Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/18

 provision out of the reach of these rapacious animals. We had ample experience, before morning, of the necessity of this precaution, as they contrived to steal a considerable part of our stores, almost from underneath Hepburn’s head, notwithstanding their having been well fed at supper.

“Jan. 19. – The task of beating the track for the dogs was so very fatiguing, that each of the men took the lead in turns, for an hour and a half. The termination of the next day’s journey was a great relief to me, who had been suffering during the greater part of it, in consequence of my feet having been galled by the snow-shoes: this, however, is an evil which few escape on their initiation to winter travelling; it excites no pity from their more experienced companions, who travel on as fast as they can, regardless of the pain of the sufferers.

“On the 26th, after a fatiguing march, we halted at the Upper Nippéween, a deserted establishment; and performed the comfortable operations of shaving and washing, for the first time since our departure from Cumberland, the weather hitherto having been too severe. We passed an uncomfortable and sleepless night, and agreed to encamp in future in the open air, as preferable to the imperfect shelter of a forsaken house without doors or windows. The wolves serenaded us through the night of the 27th with a chorus of their agreeable howling, but none of them ventured near the encampment. Mr. Back’s repose was disturbed by a more serious evil; his buffalo robe caught fire, and the shoes on his feet, being contracted by the heat, gave him such pain, that he jumped up in the cold, and ran into the snow as the only means of obtaining relief.

“On the 28th, we had a strong and piercing wind in our faces, and much snow-drift. We were compelled to walk as quick as we could, and to keep constantly rubbing the exposed parts of the skin, to prevent their being frozen; but some of the party suffered in spite of every precaution. The night was miserably cold; our tea froze in the tin pots before we could drink it, and even a mixture of spirits and water became thick by congelation.

“Jan. 31st. – soon as day-light permitted, the party commenced their march, in the expectation of reaching Carlton House; but we did not arrive until noon, although the track was good. We were received by Mr. Prudens, the gentleman in charge of the post, with that friendly attention which Governor Williams’s circular was calculated to ensure at every station; and were soon afterwards regaled with a substantial dish of buffalo steaks, which would have been thought excellent under any circumstances, but were particularly relished by us, though eaten without either bread or vegetables. After this repast, we had the comfort of changing our travelling dresses, which had been worn for fourteen days.”

On the 9th Feb., Lieutenant Franklin resumed his travels; and on the 23d, arrived at the Hudson’s Bay Company’s fort, near Isle à la Crosse, where he received much valuable