[figure description] Page 003.[end figure description]

Away we went! Guert's aim was the islands, which
carried him nearer home, while it offered a place of retreat,
in the event of the danger's becoming more serious. The
fierce rapidity with which we now moved prevented all conversation,
or even much reflection. The reports of the
rending ice, however, became more and more frequent, first
coming from above, and then from below. More than once
it seemed as if the immense mass of weight that had evidently
collected somewhere near the town of Albany, was
about to pour down upon us in a flood—when the river
would have been swept for miles, by a resistless torrent.
Nevertheless, Guert held on his way; firstly, because he
knew it would be impossible to get on either of the main
shores, anywhere near the point where we happened to be;
and secondly, because, having often seen similar dammings
of the waters, he fancied we were still safe. That the
distant reader may understand the precise character of the
danger we ran, it may be well to give him some notion of
the localities.

The banks of the Hudson are generally high and precipitous,
and in some places they are mountainous. No
flats worthy of being mentioned, occur, until Albany is approached;
nor are those which lie south of that town, of
any great extent, compared with the size of the stream. In
this particular the Mohawk is a very different river, having
extensive flats that, I have been told, resemble those of the

[figure description] Page 004.[end figure description]

Rhine, in miniature. As for the Hudson, it is generally
esteemed in the colony as a very pleasing river; and I remember
to have heard intelligent people from home, admit,
that even the majestic Thames itself, is scarcely more worthy
to be visited, or that it better rewards the trouble and curiosity
of the enlightened traveller.[1]

While there are flats on the shores of the Hudson, and
of some extent, in the vicinity of Albany, the general formation
of the adjacent country is preserved,—being high, bold,
and in some quarters, more particularly to the northward
and eastward, mountainous. Among these hills the stream
meanders for sixty or eighty miles north of the town, receiving
tributaries as it comes rushing down towards the
sea. The character of the river changes entirely, a short
distance above Albany; the tides flowing to that point,
rendering it navigable, and easy of ascent in summer, all
the way from the sea. Of the tributaries, the principal is
the Mohawk, which runs a long distance towards the west—
they tell me, for I have never visited these remote parts of
the colony—among fertile plains, that are bounded north and
south by precipitous highlands. Now, in the spring, when
the vast quantities of snow, that frequently lie four feet deep
in the forests, and among the mountains and valleys of the
interior, are suddenly melted by the south winds and rains,
freshets necessarily succeed, which have been known to do
great injury. The flats of the Mohawk, they tell me, are
annually overflown, and a moderate freshet is deemed a blessing;
but, occasionally, a union of the causes I have

[figure description] Page 005.[end figure description]

mentioned, produces a species of deluge that has a very opposite
character. Thus it is, that houses are swept away; and
bridges from the smaller mountain streams, have been known
to come floating past the wharves of Albany, holding their
way towards the ocean. At such times the tides produce
no counter-current; for it is a usual thing, in the early
months of the spring, to have the stream pour downwards
for weeks, the whole length of the river, and to find the
water fresh even as low as New York.

Such was the general nature of the calamity we had
been so unexpectedly made to encounter. The winter had
been severe, and the snows unusually deep; and, as we
drove furiously onward, I remembered to have heard my
grandfather predict extraordinary freshets in the spring,
from the character of the winter, as we had found it, even
previously to my quitting home. The great thaw, and the
heavy rains of the late storm, had produced the usual effect;
and the waters thus let loose, among the distant, as well as
the nearer hills, were now pouring down upon us in their
collected might. In such cases, the first effect is, to loosen
the ice from the shores; and, local causes forcing it to give
way at particular points, a breaking up of its surface occurs,
and dams are formed that set the stream back in floods upon
all the adjacent low land, such as the flats in the vicinity of
Albany.

