A GREAT FROZEN LAKE 



viding ourselves with field-glasses, we set out for its summit. 

 As we tramped across country we found the ground frozen 

 and all the little ponds covered by new ice. Such a condition 

 of things was not the most enlivening, and it was a point of 

 discussion with us whether the season of this land was spring 

 or autumn. Upon reaching the hill-top we were well repaid 

 for our labor. Away to the south and the east, as far as we 

 could see, the ice-field extended, but to the north there lay 

 much open water, and near the base of the hill there was a 

 comparatively narrow neck of land across which we might 

 portage our outfit and get to the open water. This we 

 quickly decided to do. 



Having accomplished this task we were once more free, but 

 before nightfall were again blocked by the pack. In a deep 

 bay by the mouth of a sma,ll river we went into camp, feeling 

 somewhat disheartened by our ill fortunes. Neither wood 

 nor moss with which to make a fire could here be found, but 

 with spirit lamps some hot tea was made, and from it as much 

 comfort was extracted as possible, for there was little else- 

 where to be found. Meeting with so much ice at this season 

 of the year made the prospects of farther advance northward 

 anything but encouraging, but we resolved, if it were 

 possible, to push on and see the end of the great river we had 

 thus far descended. 



The morning of the 12th broke cold and dreary. New 

 ice everywhere covered the ponds, but camp was astir early, 

 and it was vtdth much pleasure we discovered that the ice- 

 pack, which had forbidden our advance the night before, had 

 now moved off the shore and left a channel of open water. 

 Into this we gladly made our way, and once more the paddles 

 were plied lustily. During the day we encountered much 

 ice, solid fields of which extended out from the land, but we 

 were able to get along without much obstruction. Several 

 white wolves were seen on the shore as we passed, and at 

 some places, where landings were made, numerous little 



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