32 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



to keep up with them. At three P.M. we 

 halted within nine miles of the Salt River, 

 and made a hearty meal of mouldy pem- 

 mican. 



" December 28 and 29. — We had much 

 difficulty in proceeding, owing to the poor 

 dogs being quite worn out, and their feet 

 perfectly raw. We endeavoured to tie shoes 

 on them, to afford them some little relief, 

 but they continually came off when amongst 

 deep snow, so that it occupied one person 

 entirely to look after them. In this state 

 they were hardly of any use among the 

 steep ascents of the portages, when we were 

 obliged to drag the sledges ourselves. We 

 found a few of the rapids entirely frozen. 

 Those that were not had holes and large 

 spaces about them, from whence issued a 

 thick vapour, and in passing this we found 

 it particularly cold ; but what appeared 

 most curious was the number of small foun- 

 tains which rose through the ice, and often 

 rendered it doubtful which way we should 

 take. I was much disappointed at finding 

 several falls (which I had intended to 



