Year: 1862

imperceptible current of the lake had swept
us out Of sight Of land. and the huge mass
of Ice lay steady as an island among the
surrounding waves. We told ourselves
we had no hope of rescue, yet long and
anxiously we watched the circling horizon
for some sign of coming aid. and it was
with a deeper despondency we discovered
that. as far as the eye could reach, there
was nothing but lake and sky, save on one
spot some five miles distant. where foated
fragment Of our raft. which, cracked from
the commencement, had parted during the
night, bearing away with it both our hors-
es. And as the day wore on, another
hardship was added. which redoubled all
the rest-that of hunger. Since the pre-
ceding morning. we had eaten nothing,
and our long expose to the cold began to
make the want severely felt; while. though
many birds flew over the lake. no one came
within reach of our rifles to soften this new
calamity.


Two days passed and no words can tell
the intensity Of our sufferings as we float
ell on that frozen prison, which the winds
and waves appeared powerless to destroy;
each hour served but to augment our mis-
cry. and when the third day broke upon
us, cold and exhaustion were fast doing
their work. and we lay helplessly in the
corners Of the sleigh. as it seemed about to
die. But the young bride still bore up;
whether it was the unbroken vigor of her
youth sustained her. or that marvellous
endurance of her sex, which has so often
carried them through wreck and tempest,
! know not, but she was still comparative
ly unsubdued. and while she drew our COW
erings more closely around us, she earn
estly entreated US still to hope and trust
/ began to think with horror that time
would shortly come when the unhappy
girl would be left alone upon the ice.


Thus another night closed on our sore
extremity, and we did not think to live il
out. As the hours passed. furious storm
arose on the lake. lashing its waters into
foaming pillows, which dashed agains,
our raft. as if they sought to shatter it in
pieces; clouds, black as lax. rolled over the
sky. and appeared to fill the air; and. to
crown all. the faintness Of our hunger was
succeeded by raging pains, almost beyond
endurance. and yet which seemed hourly to
increase. Never have l suffered as / did
that night. 1t was well-nigh maddening,
and many times. as we sat covering with
in the sleigh listening to the rushing Of the
wdves. dii we almost pray that they wo'd
overwbelm our raft at once, and end our
misery. AT length this desire seemed
granted. There was a sudden crush. and a
violent concussion, as though we had
strnck upon a rock. and the pillows beat
and roared more wildly than ever. But
in the darkness we could distinguish moth
ing. and. pressing down our hunger. we
sat with clasped hands and bowed heads
awaiting cur doom. While we still wait
ed. the dawn crept over the sky, and our
indomitable bride, springing up, uttered q
cry of joy. then threw herself weeping in
her husbands arms. Before US, rising in
hills and valleys. lay the snow-clsd land,
and against its icy border our raft was
tightly jammed. Though we guessed i,
not. the gale had blown from the south.
and, by the mercy of Providence, it had
driven US back to the northern shore Of the
lake, and thus saved our lives. u


Not far of, the ascending smoke an.
nounced a dwelling, but we had no strength
to reach it; so we fired our rifles. a signal
which quickly brought the inhabitants to
the shore. They proved to have been
members of the late wedding frolic: and
nothing could exceed their sstonishment
and JOY at our discovery. which was utter.
ly despaired of. Every possible care and
kindness was lavished upon us. and the
brile's parents and friends summoned to
rejoice over their lost lamb that was found
"AlPs well that ends WE'LL" we thank.
fully agreed: but never shall l forget the
intense misery and suffering of that adven-
ture on the ice.