it was sufficiently frozen for us to cross. I need scarcely mention my satisfaction, when he returned with the pleasing information that it was.
“December 7 – I quitted Fort Providence, being accompanied by Mr. Wentzel, Beauparlant, and two other Canadians, provided with dogs and sledges. We proceeded along the borders of the lake, occasionally crossing deep bays, and at dusk encamped at the Gros Cap, having proceeded a distance of twenty-five miles.
“December 8, – We set out on the lake with an excessively cold N.W. 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. Next 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, with just 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 favorable 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 rabbit-skin, with which I kept constantly chafing the places which began to be affected. At 6 p.m., we arrived at the fishing huts near Stoney Island, and remained there the night. the Canadians were not a little surprized at seeing us, whom they had already given up for lost, nor less so at the manner by which we had come; for they all affirmed that the lake near them was quite free from ice the day before.
“December 10. – At an early hour we quitted the huts, lashed on sledges as before, with some little addition to our party; and at 3-30 p.m., arrived at North-West Fort on Moose-Deer Island, where I was received by Mr. Smith, with whom I had been acquainted at the Athabasca. He said he partly expected me. The same evening I visited Messrs. M‘Vicar and M‘Aulay at Hudson’s Bay Fort, when I found the reports concerning our goods were but too true, there being in reality
