About the middle of the plain the cold and exhaustion told so on the weaker men that the canoes had to take them aboard and carry them on to the land; and from that time on the little dug-outs plied frantically to and fro to save the more helpless from drowning.

Those, who, though weak, could still move onwards, clung to the stronger, and struggled ahead, Clark animating them in every possible way.

When they at last reached the woods the water became so deep that it was to the shoulders of the tallest, but the weak and those of low stature could now cling to the bushes and old logs, until the canoes were able to ferry them to a spot of dry land, some ten acres in extent, that lay near-by.

The strong and tall got ashore and built fires.

Many on reaching the shore fell flat on their faces, half in the water, and could not move farther.