10 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



seemed to detach themselves from the main body, and be 

 whirled or driven in its van. For a space of five degrees, 

 the sky beneath the cloud, and between it and the horizon 

 of Lake Superior, was clear and blue, and as the great 

 mass of vapour slowly rose from the lake to the height of 

 about eight degrees, its lower edge became brilliantly 

 tinted by the rays of the sun, which it had hitherto com- 

 pletely obscured ; below it a shadow of the deepest 

 purple, sharply bounded by a greenish white line, added 

 extreme beauty and singularity to the spectacle. Its 

 form changed rapidly, and a white line of crested waves 

 beneath it gave warning of an approaching squall, which 

 soon came down with great force, and compelled us to 

 seek shelter in Whisky Bay. 



As soon as the morning dawned, preparations were 

 made for steaming out of our harbour of refuge. Fogs, 

 so common in Lake Superior, began to appear about 

 9 A. M., and continued throughout the day. Fog-bows, 

 several degrees broad, very low, and of little variety of 

 colour, were visible whenever the sun's light succeeded 

 in penetrating our misty screen. On looking over the 

 side of the vessel a double halo of very brilliant colours 

 might be seen encircling the shadow of the observer's 

 head projected on the dark coloured waters. Every man 

 saw " his own halo," but not tlfat of his neighbour. To- 

 wards evening a sharp look-out was kept for land on 

 either hand. Caribou Island was supposed to be lying to 

 the south, and Michipicoten Island to the north of our 

 course. The day was very cold; thermometer at 3 p.m., 

 42°; at 4, 40°; and at 4.30, 39°.5, which was the 

 lowest, point it reached. The waters of the lake showed 

 also a temperature of 39°.5. Mr. Wilson, a fellow- 

 passenger, who has resided two summers on Michipicoten 

 Island, says that the Lake Superior summer fogs begin 