We did not then know it, but, at the very moment Guert
was thus urging his blacks to supernatural efforts—actually
running them as if on a race-course—there was a long
reach of the Hudson, opposite to, for a short distance below,
and for a considerable distance above the town, which was
quite clear of stationary ice. Vast cakes continued to come
down, it is true, passing on to increase the dam that had
formed below, near and on the Overslaugh, where it was
buttressed by the islands, and rested on the bottom; but the
whole of that firm field, on which we had first driven forth
that morning, had disappeared! This we did not know at
the time, or it might have changed the direction of Guert's
movements; but I learned it afterwards, when placed in a
situation to inquire into the causes of what had occurred.

Herman Mordaunt's bells, and the rumbling sound of his
runners, were heard close behind us, as our own sleigh flew

[figure description] Page 006.[end figure description]

along the river at a rate that I firmly believe could not have
been much less than that of twenty miles in the hour. As
we were whirled northward, the reports made by the rending
of the ice increased in frequency and force. They really
became appalling! Still, the girls continued silent, maintaining
their self-command in a most admirable manner;
though I doubt not that they felt, in the fullest extent, the
true character of the awful circumstances in which we were
placed. Such was the state of things, as Guert's blacks
began sensibly to relax in their speed, for want of wind.
They still galloped on, but it was no longer with the swiftness
of the wind; and their master became sensible of the
folly of hoping to reach the town ere the catastrophe should
arrive. He reined in his panting horses, therefore, and was
just falling into a trot, as a violent report was heard directly
in our front. At the next instant the ice rose, positively,
beneath our horses' hoofs, to the height of several feet, taking
the form of the roof of a house. It was too late to retreat,
and Guert shouting out “Jack”—“Moses,” applied the whip,
and the spirited animals actually went over the mound,
leaping a crack three feet in width, and reaching the level
ice beyond. All this was done, as it might be, in the twinkling
of an eye. While the sleigh flew over this ridge, it
was with difficulty I held the girls in their seats; though
Guert stood nobly erect, like the pine that is too firmly
rooted to yield to the tempest. No sooner was the danger
passed, however, than he pulled up, and came to a dead halt.

We heard the bells of Herman Mordaunt's sleigh, on the
other side of the barrier, but could see nothing. The
broken cakes, pressed upon by millions of tons weight
above, had risen fully ten feet, into an inclination that was
nearly perpendicular; rendering crossing it next to impossible,
even to one afoot. Then came Herman Mordaunt's
voice, filled with paternal agony, and human grief, to increase
the awe of that dreadful moment!

“Shore!—shore!—” he shouted, or rather yelled—“In
the name of a righteous Providence, to the shore, Guert!”

The bells passed off towards the western bank, and the
rumbling of the runners accompanied their sound. That
was a breathless moment to us four. We heard the rending
and grinding of the ice, on all sides of us; saw the broken

[figure description] Page 007.[end figure description]

barriers behind and in front; heard the jingling of Herman
Mordaunt's bells, as it became more and more distant, and
finally ceased; and felt as if we were cut off from the rest
of our species. I do not think either of us felt any apprehension
of breaking through; for use had so accustomed us
to the field of the river, while the more appalling grounds
of alarm were so evident, that no one thought of such a
source of danger. Nor was there much, in truth, to apprehend
from that cause. The thaw had not lasted long enough
materially to diminish either the thickness or the tenacity
of the common river ice; though it was found unequal to
resisting the enormous pressure that bore upon it from above.
It is probable that a cake of an acre's size would have upheld,
not only ourselves, but our sleigh and horses, and
carried us, like a raft, down the stream; had there been
such a cake, free from stationary impediments. Even the
girls now comprehended the danger, which was in a manner
suspended over us, — as the impending wreath of snow
menances the fall of the avalanche. But, it was no moment
for indecision or inaction.

