234 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
Once more on land,a camp was made, and a fire 
kindled to thaw out our stiffened limbs, while we 
awaited an opportunity to cross. The mist continued 
the rest of the day, preventing us from making a second 
attempt, and so we lay up for the night. 
Next morning the fog had cleared away, revealing a 
dismal sight. On the south side the river was frozen 
over, and the ice firmly set for a mile or more from shore, 
while the channel of open water to the north was running 
full of heavy ice, making it quite impossible to use the 
boat, and equally impossible to effect a crossing on foot. 
We had no alternative but to remain where we were, 
and hope for a change in the condition of the river. 
Not the least unpleasant feature of this waiting was 
that our provisions were now gone. 
The men were at once sent out to hunt, and returned 
in the evening with nine ptarmigan, with which a good 
bourllon was made for supper. Besides this, Eh, the 
Indian boy, gave us some comforting information as to 
the existence of a fish cache of his father’s, not far dis- 
tant. With this consoling knowledge we rolled up in 
our blankets and were soon dreaming of better times. 
The next morning, there being no change in the river, 
two men and the dogs were sent after William’s fish 
cache, and four others went off hunting, while the rest 
remained at camp, collected wood, and kept the fire 
burning. 
We had nothing to eat this day until evening, when 
the sledding party returned with a little bag and can of 
pounded dried fish, two or three gallons of seal oil, and 
some seal blubber for the dogs, all of which, though not 
exactly luxurious, we were heartily glad to receive. 
