236 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANAD 
All hands excepting Michel, who was still unable to — 
walk, 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 night-fall 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. For 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 
