POWER OF ENDURANCE IN THE HORSE 299 



would never tire. On the fourth of November we 

 rode over sixty miles, and when we camped in the 

 lee of a little clump of bare willows, Blackie and his 

 comrades went out to shiver through their supper on 

 the cold snow-covered prairie, the bleakest scene my 

 eyes had ever looked upon. 



6 Poor Blackie, however, came to a violent end 

 in crossing a half- frozen river. 



' We went out early, testing it with an axe and 

 sharp-pointed poles. In places it was very thin, but 

 in other parts it rang hard and solid to the blows. 

 The dangerous part was in the very centre of the 

 river. One light horse was passed safely over. Now 

 came Blackie's turn. I was uncomfortable about it, 

 and wanted to have his shoes off, but my experienced 

 companion demurred, and I foolishly gave way. 

 Blackie was led by a long line; I followed close 

 behind him. He took the ice quite readily. We 

 had got to the centre of the river when the surface 

 suddenly bent down, and to my horror my poor 

 horse plunged into the deep, black, quick-running 

 water. The horse, although he plunged suddenly 

 down, never let his head go under water, but kept 

 swimming stoutly round, trying all he could to get 

 upon the ice. All his efforts were useless. A cruel 

 wall of sharp ice cut his knees as he tried to lift 

 them on the surface, and the current repeatedly 

 carried him back underneath. I got almost to the 

 edge of the hole, took hold of the line, but could give 



