“ December 8.—We set out on the lake with an excessively cold
north-west wind, and were frequently interrupted by large pieces of
ice which had been thrown up by the violence of the waves during
the progress of congelation, and at dusk we encamped on the Rein-
Deer Islands.
“ The night was fine, with a faint Aurora Borealis. N ext day the
wind was so keen, that the men proposed conveying me in a sledge
that I might be the less exposed, to which, after some hesitation, I
consented. Accordingly a rein-deer skin and a blanket were laid
along the sledge, and in these I was wrapped tight up to the chin,
and lashed to the vehicle, just leaving sufficient play for my head to
perceive when I was about to be upset on some rough projecting
piece of ice. Thus equipped, we set off before the wind (a favourable
circumstance on a lake), and went on very well until noon;
when the ice being driven up in ridges, in such a manner as to
obstruct us very much, I was released ; and I confess not unwillingly,
though I had to walk the remainder of the day.
“ There are large openings in many parts where the ice had separated
; and in attempting to cross one of them, the dogs fell into the
water, and were saved with difficulty. The poor animals suffered
dreadfully from the cold, and narrowly escaped being frozen to death.
We had quickened our pace towards the close of the day, but could
not get sight of the land; and it was not till the sun had set that we
perceived it about four miles to our left, which obliged us to turn
back, and head the wind. It was then so cold, that two of the party
were frozen almost immediately about the face and ears. I escaped,
from having the good fortune to possess a pair of gloves made of
rabbits’ skin, with which I kept constantly chafing the places which
began to be affected. At six P.M. we arrived at the fishing-huts
near Stony Island, and remained the night there. The Canadians
were not a little surprised at seeing us whom they had already given
up for lost—nor less so at the manner by which we had come—for