d, at this
point its line became so attenuated that in the glittering sunlight
Otter was doubtful whether it was not broken through for a distance of
some yards.

Being of an inquiring mind, the dwarf decided to satisfy himself upon
the matter. All around him lay slabs of rock, some of which were worn
perfectly smooth and to the thinness of a tombstone, by centuries
of polishing in the iron jaws of glaciers. Selecting one of these of
convenient size, Otter approached the edge of the bridge, pushing the
stone before him over the frozen snow. Here the ice was perfect, except
for a slight hoar-frost that covered it, for the action of the wind
prevented the snow from gathering on the bridge, and whenever the sun
was strong enough to melt its surface, it froze again at night, so that
no slide upon a parish pond could have been more slippery or free from
inequalities.

Otter gave his stone a push, and away it went, sometimes swiftly and
sometimes at a trifling speed, according to the nature of the angle down
which it passed, leaving a bright green ribbon upon the ice in its wake,
whence it swept the hoar-frost as it sped. Once or twice he thought that
it was going to stop, but it never did stop. At length it approached the
steepest and narrowest part of the descent, down which the stone rushed
with fearful velocity.

"Now I shall see whether the bridge is broken," thought Otter; and just
then the rock, travelling like an arrow, came to that portion of
the glacier where, for a width difficult to estimate, it stretched
unsupported over space, and measured only some few feet across. On it
flew, then seemed to leap into the air, and once more sped forward
till it reached the further slope of snow, up which it travelled for a
distance, and stopped, appearing, even to Otter's keen sight, no larger
than a midge upon a table-cloth.

"Now, if a man had been seated on that stone he might have passed this
bridge in safety," said Otter to himself; "yet it is one that few would
care to travel, unless sure death were behind them."

Then he determined on a second trial, and selecting another and somewhat
lighter stone, he sent it upon its journey. It followed precisely the
same course as its predecessor, but when it came to the knife-blade of
the bridge it vanished.

"I am sorry for that stone," thought Otter, "for doubtless it, that has
been whole for many years, is at this moment only little pieces."

A third time he repeated his