180 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



On August the 17 th, having finished dry- 

 ing the meat, which had been retarded by 

 the heavy showers of rain that fell in the 

 morning, we embarked at one P.M., and 

 crossed two lakes and two portages. The 

 last of these was two thousand and sixty-six 

 paces long, and very rugged, so that the 

 men were much fatigued. On the next day 

 we received the flesh of four rein-deer by 

 the small canoe which had been sent for it, 

 and heard that the hunters had killed several 

 more deer on our route. We saw many of 

 these animals as we passed along ; and our 

 companions, delighted with the prospect of 

 having food in abundance, now began to 

 accompany their paddling with singing, 

 which they had discontinued ever since our 

 provisions became scarce. We passed from 

 one small lake to another over four port- 

 ages, then crossed a lake about six miles in 

 diameter, and encamped on its border, 

 where, finding pines, we enjoyed the luxury 

 of a good fire, which we had not done for 

 some days. At ten P. M. the Aurora 

 Borealis appeared very brilliant in an arch 