Cut off, as we were, by an impassable barrier of ice, from
the route taken by Herman Mordaunt, it was necessary to
come to some resolution on our own course. We had the
choice of endeavouring to pass to the western shore, on the
upper side of the barrier, or of proceeding towards the nearest
of several low islands which lay in the opposite direction.
Guert determined on the last, walking his horses to
the point of land, there being no apparent necessity for haste,
while the animals greatly needed breath. As we went along,
he explained to us that the fissure below cut us off from the
only point where landing on the western shore could be
practicable. At the same time, he put in practice a pious
fraud, which had an excellent effect on the feelings and
conduct of both the girls, throughout the remainder of the
trying scenes of that fearful night; more especially on those
of Anneke. He dwelt on the good fortune of Herman Mordaunt,
in being on the right side of the barrier that separated
the sleighs, in a way to induce those who did not
penetrate his motive, to fancy the rest of the party was in a
place of security, as the consequence of this accident.

[figure description] Page 008.[end figure description]

Thus did Anneke believe her father safe, and thus was she
relieved from much agonizing doubt.

As soon as the sleigh came near the point of the island,
Guert gave me the reins, and went ahead to examine
whether it were possible to land. He was absent fifteen
minutes; returning to us only after he had made a thorough
search into the condition of the island, as well as of that of
the ice in its eastern channel. These were fifteen fearful
minutes; the rending of the masses above, and the grinding
of cake on cake, sounding like the roar of the ocean in a
tempest. Notwithstanding all the awful accessories of this
dreadful night, I could not but admire Guert's coolness of
manner, and his admirable conduct. He was more than
resolute; for he was cool, collected, and retained the use of
all his faculties in perfection. As plausible as it might seem,
to one less observant and clear-headed, to attempt escaping
to the western shore, Guert had decided right in moving towards
the island. The grinding of the ice, in another quarter,
had apprised him that the water was forcing its way through,
near the main land; and that escape would be nearly hopeless,
on that side of the river. When he rejoined us, he
called me to the heads of the horses, for a conference; first
solemnly assuring our precious companions that there were
no grounds for immediate apprehension. Mary Wallace
anxiously asked him to repeat this to her, on the faith due
from man to woman; and he did it; when I was permitted
to join him without further opposition.

“Corny,” said Guert, in a low tone, “Providence has
punished me for my wicked wish of seeing Mary Wallace in
the claws of lions; for all the savage beasts of the Old
World, could hardly make our case more desperate than it
now is. We must be cool, however, and preserve the girls,
or die like men.”

“Our fates are, and must be, the same. Do you devote
yourself to Mary, and leave Anneke to me. But, why this
language; surely, our case is by no means so desperate.”

“It might not be so difficult for two active, vigorous young
men to get ashore; but it would be different with females.
The ice is in motion all around us; and the cakes are piling
and grinding on each other in a most fearful manner. Were
it light enough to see, we should do much better; but, as it

[figure description] Page 009.[end figure description]

is, I dare not trust Mary Wallace any distance from this
island, at present. We may be compelled to pass the night
here, and must make provision accordingly. You hear the
ice grinding on the shore; a sign that everything is going
down stream.—God send that the waters break through, ere
long; though they may sweep all before them, when they
do come. I fear me, Corny, that Herman Mordaunt and
his party are lost!”

“Merciful Providence! — can it be as bad as that! — I
rather hope they have reached the land.”

“That is impossible, on the course they took. Even a
man would be bewildered and swept away, in the torrent
that is driving down under the west shore. It is that vent
to the water, which saves us. But, no more words.—You
now understand the extent of the danger, and will know
what you are about. We must get our precious charge on
the island, if possible, without further delay. Half an hour—
nay, half a minute may bring down the torrent.”

