104 ON THE BANK OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



one o'clock we arrived opposite the village. But the 

 difficulties of our enterprise had scarcely begun. The 

 Mississippi was carrying down enormous masses of ice ; 

 and, spite of our signals, 110 ferryman ventured across 

 the river. We were compelled, therefore, to pass the 

 night on the spot. Fortunately we found a deserted hut, 

 which provided us with an asylum. With my gun and a 

 little powder we soon kindled a fire ; and a turkey which 

 we grilled, we devoured to the very feet. A litter of 

 straw and heath served us instead of a mattress ; and the 

 night, thanks to the blazing pile which we heaped up in 

 front of us, passed by without much suffering. 



The moment day dawned, my friend and I issued from 

 our shelter. Cold was the atmosphere, and pure. The 

 frost, hanging to the branches of the trees like stalactites 

 to the roof of a grotto, rendered them so brilliant, when 

 the sun rose above the horizon, that it seemed as if we 

 had suddenly entered a forest of crystal. At our feet tho 

 Mississippi rolled its bluish waters, whirling and eddying 

 round drifting snow-white icebergs. 



After having made numerous signals, we saw a boat 

 throw off its moorings, and gradually make its way 

 across the stream, through the sinuous channels formed 

 by the floating ice. Thanks to efforts almost herculean, 

 the two men who rowed her succeeded in reaching us, 

 and we explained to them the object of our summons. 

 As soon as we had struck a bargain with them, they re- 

 sumed their dangerous course, promising to return the 

 same evening. 



That we might utilize to the best advantage the long 

 and dreary interval, my friend and I agreed to explore 

 the environs and fill our game-bags. We might thus be 



