202 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
climbed upon boulders, vainly hoping to- at least get a 
glimpse of the land. Of course, we knew the direction 
in which the shore lay, but it was so low, and we were 
so far out, that it was beyond our view. 
Soon the shades of night began to fall about us, our 
canoes were leaking badly and the weather was bitterly 
cold. Failing to reach the shore, we resolved to wait 
for high tide, about ten o'clock, hoping we might with 
it do better. The tide came, but left us still in the same 
condition, no more able to penetrate the ice or gain the 
shore than before. It had become intensely dark, and 
we were in great danger of being smashed on the ice or 
rocks. We were utterly helpless and could do nothing 
but remain where we were, or go where the tide chose 
to carry us, until the return of daylight. 
The hours of that night were the longest I have ever 
experienced, and the odds seemed to be against us sur- 
viving until morning; but at last the day returned and 
found us still alive. My brother was nearly frozen, 
having been obliged to sit or lie in icy water all night. 
Poor little Michel had both of his feet frozen, and the 
rest of us were badly used up. Still we were in the 
same position as on the night before. We could not 
hold out much longer; we must gain the shore or 
perish. At the time of high tide, the ice being some- 
what loosened, our canoes were thrust into the pack, and 
by great exertion as well as much care we succeeded 
about one o’clock in reaching solid ice, upon which we 
were able to land and, for the last time, haul out our 
noble little crafts. We had been in them just thirty 
hours, battling with the ice, exposed to a chilling winter 