Guert took the direction of everything. Even while we
had been talking, the ice had moved materially; and we
found ourselves fifty feet further from the island than we
had been. By causing the horses to advance, this distance
was soon recovered; but it was found impossible to lead or
drive them over the broken cakes with which the shore of
the island now began to be lined. After one or two spirited
and determined efforts, Guert gave the matter up, and asked
me to help the ladies from the sleigh. Never did women
behave better, than did these delicate and lovely girls, on
an occasion so awfully trying. Without remonstrances,
tears, exclamations or questions, both did as desired; and I
cannot express the feeling of security I felt, when I had
helped each over the broken and grinding border of white
ice, that separated us from the shore. The night was far
from cold; but the ground was now frozen sufficiently to
prevent any unpleasant consequences from walking on what
would otherwise have been a slimy, muddy alluvion; for
the island was so very low, as often to be under water, when
the river was particularly high. This, indeed, formed our
danger, after we had reached it.

When I returned to Guert, I found him already drifted
down some little distance; and this time we moved the

[figure description] Page 010.[end figure description]

sleigh so much above the point, as to be in less danger of
getting out of sight of our precious wards. To my surprise,
Guert was busy in stripping
the harness from the horses;
and Jack already stood only in his blinkers. Moses was
soon reduced to the same state. I was wondering what was
to be done next, when Guert drew each bridle from its animal,
and gave a smart crack of his whip. The liberated
horses started back with affright — snorted, reared, and,
turning away, they went down the river, free as air, and
almost as swift; the incessant and loud snapping of heir
master's whip, in no degree tending to diminish their speed.
I asked the meaning of this.

“It would be cruel not to let the poor beasts make use of
the strength and sagacity nature has given them to save
their lives,” answered Guert, straining his eyes after Moses,
the horse that was behind, so long as his dark form could be
distinguished, and leaning forward to listen to the blows of
their hoofs, while the noises around us permitted them to be
heard. “To us, they would only be an encumbrance, since
they never could be forced over the cracks and caked ice in
harness; nor would it be at all safe to follow them, if they
could. The sleigh is light, and we are strong enough to
shove it to land, when there is an opportunity; or, it may
be left on the island.”

Nothing could have served more effectually to convince
me of the manner in which Guert regarded our situation,
than to see him turn loose beasts which I knew he so highly
prized. I mentioned this; and he answered me with a
melancholy seriousness, that made the impression so much
the stronger—

“It is possible they may get ashore, for nature has given
a horse a keen instinct. They can swim, too, where you
and I would drown. At all events, they are not fettered
with harness, but have every chance it is in my power to
give them. Should they land, any farmer would put them
in his stable, and I should soon hear where they were to be
found; it, indeed, I am living in the morning to make the
inquiry.”

`What is next to be done, Guert?” I asked, understanding
at once both his feelings and his manner of reasoning.

“We must now run the sleigh on the island; after which

[figure description] Page 011.[end figure description]

it will be time to look about us, and to examine if it be possible
to get the ladies on the main land.”

Accordingly, Guert and I applied ourselves to the task,
and had no great difficulty in dragging the sleigh over the
cakes, grinding and in motion as they were. We pulled it
as far as the tree beneath which Anneke and Mary stood;
when the ladies got into it and took their seats, enveloped in
the skins. The night was not cold for the season, and our
companions were thickly clad, having tippets and muffs;
still, the wolves' skins of Guert contributed to render them
more comfortable. All apprehension of immediate danger
now ceased, for a short time; nor do I think either of the
females fancied they could run any more risk, beyond that
of exposure to the night air, so long as they remained on
terra firma. Such was not the case, however, as a very
simple explanation will render apparent to the reader.

All the islands in this part of the Hudson are low, being
rich, alluvial meadows, bordered by trees and bushes; most
of the first being willows, sycamores, or nuts. The fertility
of the soil had given to these trees rapid growths, and they
were generally of some stature; though not one among
them had that great size which ought to mark the body and
branches of a venerable tenant of the forest. This fact, of
itself, proved that no one tree of them all was very old; a
circumstance that was certainly owing to the ravages of the
annual freshets. I say annual; for though the freshet which
now encompassed us, was far more serious than usual, each
year brought something of the sort; and the islands were
constantly increasing or diminishing under their action. To
prevent the last, a thicket of trees was left at the head of
each island, to form a sort of barricade against the inroads
of the ice in the spring. So low was the face of the land,
or meadow, however, that a rise of a very few feet in the
river would be certain to bring it entirely under water. All
this will be made more apparent by our own proceedings,
after we had placed the ladies in the sleigh; and more especially,
by the passing remarks of Guert while employed in
his subsequent efforts.

