CKOSSING THE KELSON 



two held high carnival all night, vying with each other as to 

 which should cause the strange intruders in the grove the 

 more discomfort. TJie gale shrieked through the trees and 

 threatened to level our shelter; nor was he contented with 

 this, but entered the camp and played pranks with our fire 

 and blankets. The more stealthy snowstorm, making less 

 noise than his blustering friend, before daylight had filled 

 the ravine with white drifts and almost buried us. 



Such was our condition on the morning of the 14th. As 

 this was the ninth day from Churchill, our supply of pro- 

 visions was about exhausted, but we were now only one day's 

 march from York. After breakfast, despite the condition 

 of the weather, all hands proceeded to the boat, and by a 

 united effort managed to drag it out to the edge of the shore- 

 ice; but the tide being low, there was no water to float it. 

 We, therefore, had to await the flood-tide, which would not be 

 up tiU about noon. Meanwhile the boat was loaded where it 

 rested upon the sand, and at twelve o'clock, being lifted by 

 the water, a canvas was hoisted, and through a dense fog 

 which rose from the river we sailed up the shore to find a 

 narrow part of the stream where we might avoid the broad 

 shoals which extended out from the opposite shore. 



Having proceeded some three niiles up, to the vicinity of 

 Flamboro' Head, a bold headland, our course was altered, 

 and we steered into the fog for the south shore — about two 

 miles distant. The wind was piercingly cold, instantly freez- 

 ing every splash as it fell, and still blowing fresh, so that 

 our ice-laden craft sped swiftly away on her course. Some 

 floating ice was met, but successfully passed, and for a time 

 it seemed as if the crossing would soon be effected ; but sud- 

 denly there loomed out of the mist, right ahead, a dense 

 field of ice, broken and rafted and hurrying down with the 

 current. By putting the helm hard to starboard, and quickly 

 dropping our canvas, we managed to keep clear of the mass ; 

 but what was now to be done ? 



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