A GREAT FROZEN LAKE. 97 
summit. As we proceeded across the 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 decided. to do. 
Having accomplished this task we were once more 
free, but before nightfall were again blocked by the 
pack. Ina deep bay by the mouth of a small river we 
went into camp, feeling somewhat disheartened by our 
ill fortunes. Neither wood nor moss could here be 
found with which to make a fire, but with alcohol some 
hot tea was made, and from it as much comfort was 
extracted as possible, for there was little elsewhere to 
be found. Meeting with so much ice at this season of 
the year made the prospects of farther advance north- 
ward anything but encouraging, but we were 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 with much pleasure we discovered 
that the ice-pack, which had forbidden our advance the 
night before, had now moved off the shore and left in 
its stead a channel of open water. Into this we gladly 
made our way, and once more the paddles were plied 
id 
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