No sooner did Guert Ten Eyck believe the ladies to be
temporarily safe, than he proposed to me that we should take
a closer look at the state of the river, in order to ascertain

[figure description] Page 012.[end figure description]

the most feasible means of getting on the main land. This
was said aloud, and in a cheerful way, as if he no longer
felt any apprehension, and, evidently to me, to encourage
our companions. Anneke desired us to go, declaring that
now she knew herself to be on dry land, all her own fears
had vanished. We went accordingly, taking our first direction
towards the head of the island.

A very few minutes sufficed to reach the limits of our
narrow domain; and, as we approached them, Guert pointed
out to me the mound of ice that was piling up behind it,
as a most fearful symptom.

“There is our danger,” he said, with emphasis, “and we
must not trust to these trees. This freshet goes beyond
any I ever saw on the river; and not a spring passes that
we have not more or less of them. Do you not see, Corny,
what saves us now?”

“We are on an island, and cannot be in much danger
from the river while we stay here.”

“Not so, my dear friend, not at all so. But, come with
me and look for yourself.”

I followed Guert, and did look for myself. We sprang
upon the cakes of ice, which were piled quite thirty feet in
height, on the head of the island, extending right and left,
as far as our eyes could see, by that misty light. It was by
no means difficult moving about on this massive pile, the
movement in the cakes being slow, and frequently interrupted;
but there was no concealing the true character of
the danger. Had not the island, and the adjacent main interposed
their obstacles, the ice would have continued to move
bodily down the stream, cake shoving over cake, until the
whole found vent in the wider space below, and floated off
towards the ocean. Not only was our island there, however,
but other islands lay near us, straitening the different
channels or passages in such a way, as to compel the formation
of an icy dam; and, on the strength of this dam rested
all our security. Were it to be ruptured anywhere near us,
we should inevitably be swept off in a body. Guert thought,
however, as has been said already, that the waters had
found narrow issues under the main land, both east and
west of us; and should this prove to be true, there was a
hope that the great calamity might be averted. In other

[figure description] Page 013.[end figure description]

words, if these floodgates sufficed, we might escape; otherwise
the catastrophe was certain.

“I cannot excuse it to myself to remain here, without
endeavouring to see what is the state of things nearer to the
shore,” said Guert, after we had viewed the fast accumulating
mass of broken ice above us, as well as the light permitted,
and we had talked over together the chances of
safety, and the character of the danger. “Do you return
to the ladies, Corny, and endeavour to keep up their spirits,
while I cross this channel on our right, to the next island,
and see what offers in that direction.”

“I do not like the idea of your running all the risk alone;
besides, something may occur to require the strength of two,
instead of that of one, to overcome it.”

“You can go with me as far as the next island, if you
will, where we shall be able to ascertain at once whether it
be ice or water that separates us from the eastern shore. If
the first, you can return as fast as possible for the ladies,
while I look for a place to cross. I do not like the appearance
of this dam, to be honest with you; and have great
fears for those who are now in the sleigh.”

We were in the very act of moving away, when a loud,
cracking noise, that arose within a few yards, alarmed
us both; and running to the spot whence it proceeded, we
saw that a large willow had snapped in two, like a pipe-stem,
and that the whole barrier of ice was marching, slowly, but
grandly, over the stump, crushing the fallen trunk and
branches beneath its weight, as the slow-moving wheel of
the loaded cart crushes the twig. Guert grasped my arm,
and his fingers nearly entered the flesh, under his iron
pressure.

“We must quit this spot—” he said firmly, “and at once.
Let us go back to the sleigh.”

