102 THE CHILDREN OF THE COLD. 



just as in our climate the deep 

 protects the delicate plants on the 

 ground, and keeps them from being 

 killed by the coldest weather. And as 

 it is so much easier to shovel off the 

 soft snow than to dig through the hard 

 ice, the boys always look for a deep 

 snow-drift very near to the spot where 

 they have peered through the ice and 

 seen clear water beneath. If they can 

 get near a crack that extends entirely 

 through the ice, it will also make it much 

 easier to dig the well, as one side is thus 

 already prepared for them. 



Having selected as favorable a place 

 as possible, they commence their dig- 

 ging. The first instrument used is noth- 

 ing more than a chisel, a bayonet, or a 

 sharpened piec^ of iron, lashed on the 

 end of a pole ten or twelve feet long. 



