t water. Holding his pole he swam on. He reached the edge of the
ice: it broke as he clutched it. It is a difficult operation to get out
of water on to a slab of ice. He found it so. If he got one end of the
pole on the ice the other slipped off. He saw the danger of exhausting
his strength by useless struggles. He had heard voices. He might make
himself heard, so he shouted--"Help! help! the ice has broken in--help!"

It was a sad fate which seemed about to overwhelm him. Life had many
charms in spite of the one disappointment, which had, rather given a
gravity to his manner than in any way embittered his existence. He had
hoped to do something in the world--his duty, at all events. He had
many too depending on him. How would they bear his loss? He looked
upward. A thick veil hung over his head. Below was the dark water--on
every side the wide expanse of treacherous ice and snow. His limbs were
getting chilled; still he would struggle on while consciousness was
allowed him. Had the hole been smaller into which he had fallen, he
might have got his pole across it. It was, however, of much assistance,
as holding on to it, he could rest without breaking the edge of the ice.
He was certain that he heard sleigh-bells. He shouted louder than
before. The bells ceased. He instantly shouted again. A voice
replied, "We'll be with you directly, friend." His heart leaped within
him. The voices sounded louder. He discerned objects dimly moving over
the ice, here and there. They must be looking for him. He shouted
again. They resolved themselves into the forms of two men. They
approached him. One had a rope in his hand. "Lay hold of this, we'll
soon have you out," said the man. Philip passed the rope round his
pole, and then grasped it tightly. With care he was dragged out. The
other person stood at a distance. "We must not put more weight than we
can help on this treacherous stuff," he said. "Why, I do believe that
you are young Ashton."

"The same: and you Mr Norman," cried Philip. "I am indeed thankful for
your timely aid."

"Which my man rendered, and not I; and which he would have rendered to a
drowning dog, so don't say anything about that," replied Mr Norman.
"But we must not stop talking here. The sooner we are on _terra firma_,
and you in a warm bed, the better."

Philip found, on reaching the shore, that he was fully half a mile north
of the settlement. Mr Norman, who was on his way