore 

 of the lake in open water until 8 a.m., when we again found 

 ourselves hemmed in by heavy floating ice, which in several 

 places was measured and foimd to be seven feet in thickness. 

 To advance here in the canoes was impossible, so a favorable 

 spot for landing was selected, at the base of the point where 

 the ice was hard ashore. 



Just as we were landing, a small band of deer was seen 

 feeding on a grassy plain not far away, and as our supply 

 of fresh venison was nearly gone, we made plans for a hunt. 

 It was arranged that my brother and I should take up our 

 positions in concealment on a low neck of land between the 

 shore and a small lake, and that the men should so place 

 themselves as to drive the band within range of us. We 

 managed to reach our vantage ground unobserved, but one of 

 the canoemen in attempting to carry out his instructions 

 awkwardly exposed himself and alarmed the deer, causing 

 them to speedily scatter. Some of them, however, bounded 

 past within range of our rifles, and three were brought down, 

 which were sufficient to replenish the larder. 



l^ot far from the landing place was a high hill, so, pro- 



88 



