98 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Faint coruscations of the Aurora Borealis 

 appeared one evening, but their presence 

 did not in the least affect the electrometer 

 or the compass. The ice daily became 

 thicker in the lake, and the frost had now 

 nearly overpowered the rapid current of the 

 Saskatchawan River ; indeed, parties of 

 men who were sent from both the forts to 

 search for the Indians, and procure what- 

 ever skins and provisions they might have 

 collected, crossed that stream this day on 

 the ice. The white partridges made their 

 first appearance near the house, which birds 

 are considered as the infallible harbingers 

 of severe weather. 



Monday, November 22. — The Saskatcha- 

 wan, and every other river, were now com- 

 pletely covered with ice, except a small 

 stream not far from the fort, through which 

 the current ran very powerfully. In the 

 course of the week we removed into the 

 house our men had prepared since our 

 arrival. We found it at first extremely cold, 

 notwithstanding that a good fire was kept 

 in each apartment, and we frequently expe- 



