ACKOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



engaged in the work. The boat was launched, and by means 

 of a long line we managed to tow it about half a mile up 

 shore, but there the ice became so thick that we had to haul 

 it out to prevent its being crushed. Our objective point was 

 about a mile farther up, so an effort was made to haul the 

 boat along the shore. It was all the ten of us could manage, 

 but by about nightfall we had succeeded. The night being 

 clear and light, we moved camp to the boat, that we might be 

 prepared to cross in the morning if it were possible. 



The next morning was bitterly cold and a fog was rising 

 from the river. We towed the boat half a mile still farther 

 up, until the Seal Islands were reached. Here we pushed 

 out into the stream and commenced the struggle. 



Every man was armed with an oar, a pole or an axe, and 

 all of these were vigorously applied in forcing our way 

 through the ice and the current. Eor a time we made fair 

 progress, but before long were caught in the grip of the ice- 

 pack and hurried down with the stream toward the sea. 



We pushed and we pulled, we pounded and hacked, and at 

 length got into a channel of open water. Again we were 

 beset, but again got free, and so after much exertion we 

 crossed the channel and landed upon the stationary ice. We 

 had taken this for shore-ice, but were sorely disappointed to 

 find it was only a jam in the middle of the channel. 



What was now to be done ? It was impossible to tow the 

 boat around the upper end of the jam; and to allow it to 

 drift down past the lower end would mean that we would be 

 carried with the current out to sea and be irrevocably lost. 



After carefully considering the situation, we concluded to 

 portage across the island of ice and launch on the other side. 

 Accordingly the boat was unloaded and piece by piece every- 

 thing was carried safely across, but when we attempted to 

 portage the boat, it and we continually broke through the 

 surface. We were therefore obliged to cut a channel right 

 through the island, the full width of the boat. After much 



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