124 SUSPENSION BRIDGES. 



somewhat flagged, so that we could no longer proceed with 

 the same speed as in the morning. The deer also evinced 

 symptoms of weariness ; but though we did not see him more 

 that day, we were close upon him more than once. This we 

 knew by the dogs, who ever and anon started him from 

 brakes, where fatigue had caused him to make temporary 

 halts. 



Pretty late in the afternoon the chase led us back to the 

 Dal, the river we had crossed in the morning, though at a 

 considerable distance farther to the northward. Here the 

 stream was dead and sluggish, and the ice so thick, that all 

 the artillery in the world might have crossed with impunity. 

 A little above this point there was a succession of rapids, also 

 partially frozen over. Everywhere the ice stretched out from 

 the land far into the stream ; and in some places spanned it 

 altogether. But as the water had fallen considerably since 

 the commencement of the winter, a vacuum of a foot or two 

 was left between it and the ice, which thus formed a suspen- 

 sion bridge so to speak. There were, however, many and large 

 openings in the middle of the river, where the strong current, 

 rolling over its rocky bed, was visible to the eye. Thirsting 

 perhaps, and desirous of laving its fevered body, the deer 

 had taken to the water at the lower part of the rapids, 

 and, as we saw by his tracks, followed them up for a 

 long distance. How he managed to make his way over 

 the several ice bridges spoken of, more than one of which 

 had broken down under his weight, and had thus caused his 

 immersion in the stream, quite puzzled my comprehension. In 

 some places, from the shoalness of the water, his long legs had, 

 no doubt, enabled him to wade; but in others, it was quite 

 evident, he had been obliged to have recourse to swim- 



