436 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



experienced in wading through the deep snow induced us to cross a 

 moderate sized lake, which lay in our track, but we found this 

 operation far more harassing. As the surface of the ice was per- 

 fectly smooth, we slipt at almost every step, and were frequently 

 blown down by the wind with such force as to shake our whole frames. 



Poor Fontano was completely exhausted by the labour of making 

 this traverse, and we made a halt until his strength was recruited, 

 by which time the party was benumbed with cold. Proceeding 

 again, he got on tolerably well for a little time, but being again 

 seized with faintness and dizziness, he fell often, and at length 

 exclaimed that he could go no further. We immediately stopped, 

 and endeavoured to encourage him to persevere, until we should 

 find some willows, to encamp ; he insisted, however, that he could 

 not march any longer through this deep snow ; and said, that if he 

 should even reach our encampment this evening, he must be left 

 there, provided tripe de roche could not be procured to recruit his 

 strength. The poor man was overwhelmed with grief, and seemed 

 desirous to remain at that spot. We were about two miles from 

 the place where the other men had been left, and as the track 

 to it was beaten, we proposed to him to return thither, as we 

 thought it probable he would find the men still there : at any rate, 

 he would be able to get fuel to keep him warm during the night; 

 and, on the next day, he could follow their track to the officers' tent ; 

 and, should the path be covered by the snow, the pines we had 

 passed yesterday would guide him, as they were yet in view. 



I cannot describe my anguish on the occasion of separating from 

 another companion under circumstances so distressing. There was, 

 however, no alternative. The extreme debility of the rest of the 

 party, put the carrying him quite out of the question, as he himself 

 admitted ; and it was evident that the frequent delays he must 

 occasion if he accompanied us, and did not gain strength, must have 

 endangered the fives of the whole. By returning he had the prospect 