I did not know Guert's intentions, but I saw it was time
to act with decision. We moved swiftly down to the spot
where we had left the sleigh; and the reader will judge of
our horror, when we found it gone! The whole of the low
point of the island where we had left it, was already covered
with cakes of ice that were in motion, and which had doubtless
swept off the sleigh during the few minutes that we had
been absent! Looking around us, however, we saw an

[figure description] Page 014.[end figure description]

object on the river, a little distance below, that I fancied was
the sleigh, and was about to rush after it, when a voice,
filled with alarm, took us in another direction. Mary Wallace
came out from behind a tree, to which she had fled for
safety, and seizing Guert's arm, implored him not to quit
her again.

“Whither has Anneke gone?” I demanded, in an agony
I cannot describe—“I see nothing of Anneke!”

“She would not quit the sleigh,” answered Mary Wallace,
almost panting for breath—“I implored—entreated her to
follow me—said you must soon return; but she refused to
quit the sleigh. Anneke is in the sleigh, if that can now
be found.”

I heard no more; but springing on the still moving cakes
of ice, went leaping from cake to cake, until my sight showed
me that, sure enough, the sleigh was on the bed of the river,
over which it was in slow motion; forced downwards before
the new coating of ice that was fast covering the original
surface. At first I could see no one in the sleigh; but, on
reaching it, I found Anneke buried in the skins. She was
on her knees: the precious creature was asking succour
from God!

I had a wild but sweet consolation in thus finding myself,
as it might be, cut off from all the rest of my kind, in the
midst of that scene of gloom and desolation, alone with
Anneke Mordaunt. The moment I could make her conscious
of my presence, she inquired after Mary Wallace,
and was much relieved on learning that she was with Guert,
and would not be left by him, for a single instant, again that
night. Indeed, I saw their figures dimly, as they moved
swiftly across the channel that divided the two islands, and
disappear in that direction, among the bushes that lined the
place to which they had gone.

“Let us follow,” I said eagerly. “The crossing is yet
easy, and we, too, may escape to the shore.”

“Go you!” said Anneke, over whom a momentary physical
torpor appeared to have passed. “Go you, Corny,”
she said; “a man may easily save himself; and you are
an only child—the sole hope of your parents.”

“Dearest, beloved Anneke!—why this indifference—this

[figure description] Page 015.[end figure description]

apathy on your own behalf? Are you not an only child,
the sole hope of a widowed father?—do you forget him?”

“No, no, no!” exclaimed the dear girl, hurriedly. “Help
me out of the sleigh, Corny: there, I will go with you anywhere—
any how—to the end of the world, to save my
father from such anguish!”

From that moment the temporary imbecility of Anneke
vanished, and I found her, for the remainder of the time we
remained in jeopardy, quick to apprehend, and ready to
second all my efforts. It was this passing submission to an
imaginary doom, on the one hand, and the headlong effect
of sudden fright on the other, which had separated the two
girls, and which had been the means of dividing the whole
party as described.

I scarcely know how to describe what followed. So intense
was my apprehension on behalf of Anneke, that I can
safely say, I did not think of my own fate, in the slightest
degree, as disconnected from hers. The self-devoted reliance
with which the dear girl seemed to place all her dependence
on me, would, of itself, have produced this effect, had she
not possessed my whole heart, as I was now so fully aware.
Moments like those, make one alive to all the affections, and
strip off every covering that habit or the dissembling of our
manners is so apt to throw over the feelings. I believe I
both spoke and acted towards Anneke, as one would cling
to, or address the being dearest to him in the world, for the
next few minutes; but, I can suppose the reader will naturally
prefer learning what we did, under such circumstances,
rather than what we said, or how we felt.

I repeat, it is not easy for me to describe what followed.
I know we first rather ran, than walked, across the channel
on which I had last seen the dim forms of Guert and Mary,
and even crossed the island to its eastern side, in the hope
of being able to reach the shore in that quarter. The attempt
was useless, for we found the water running down
over the ice like a race-way. Nothing could be seen of our
late companions; and my loud and repeated calls to them
were unanswered.

