Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-05-31

the fantastic shaped ogs that had produced the agreeable
Illusion, and reduced TO aconless despair. fired
my gun repeatedly, the hope that the report would
bring some assistance however, the shores
alone acknowledged by feeble echoes, tlat the sound
had reached them.
The increased in violence and at intervals the
sound of the ice breaking up, rolled upon my ear like
distant thunder, and seemed 10 appalling threats
Alarm and fatigue made me dizzy, and threw down my
gun and rushed forwards in the face of the drifting
ers, which were thick "a - my respiration.
soon lost all sense of fear and began to feel sort of
frantic delight struggling against the eerng blasts
hurried on; sometimes running along the brink of
circular opening in the ice, and sonenesl ealng
trighfui chasms-a the while unconscious of having
object in view.-The ice every where creabcd un
der my feet, and knew that death awaited me whether
lied away remained ON the spot. felt as one
would do II forced ,by some prosecuting feud is range
over The surface of bleak and shorccss ocean: and
aware that whenever his tormentur withdrew his ss-
tanning power, he would sink down and be suocated
among the pillows that struggled beneath him.
AT last night came on, and, exhausted nv fatigue
and mental excitement, wrapped my self in my cloak
and lay down upon the ice. IL was 81 dark that
could not have moved one step without r'nnug the
risk OF falling into the lake. / almost wished that the
drowsiness, produced by intense cold would begin TO
affect me- but did not feel in the slightest degree Chill
ed and the Temperature of the all reality above
freezing. had lain ouly few minutes when / heard
the sound OF a wolf. The sound indie scrbaby de-
ghtiul to and started up with the intention OF
fastening to the spot from whence seemed to proceed
but hopeless my situation then was heart shrunk
within me whcn contemplated the dangers would en-
counter IN making such attempt. Nj, courage fail
ed and resumed my former position and listened 10
| The undulatons OF the water they undermined any
peat against the lower part of the ice which lay.
About midnight the storm ceased and most of the
clouds gradully orsoOk the sky, while the rising moon
dsPeled the darkness that had previously prevailed
Ito" ever thick haze covered the heavens, and rem
drred her light dim and ghastly and similar to that she'd
during eclipse. succession of noises had Contin-
med with little interruption for several hours and at last
The ice beneath me began to'moye started up and
on looking around, that the whole surface of the
lake was in state of agitaton.-6v eyes became dim
ana stretched out my 10 catch hold of some OBJ
lec and e!i as If all created things had passed away
The inssng, grinding, and crashing, produced by the
ut"ereht masses OF ice coming INTO collision tre-
n'endous arSe fragments some lines g. und, T. wav
together and IN ,edcd he progress ftose behind them
which being pushed forward by others s, farther back
were forced upon the top of the first and fantastic snap
ed pyramids and towers could be inisncy seen rising
among the Insts ut night, and moinenta.y chaiIgin"
their forms, and finally disorgaiZnn themselves with
magical rapidity and fearful rnult At other times an
immense mass OF ice would start up in perpendicular
position and continue cleaning the nioonslnc for
a LITTLE period, and then vanish like spectre among
the abyss OF waters beneath H. The piece of ice ON
Wn'c hd hrst taken my position, happened to be very
large and thick, but other fragments soon forced
above II, and formed mound SIX or seven feet hr ON
the top OF which, stood, contemplating the awful scene
around me, and feeling if louger had the least
Connection with the world retained any thing human
or earthly IN my composition.
The wind which was pretty strouo. d,oye tl,c ice
down the lake very fast. My alarms aud an Xcties had
gradually become less intense aud was seye r; time.
overcome by sort of sturor-during tLc continuance
o! which, imagination ami reality combined their dis
tracing influence. Al time | ancrcd that the
snow still dfiited violently ever and That distn
Shlsiied tlro' ITS hay medium, band of Indian chiefs
walking past me upon the surface OF the lake Their
steps were noselcss and they along with wan and
detected looks and downcLs eyes, and paid no atten
ton To my EXPLANATIONS and enreaties for relief Al
another, thought was floating III the middle of the
/ "a a.
sky and made the ice which supported tne melt so fast
That ;lstreams ofwatcr pouring from IFS sides and
elt myself every moment descending towards the sur
lace OF the pillows. | was usually wakened from sucL
dreams by some noise violent Cuucusson but ALWAYS
reapsed INTO them whenever the cause of disturbance
ceased to operate.
The longest and last of these slumbers was broken
by terrible shock which NV ice island received and
which threw from my seat and nearly precpitateJ
me INTO the lake. On regaiuing my former position
and looking round, perceived my Joy and asonisll
fncnt, that was III a river. The water between me
/ and the shore was still frozen over and was about 80
ards vide, consequently tie fragment of ice on which
stood could not approach any than this After
moment OF rfcooulion capcd upon the frozen sur
face and began TO towards the bank of the river
Wy feet seemed scarcely 10 touch the ice great was
my terror lest 1T should give way beneath me; but
reached tbe shore In safety and dropped down com
pletcy exhausted by fatigue and agitation.
Ii was now broad day light but neither saw animals
nor human beings. nor any vcsges OF them Thick
forests covered the banks of Inc river and extended
oack as lar as my eye could reach. feared to penc-
uae them lest should ret bcwildcred il, tl,cir rec,
Ses' and accordingly walked along the edge of the
stream 1t was not long before discovered a column
Oh smoke rising among the trees Immediately direct
ed my steps towards the spot aud on reaching il found
a party seated round fire.
hey received nc with an air Of indifference and I'm
concern, not very agreeable encouraging TO one i'm
my destitute condition. However, placed myself in
their circle, and tried to discover to what tribe they be-
onged by addressing them in the different Indian Ian
guage9 with which was acquainted. soon made nv
sell neIgbe, and related the circumstances that had
Drought me SO unexpectedly among them At the con-
ciuSion OF my narrative the Pulled their toaayy
pipes from their mouths, and locked at each other with
an IncreJuous SMILE did make any attempt TO
convince them OF the truth of what said know ing
would be i'll vain do 50; bu asked for something
to eat-Aiter some deIbcr"tion, they gave me Il SINAI
quantity OF Pemcan, but with an unwingness dot
did not evnce such spirit Of hospitality as had usual
ly met with among Indians.
The party consisted of three men, two women, and
couple ofcIdren, all Of whom our lay near the fire
in absolute ldeuess; and their minds seemed to be as
unoccuped their bodies for nothing resembling con