OF THE POLAR SEA. 



479 



their memory, and a simultaneous expression of " Mon Dieu, nous 

 sommes sauves," broke out from the whole. Contrary to our expec- 

 tations, the lake was frozen sufficiently to bear us, so that we were 

 excused from making the tours of the different bays. This cir- 

 cumstance seemed to add fresh vigour to us, and we walked as fast 

 as the extreme smoothness of the ice would permit, intending to 

 reach the Slave Kock that night; but an unforeseen and almost 

 fatal accident prevented the prosecution of our plan : Belanger (who 

 seemed the victim of misfortune) again broke through the ice, in a 

 deep part near the head of the rapid, but was timely saved, by fas- 

 tening our worsted belts together, and pulling him out. By urging 

 him forwards as quick as his icy garments would admit of, to 

 prevent his freezing, we reached a few pines, and kindled a fire ; 

 but it was late before he even felt warm, though he was so near the 

 flame as to bum his hair twice, and to add to our distress three 

 wolves crossed the lake close to us. 



The night of the 7th was extremely stormy, and about ten the 

 following morning, on attempting to go on, we found it totally 

 impossible, being too feeble to oppose the wind and drift, which 

 frequently blew us over, and on attempting to cross a small lake 

 that lay in our way, drove us faster backwards than under all ad- 

 vantages we could get forwards ; therefore we encamped under the 

 shelter of a small clump of pines, secure from the south-west storm 

 that was raging around us. In the evening, from there being no 

 tripe de roche, we were compelled to satisfy, or rather allay, the 

 cravings of hunger, by eating a gun cover and a pair of old shoes ; 

 at this time I had scarcely strength to get on my legs. 



The wind did not in the least abate during the night, but in the 

 morning of the 9th it changed to north-east, and became moderate. 

 We took advantage of this circumstance, and rising with great 

 difficulty, set out, though had it not been for the hope of reaching 

 the house, I am certain, from the excessive faintness which almost 



