space. My arms were fast tiring out. The
inch I needed for relief was past gaining, and it seemed to me then
that in a moment my arms would fail me, and I should slip off into the
river.

"'Better go now,' I thought, 'before my arms are worn out altogether.
I'll need them for swimming.'

"But a glance down the river assured me that my chance in the rapids
would be of the smallest. Not only was the water swift and turbulent,
but it ran against the barrier of ice at the foot of the rapids, and
it was evident that it would suck me under, once it got me there.

"Nor was there any hope in John's presence. I had told him to stay
where he was until I called; and, to be sure, in that spot would he
stay. I might call now. But to what purpose? He could do nothing to
help me. He would come to the gap in the ledge, and from there peep
sympathetically at me. Indeed, he might reach a pole to me, as he had
done on the day before, but my hands were fully occupied, and I could
not grasp it. So I put John out of my mind,--for even in the
experience of the previous day I had not yet learned my lesson,--and
determined to follow the only course which lay open to me, desperate
though it was.

"'I'll turn on my stomach,' I thought, 'and try to get to my knees on
the ledge.'

"I accomplished the turn, but in the act I so nearly lost my hold that
I lost my head, and there was a gasping lapse of time before I
recovered my calm.

"In this change I gained nothing. When I tried to get to my knees I
butted my head against the overhanging rock, nor could I lift my foot
to the ice and roll over on my side, for the ledge was far too narrow
for that. I had altered my position, but I had accomplished no change
in my situation. It was impossible for me to rest more of my weight
upon my breast than my hips had borne. My weakening arms still had to
sustain it, and the river was going its swirling way below me, just as
it had gone in the beginning. I had not helped myself at all.

"There was nothing for it, I thought, but to commit myself to the
river and make as gallant a fight for life as I could. So at last I
called John, that he might carry our tidings to their destination and
return to Fort Red Wing with news of a sadly different kind.

"'Ho!' said John.

"He was staring round the point of rock; and there he stood, unable to
get nearer.

"'Ice under,' said he, indicating a point below me. 'More ice. Let
down.'

"'What?' I cried. 'Where?