SW^Vl^S, HERONS, AND HAWKS. 75 



SO in the vajs of the risuig sun that wo miglit have 

 imagined ourselves to be in a forest of crystals. At 

 our feet, the Mississippi rolled its blue wa^-es, in the 

 midst of which the snow-white ice blocks were roll- 

 ing and clashing against each other. After we had 

 made innumerable signals, vre at last saw a boat 

 coming over from the other side, and threading its 

 way among the ice. After great exertions, the two 

 men who were in it managed to reach us ; and when 

 we explained our wants to them, the}' went back 

 again upon their dangerous errand, promising us to 

 return that ver}^ evening. B}' way of putting the 

 intermediate time to good use, my friend and I 

 determined to start on an exploring expedition and 

 fill our game bags, so that on our return to the 

 encampment we might bring back something besides 

 bread. AVe were soon at work, and before the after- 

 noon we had bagged a score of snipes and two mag- 

 nificent gelinottes, cock and hen, which rose right 

 and left under the nose of our pointer, and received 

 from each of us a charge of shot. 



According to the arrangement, the two boatmen 

 returned in the evening with a barrel of wheat flom*, 

 some large loaves, and a sack of Indian corn, with 

 some demijohns of brandy. All these were placed 

 on a sledge which we managed to Imock together, 

 and, by harnessing ourselves to this, we managed to 

 arrive at the camp about the middle of the night, 

 not too much fatigued. 



