_Sunday, 23._–The net produced but five small pike, and at five we
embarked, and entered the lake by the same channel through which we had
passed from it. The South-West side would have been the shortest, but
we were not certain of there being plenty of fish along the coast, and
we were sure of finding abundance of them in the course we preferred.
Besides, I expected to find my people at the place where I left them, as
they had received orders to remain there till the fall.
We paddled a long way into a deep bay to get the wind, and having left
our mast behind us, we landed to cut another. We then hoisted sail, and
were driven on at a great rate. At twelve the wind and swell were
augmented to such a degree, that our under yard broke, but luckily the
mast thwart resisted, till we had time to fasten down the yard with a
pole, without lowering sail. We took in a large quantity of water, and
had our mast given way, in all probability, we should have filled and
sunk. Our course continued to be very dangerous, along a flat
lee-shore, without being able to land till three in the afternoon. Two
men were continually employed in bailing out the water which we took in
on all sides. We fortunately doubled a point that screened us from the
wind and swell, and encamped for the night, in order to wait for our
Indians. We then set our nets, made a yard and mast, and gummed the
canoe. On visiting the nets, we found six white fish, and two pike.
The women gathered cranberries and crowberries in great plenty; and as
the night came on, the weather became more moderate.
