120 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



arrival, the snow began to fall heavily, and it continued through the 

 greater part of the night. 



Our next day's march was therefore particularly tedious, the snow 

 being deep, and the route lying across an unvarying level, destitute 

 of wood, except one small cluster of willows. In the afternoon we 

 reached the end of the plain, and came to an elevation, on which 

 poplars, willows, and some pines grew, where we encamped, having 

 travelled ten miles. We crossed three small lakes, two of fresh 

 water, and one of salt, near the latter of which we encamped, and 

 were, in consequence, obliged to use for our tea water made from 

 snow, which has always a disagreeable taste. 



We had scarcely ascended the hill on the following morning, when 

 a large herd of red deer was perceived grazing at a little distance ; 

 and, though we were amply supplied with provision, our Canadian 

 companions could not resist the temptation of endeavouring to add 

 to our stock. A half-breed hunter was therefore sent after them. 

 He succeeded in wounding one, but not so as to prevent its running 

 off with the herd, in a direction wide of our course. A couple of 

 rabbits and a brace of wood partridges were shot in the afternoon. 

 There was an agreeable variety of hill and dale in the scenery we 

 passed through to-day ; and sufficient wood for ornament, but not 

 enough to crowd the picture. The valleys were intersected by several 

 small lakes and pools, whose snowy covering was happily contrasted 

 with the dark green of the pine-trees which surrounded them. After 

 ascending a moderately high hill by a winding path through a close 

 wood, we opened suddenly upon Lake Iroquois, and had a full view 

 of its picturesque shores. We crossed it and encamped. 



Though the sky was cloudless, yet the weather was warm. We 

 had the gratification of finding a beaten track soon after we started 

 on the morning of the 12th, and were thus enabled to walk briskly. 

 We crossed at least twenty hills, and found a small lake or pool at 