“Our case is hopeless, Cornelius,” said Anneke; speaking
with a forced calmness when she found retreat impossible in

[figure description] Page 016.[end figure description]

that direction, “Let us return to the sleigh, and submit to
the will of God!”

“Beloved Anneke!—Think of your father, and summon
your whole strength. The bed of the river is yet firm; we
will cross it, and try the opposite shore.”

Cross it we did, my delicate companion being as much
sustained by my supporting arm, as by her own resolution;
but we found the same obstacle to retreat interposing there
also. The island above had turned the waters aside, until
they found an outlet under each bank—shooting along their
willowy shores, with the velocity of arrows. By this time,
owing to our hurried movement, I found Anneke so far exhausted,
that it was absolutely necessary to pause a minute
to take breath. This pause was also necessary, in order to
look about us, and to decide understandingly as to the
course it was necessary now to pursue. This pause, brief
as it was, moreover, contributed largely to the apparent
horrors of our situation.

The grating, or grinding of the ice above us, cake upon
cake, now sounded like the rushing of heavy winds, or the
incessant roaring of a surf upon the sea-shore. The piles
were becoming visible, by their height and their proximity,
as the ragged barriers set slowly but steadily down upon us;
and the whole river seemed to me to be in motion downwards.
At this awful instant, when I began to think it was the will
of Providence that Anneke and I were to perish together, a
strange sound interrupted the fearful natural accessories of
that frightful scene. I certainly heard the bells of a sleigh;
at first they seemed distant and broken—then, nearer and
incessant, attended by the rumbling of runners on the ice.
I took off my cap and pressed my head, for I feared my
brain was unsettled. There it came, however, more and
more distinctly, until the trampling of horses' hoofs mingled
in the noise.

“Can there be others as unhappy as ourselves!” exclaimed
Anneke, forgetting her own fears in generous sympathy.
“See, Littlepage! — see, dear Cornelius — yonder surely
comes another sleigh!”

Come it did, like the tempest, or the whirlwind; passing
within fifty feet of us. I knew it at a glance. It was the
sleigh of Herman Mordaunt, empty; with the horses,

[figure description] Page 017.[end figure description]

maddened by terror, running wherever their fears impelled. As
the sleigh passed, it was thrown on one side; then it was
once more whirled up again; and it went out of sight, with
the rumbling sound of the runners mingling with the jingling
of bells and the tramp of hoofs.

At this instant a loud, distant cry from a human voice,
was certainly heard. It seemed, to me, as if some one
called my name; and Anneke said, she so understood it,
too. The call, if call it was, came from the south, and
from under the western shore. At the next moment, awful
reports proceeded from the barrier above; and, passing an
arm around the slender waist of my lovely companion, to
support her, I began a rapid movement in the direction of
that call. While attempting to reach the western shore, I
had observed a high mound of broken ice, that was floating
down; or rather, was pressed down on the smooth surface
of the frozen river, in advance of the smaller cakes that
came by in the current. It was increasing, in size, by accessions
from these floating cakes, and threatened to form a
new dam, at some narrow pass below, as soon as of sufficient
size. It occurred to me we should be temporarily safe,
could we reach that mound, for it rose so high as to be above
danger from the water. Thither, then, I ran, almost carrying
Anneke on my arm; our speed increased by the terrific
sounds from the dam above us.

We reached the mound, and found the cakes so piled, as
to be able to ascend them; though not without an effort.
After getting up a layer or two, the broken mass became so
irregular and ragged, as to render it necessary for me to
mount first, and then to drag Anneke up after me. This I
did, until exhausted; and we both seated ourselves on the
edge of a cake, in order to recover our breath. While
there, it struck me, that new sounds arose from the river;
and, bending forward to examine, I saw that the water had
forced its way through the dam above, and was coming
down upon us in a torrent.

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