We parted on a barren hill and could see each other for
some time. We would just walk a few yards and sing out to each
other, "Good-bye." This we kept on till out of sight and some
distance apart.
It snowed very hard all day, and couldn't hardly see any distance.
In the afternoon I killed a porcupine. How I wished I could give
some to the boys.
Wednesday, 21st, had snowed heavy all night, and made heavy
travelling without snowshoes, and the snow above my knees. To-day
I saw a caribou and got a shot at him with my pistol. In the
evening I killed another porcupine. I thought, "I shall be able to
get out to Grand Lake now if the snow don't get too deep for me."
ThursdaY, 22nd. Snowing very hard again and cold. I made a fire
at noon and tried to patch my shoe-packs but I couldn't spare time.
I walked with only my socks, on in the afternoon and made poor
time, as the country very rough and the snow very deep. I tried to
make a straight road to make it short to Grand Lake. During the
day though feeling very tired and would like to have a rest, if I
stopped even for five minutes, lots Of things would come into my
mind, and would have to start on again. At night it isn't so bad,
because I try to make myself believe because it is night therefore
I cannot travel."
Friday, 23rd, more snow again. In the afternoon got mild, and
being so much snow on the trees, it began to drop. It was worse
than any rain and the bush so thick to go through, and at last it
began to rain. I was soaked to the skin, and the snow very deep.
My hands were always so cold without mits, and travelling in such a
rough country, and falling down often into the snow and rocks, and
cutting my hands on the rocks. I at last cut part off the sleeves
off my undershirt and with a string tied one end, and I slipped
them on my hands for mits. Several times that day I had the notion
of giving up, as I could not get on at all in the deep snow. I
thought it was impossible to get through. Then again I would try
and make my way out. I came to the place where we had left the
coffee and milk. I found the coffee. The lid was off and the can
was full of ice. I took the ice out and underneath of the ice the
coffee was. I broke some off and made some coffee; but it did not
hardly taste like coffee at all, all the strength was out, as it
had been in water for a short time.
