Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-01-24
} DANGEROUS ADvENTURE.

II
ry." 1t isa graphic description Of a most
thrilling scene -,
| "Alier residing nearly year in one Of the
most distant posts of the North West Com
pany, and conducting the Tor trade there, |
began TO look forward TO my return to Mon
treal. waited with the greatest impotence
for the arrival Of the period which was TO
| terminate Punishment, and restore rae to so
ciety. was nearly three. thousand miles
distant from any settlement, and my only
companions were two young men, clerks in
tae establishment, whose characters aud linn
tied requirements. rendred them very unin-
teresting associates. Our post was situated
upon the banks OF small lake, about sixteen
miles broad. This lake discharged itself by
means OF river into another Of much great
er dimensions. and thick forests covered eve
~ part OF the neigbboring country.
One afternoon, took my gun and strolled
out In search OF game. Though il was now
the beginning Of spring, the lake was com.
pletely frozen across, the cold OF the proceed.
| ing winter having been very intense. soon
| fell IN with flock of wild ducks. but before
l could get shot at them, they began TO fly
towards the middle Of the lake; however fol-
| lowed them fearlessly over the ice, in the-ex
| pectation that they would soon alight, The
weather was mild, though rather blowy. De
| tached black clouds rapidly along the face Of
Heaven IN immense masses, and the sun bla
zed forth in uuobscnrcd splendor at one mo
meni, and was completely shrouded from the
| eye the next.---l was so intent on the pursuit
of my game. that fastened forwards almost
| nncouscienciously. my progress being much
! facilitated by thin layer OF chow which Gov
cred the ice, and rendered the footing tolers.
| bly, secure. Al last fred at the ducks, and
killed one and wounded another, imme1i-
| ately picked up The first, but its companion
having only been winged, began TO leap a.
way before caught hold oft. followed,
but had not advanced more than twenty yards
| when to my establishment, ! found that the
ice was, in many places, covered with; water
! TO the depth Of several inches stopped short
full o.. alarm, end irresohite what 10 do Il
was evident that a thaw had already com.
menced. and, as ! well knew with what ra-
psdity The ice broke up when once affected
10y change of temperature, became alive
TO all the dangers Of my situation, and almost
thought Of moving from the spot on which
stood. t,
The weather had grown calm and hazy,
and the sky was very black and lowering.
Large flakes Of snow soon began to fall LAM
and after a little time, thene were accompani-
ed-by 4 thick shower of sleety rain, which
gradually become so denses that could not
discern the shore. strained my eyes to catch
glance Of ONE living object, but dreary
and motionless expapce stretched around me
on every side. and the appalling silence that
prevailed was sometimes interrupted by the
receding cries Of the wounded bird. An ma
ture seemed o.be awaiting some terrible O.
rent. ] listened in fearful suspense 10 hear.
! soon distinguished distant laundering
noise, which gradually become stronger and
appeared 10 approach the place where stood,
Repeated explosions and hollow mprmurings
OF irregular loudness, were succeeded by
tremendous sound like that Of rocks bursting
asunder. > The ice trernblcd beneath my feet
and the next moment 1t was disunited by
vast chasri, which opened Itself within few
yards of me. The water Of the lake rushed
upwards through the gap with foamng fury
| and began TO food the surface all around. ,
| started backwards, and ran, as conceiy-
| ed, towards the shore; but ms progress was
soon stopped by one OF those weak parts OF
ice, called ar holes While walking cautious
ly round it. my mind grew somewhat COM
posed, and resolved not to advance any far.
! Their, until had fixed upon some way OF re,
gulating my course; but found this to be i'm.
possible yainly endeayoured 10 discern
land, and the moaning of the wind among
the distant forests alone indicated that there
was any at all near me. Strong and irregular
hiasts, loaded with snow and, sleet, swept
wildly along, involving every thing in obscu
| rity, and bewildering my steps with maIig-
| nant influence. sometimes fancied saw
the spot where our post was situated, and e.
ven trees and houses upon H.; but the next
moment gust of wind would whirl away
the fantastic shaped fogs that had produced
| the agreeable illustration, and reduce me to
| actlonless despair. fred my gun repeated
| ly, IN the hope that the report would bring
some one tony assistance; however the shores
along acknowledged, by feeble echoes, that
| the sound had reached them 4
! The storm Increased in violence, and at
intervals the sound of the ice breaking mp,
rolled upon my ear like. distant thunder. and,
seemed to mutter appalling threats.s Alarm
and, fatigue made me dizzy, and threw,
down my gun and rushed forwards in the
face oGthe drifting showers. which were now
so thick as to affect my sespira;ions soon
| lost all sense OF fear, and began TO feel sort
of frantic delight in struggling against the
careering blasts.-I hurried on, sometimes
running along the brink OF a circular opening
| 10 the ice. and sometimes leaped across
! frigbtfu chasrus-all the while unconscious
of having any object in view: The ice eve
| ~ where ereaksd under my feet, and knew
that death aWaitsd me- whether fed away