urge on the other.
The ledge, at no time very broad, was now reduced, by the falling in
of the water, to a strip of ice of about eighteen inches, or little
more, adhering to the rock. The ice, however, seemed perfectly solid,
and I made no doubt that, with caution, I should succeed in passing
safely this formidable strait.

The weather having been very mild in the fore-part of the day, my
shoes and socks had been saturated with wet, but were now frozen hard
by the cold of the approaching night. Overlooking this circumstance,
I attempted the dangerous passage; and had proceeded about halfway,
when my foot slipped, and I suddenly found myself resting with one hip
on the border of ice, while the rest of my body overhung the rapid
rushing fearfully underneath. I was now literally in a state of
agonizing suspense: to regain my footing was impossible; even the
attempt to move might precipitate me into the rapid.

My first thought indeed was to throw myself in, and endeavour by
swimming to reach the solid ice that bridged the river a short
distance below; a glance at the torrent convinced me that this was a
measure too desperate to be attempted;--I should have been dashed
against the ice, or hurried beneath it by the current. But my time was
not yet come. Within a few feet of the spot where I was thus suspended
_in sublimis_, the rock projected a little outward, so as to break
the force of the current. It struck me that a new border of ice
might be formed at this place, under and parallel to that on which
I was perched; exploring cautiously, therefore, with a stick which
I fortunately had in my hand, all along and beneath me, I found my
conjecture well founded; but whether the ice were strong enough
to bear me, I could not ascertain. But it was my only hope of
deliverance; letting myself down therefore gently, I planted my feet
on the lower ledge, and clinging with the tenacity of a shell-fish to
the upper, I crept slowly along till I reached land.

This autumn, I had the satisfaction of seeing all my opponents quit
the field, some of whom had maintained a long and obstinate struggle;
yet, although I had reason to congratulate myself on their departure,
as it promised me relief from the painfully toilsome life I had led,
I must do one of the parties, at least, the justice to say, that, in
different circumstances, I should have beheld their departure with
regret. Dey and McGillivray carried on the contest longer than the
ot