In this be cool, and well direct your lead,
And take your aim at either heart or head;
For struck elsewhere, your piece not level’d true,
Not long you’ll live your erring hand to rue.”
THE LAST OF OUR PROVISIONS—A GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
CHAPTER XV.
LIFE OR DEATH?
After the great five days’ storm, which lasted until the 4th of October, the whole country was buried in snow, and every possibility of finding even a little moss for fuel was excluded. Winter indeed had overtaken us. Ice was forming all along the shore of the Bay, and it was evident that within a very few days travel by canoe must be at an end.
On the above date, though light snow continued to fall, the wind had gone down sufficiently to admit of launching the canoes after a long portage out to meet the tide. In spite of the most vigorous exertion, all we were able to make during the day was ten miles, and that through a chilling spray which froze upon us and encased canoes and men in an armor of ice. We had great difficulty in getting ashore at night, having again to portage a long distance over the low-tide boulder flats.