Middletown transcript., 1869-10-23

farm, and we urged the horses to swfter
pace, for with the suns departure came an
increase of cold
The estuary, some eight miles wide
stretched deep into the land, and to save
time, we drove straight across the vast
sheet of ice which bridged it. Night fell
as we proceeded, but, though the moon
had not yet risen, the misty reflection of
the snow lighted US on our way. We had
REACHED the centre of the bay, when re-
port like the discharge of artillery, filed
the air, and rolling back over the ice was
repeated by the thousand echoes.
1t was the unmistakeable sound of crack
ing ice
Without word 1 put the horses to heir
speed.
The next moment a yet louder and
sharper concussion broke on the stiffness.
followed by third, which sounded as if
it rent the air asunder
My companions geered eagerly into the
dark. The horses stopped suddenly and
looking before them we perceived dark
belt of heavy waters. The crack was too
broad for our horses to leap all left us.
therefore, was to turn landward. hurry on
and outstrip the danger. But with each
step the gap beside us widened, until it
resembled 2 river, and to QHr consterna-
ton we discovered that the Ice had parted
on either side, leaving us floating on a
large cake of ice, which the swift current
of the river was driving rapidly out upon
the lake.
What sudden dismay came over us as
we gazed at the increasing chasm
The bridegroom was eager to swim the
space, and bear tidings to the farm hut
1t would have been useless sacrifice of
life.
There was one chance left-that we
might hit upon some projecting point on
the lake shore. But as our raft floated
steadily further and further out from land,
that last hope vanished, and before long we
who had lately been so joyous, stood sad
ly watching the white outlines of the hills
fade into the night with the sorrowful
knowledge that we should perish misera-
bly, upon our frozen resting place, or be
swept into the ice-cold waters Of the lake.
Il was terrible prospect.
The remembrance that we had in a mea-
sure, brought this upon our own heads, in
creased its bitterness. Had we but ap-
prlsed any one of our route when we d.
verged from the usual track, we should
undoubtedly have been sought for in ca,
noes, and most probably rescued; while,
as it was, the blind path by which we
turned in to the shore, would put them all
at fault. The bridegroom's self reproach-
es were keenest, for he felt himself the de-
stroyer of the bride SO lately committed to
his care; while the poor girl wept in utter
abandonment of spirit, not only for the
blighting of her bright hopes and for the
life she must render up, but for the sudden
parting from the beloved ones she should
never see again.
The moon rose in the deep blue sky.
making night beautiful, and flooding our
ice-craft with its silvery light, quivering
in broken rays on the broad lake which
now rolled in waves around us, and shin
ing like glory on the distant hills, Civ
ing us one more glance at earth.
The cold was becoming intense. The
wind, straight from the frozen North, swept
over the lake in gusts, and seemed 10
pierce Us ike icy arrows. and though
wrapped in heavy sleigh furs, and crouch
ed within its narrow limits, we could
scarcely endure the rigor of the night, and
worse than all, our fair companion had to
share these hardships, with no protection
save the most sheltered corner of the sleigh
and the warmest wrapper. Yet she never
Day at length broke on this long night
of misery. The current of the lake had
swept us out of sight of the land.
We told ourselves we had no hope of
rescue, yet long and anxiously we watched
the circhng horison for some sign of com
ing aid, and it was with deep despondency
we discovered that as far as the eve could |
reach, there was nothing but lake and sky, |
save on the spot some five miles distant, |
where foated a fragment of our raft, which |
cracked from the commencement, had par
ted during the night, bearing away with
it both our horses. And as the day wore
on another hardship was added--that of
hunger Since the preceding morning we
had eaten nothing and our long exposure
made the want sorely felt. Though many
birds few over the lake, not one came
within reach Of our rifles az ,st 4
Two days passed, and no words can
ell the intensity of our suffering as we
ioated on our frozen prison, each hour
served to augment our misery, and when
he third day broke upon us, cold and ex-
naustion were fast doing their work, and
We lay helplessly in the corners Of the
leigh. But the young bride still bore up.
Whether it was the unbroken yigor of her
youth sustained her, or that marvellous en-
iurance OF her sex which has SO often
carried them through wreck and tempest,
know not, but she was still comparative
y strong, she earnestly entreated us still
@ hope and trust.
began to think with horror that
lime would shortly come when the unhap-
~ girl would be left alone upon the ice.
Thus another night closed. :"
As the hours passed a furious storm a.
ose upon the lake, lashed its waters into