Page:Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America.djvu/60

 soft leather shoes of the country, was next to impossible; we were, however, provided with iron crampets, which we strapped on in much the same manner as the Kamschatdales wear their "posluki," or ice-shoes. Thus secured from many an awkward fall, we advanced rapidly, but found it no easy matter to keep pace with our dogs, who, rejoicing in the ease with which they now dragged their burdens, scampered along at a great rate. The young ice, as yet but a few inches thick, crashed and rumbled like thunder under our tread. About noon a violent storm of snow-drift suddenly arose, and compelled us to seek shelter among the spreading oaks and elms that ornament the banks of this extensive lake.

On the 5th we travelled thirty-four miles, our course lying north-west, across a series of gently rounded bays fringed with rushes. The wind blew piercingly cold, so that when overheated we stopped to cut a hole for water; our clothes, gloves, and caps immediately became solid, and we were glad to run again to acquire fresh warmth.

We resumed our route on the 6th, at an early hour. When daylight appeared, the Dauphin Mountain rose before us, blue in the distance, forming a highly agreeable object in that