CROSSING THE NELSON. 933 
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 till about noon. Mean- 
while 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 and avoid the broad shoals which 
extended out from the opposite shore. 
_ Having proceeded some three miles 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 freezing 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 suddenly 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 ? 
The south shore was still hidden by dense volumes of 
vapor, and nothing could be seen in that direction but 
the adjacent fields of ice. On the north shore the dark 
outline of Flamboro’ Head could still be discerned, and 
it was resolved thence to beat our retreat. We were, 
however, unable to sail against the wind, but taking to 
the oars we managed, after a prolonged and difficult 
struggle, to regain the place whence we had started. 
