GLACIER RIVER. 179 



the torrent, as it rushed dashing and foaming 

 along its icy bed, prevented our hearing each 

 other speak, and regardless of the cold, we were 

 gazing in silent admiration at this .magnificent 

 specimen of Nature's handiwork, when my atten- 

 tion was attracted to small pieces of ice falling 

 from above. Looking upward, I saw the Doctor's 

 face, upon which considerable anxiety was de- 

 picted, protruding over the scarped edge of the 

 opposite side of the chasm, and from the contor- 

 tions of his mouth, I could make out that he was 

 calling to us, although the roaring of the water 

 below prevented his voice being heard. A sig- 

 nificant movement of his hand, however, fully 

 explained his meaning, and in accordance with it 

 we retraced our steps, and after some exertion, 

 once more stood upon the surface of the glacier. 



We had left our companion gathering diff"erent 

 kinds of lichen, and examining the various species 

 of rock that lay scattered about, in order to form 

 some idea as to the nature of the mountains above, 

 from which they had been carried by the con- 

 tinuous movement of the glacier ; and he must 

 n2 



