June 18.

Though the breeze was moderate this morning the air was piercingly keen.  When on the point of starting we perceived Mr. Wentzel’s party coming, and awaited his arrival to learn whether the canoes had received any injury during the severe weather of yesterday.  Finding they had not we proceeded to get upon the ice on the lake, which could not be effected without walking up to the waist in water for some distance from its borders.  We had not the command of our feet in this situation and the men fell often; poor Junius broke through the ice with his heavy burden on his back but fortunately was not hurt.

This lake is extensive and large arms branch from its main course in different directions.  At these parts we crossed the projecting points of land and on each occasion had to wade as before, which so wearied everyone that we rejoiced when we reached its north side and encamped, though our resting-place was a bare rock.  We had the happiness of finding Fontano at this place.  The poor fellow had passed the three preceding days without tasting food and was exhausted by anxiety and hunger.  His sufferings were considered to have been a sufficient punishment for his imprudent conduct in separating from us, and I only admonished him to be more cautious in future.

Having received information that the hunters had killed a deer we sent three men to fetch the meat, which was distributed between our party and the canoe-men who had been encamped near to us.  The thermometer at three P.M. was 46 degrees, at nine 34 degrees.

We commenced the following day by crossing a lake about four miles in length and then passed over a succession of rugged hills for nearly the same distance.  The men, being anxious to reach some pine-trees which they had seen on their former journey, walked at a quick pace though they were suffering from swelled legs and rheumatic pains; we could not however attain the desired point and therefore encamped on the declivity of a hill which sheltered us from the wind, and used the reindeer moss for fuel, which afforded us more warmth than we expected.  Several patches of snow were yet remaining on the surrounding hills.  The thermometer varied today between 55 and 45 degrees.

On the 20th of June we began our march by crossing a small lake, not without much risk as the surface of the ice was covered with water to the depth of two feet and there were many holes into which we slipped in spite of our efforts to avoid them.  A few of the men, being fearful of attempting the traverse with their heavy loads, walked round the eastern end of the lake.  The parties met on the sandy ridge which separates the streams that fall into Winter Lake from those that flow to the northward; and here we killed three deer.  Near the base of this ridge we crossed a small but rapid stream in which there is a remarkable cascade of about fifty feet.  Some Indians joined us here and gave information respecting the situation of Dr. Richardson’s tent, which our hunters considered was sufficient for our guidance, and therefore proceeded as quickly as they could.  We marched a few miles farther in the evening and encamped among some pines; but the comfort of a good fire did not compensate for the torment we suffered from the host of mosquitoes at this spot.  The temperature was 52 degrees.