The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-08-21

here much narrower. and of course the cur :
rent was stronger. currling and boiling be-
meath the lee like the mutterel tones of some
imprisoned demon ; and the steep, bluff banks
lowered high above them. almost shutting out
the glimpscs of moonlight they occasionally
had. Jackson appeared TO have a return of
his gloomy torcbodinrS; and his companions
noticed, whenever he turned towards them.
his features wore wild, startled expression.
contrasting strangely with the cold glitter of
his eyes, which were of that iet-black hue
which every whore distinguishes and accom-
panies the slightest tincture of Indian blood
Just at long bend in the river there is a
short succession Of ripples in the water, mark
ing what is usually called a rift or rapids:
hut the river was now frozen over there, and
was about three feet in depth. Immediately
above the rapids there is long low island,
and the ice about the lower end of this was
covered with snow.
Finding they could not proceed on the
channel they had first chosen, the trio turned
back. Jackson leading the way, and attempt
ed to pass round the foot of the island, into
the opposite channel Jackson. who had lust
been drinking from the flask, dashed fearless
" ahead, although Bell warned him 10 pro-
crcd more cautiously: and Hunt followed
l,.,1 Il =
had rendered him reckless of Consequences
Suddenly the ice cracked. broke short Of
and Jackson was plunged into the water
hrra>t-decp; AMI the cake which had broken
under his wricht. hrine on the upper side.
turned M. slowly, steadily. against his breast
with the force of the current and swept him
rrmor,rlc>>iv under ia" i,-, For a moment
his hands cra>p-l the clre on the icll with
.. convul>ivc and desperate grpe: hut il
crumblcd hcnoath his weight. and his last hold
on life was broken forever. He uttered no
cry. made no desperate struggles, but turned
h> ewes imrlornylv upon his comrades. with
hidrous sni,- which they can never for
get,
ilunr WHO had advanced TOO near the edge
" of the yawnng gulf >liprcd suddenly in,witl
: a wild. startling cry: but Bell. gra>png 4
tutt Of willows 10 support himself. extended
to him the muzzr of his Gun. and wra>pn-
II. hr was drawn from his r"rlor> position
ID Il = Al
cha<m. thr pair gazed. awc->trIck. upon cacl
o'hnr1nd then turned their faces down stream
IN II" FAINT hone Of seeing something mor'
of the victim so suddenly borne from them l.,
the relentless waters AS they gazrl. iu~
where the water over the rapids below wa
>hallowcSt the ire was seen to hcave an,
III bend upward. a. if by the application of som,
t. giant power beneath. and a hollow. pcn'-u,
p! cry of distress >wellrd and rcvcrhcrated from
u the ravcrnou> depth then died awav into III
!" low dirGc Of the mo1ninn wind. anil III
u" hnar>e moe King laugh ofthc imprisoned tor
Is. rent
r Rooted To the spot, with ewes starting wit
y! horror, tn" two turned their faces upon cac
Ut spot The wild low howl of A startled vol
NJ swept mournfulv after them on the nigh
II air from the black >hadowv edge of the fol
TO est.
Of For while they steadily proceeded dow
stream in silence. casting fearful and rc>tle
h, ganrcs at the great cnarled limbs of the -ial
-, pines. as they stirred in the chilling hreez
-, But Hunts clothes were freezing to his bod
No.. and becoming so stiff that he could hard
.d use his limbs His blood ran through h
h. veins >luggi>hlv. and grew lev cold. b.
h., noticed this. and at once stripped off the III
fbo fortunate mans coat. and replaced it with h
r.. own warm one. forcing large drau"ht q
,, brandy down his throat. This revived hir
,on and they sped swiftly on for nearly an hou
,,,t but the cold was intense, and with his W
,an garments. it soon became evident that unlc
cb- relief was shortly obtained, Hunt would ne
r., cr reach home alive. Recourse was ara
,h, had to the now nearly empty flask; but.
H. pulling it from his pocket. Bell who had hil
H., self grown numb and stiff, let il slip throu
,L, his palsied fingers, and it was dashed to p
80. ccs On the ice.
The men became sensible that they We
freezing, and their last hope was gone
'"' add to the horrors oftheir situation, the mo
W had gone completely down, and the night "
' pitchv dark, for heavy black clouds obscuv
''"' even the struggling light of the stars a
IL they had forgotten the winding of the sire
!', and were totally ignorant of their wher
""'' bout Di>mally howled the wind throu
''"- the dark forest, as if sounding dirge o.
e'"- the form Of the ALREADY lost one, or roar
alh with wild gec over the prospect of two fir,
III victims.
"''' To remain motionless was sure death
"'S' proceed was almost utterly impossible, 50 st
''e>' had their limbs become: but. pale and ST
= gering. more like the wan spectres of hor
arh- dream than living men, they toiled on. IT
had proceeded scarcely dozen rods, how
encc er, before Hunt declared his utter inablit,
row proceed any farther. Poor man the des
urse chill, with its fatal lethargy, was on him,
few his companion in vain endeavored to 70
gOr; him TO farther action
soon What was to be done: To leave the
cary happy man where he was would be to exr