WINTER IN THE BACKWOODS 257 



1889. The first half-mile was delightful, the 

 ice being strong and smooth. Then the surface 

 ice began to crack, and as I proceeded it 

 broke through, giving me a drop of nearly two 

 feet into the water above the foundation ice. 

 Mr. Gregory, who was my companion at the 

 time, recalled this adventure during my visit to 

 him last year. He had the greatest difficulty 

 in removing my fears, because the sensation at 

 every step reminded me of my previous fall 

 through the ice in England and I believed every 

 step o f that terrible journey would bring me 

 face to face with death. A sleigh driven over 

 the ice at this season looks like some huge water- 

 monster splashing on his way. 



At this condition of the ice there is really no 

 danger. Perhaps it may happen, after two days, 

 that all the water has disappeared and left the 

 surface of the lake covered with white and black 

 ice. It is now that the dangerous time has come, 

 for the white ice may be porous, and the dark 

 blotches air-holes. Sinking through the porous 

 ice reminds one of the cruel sport of shooting 

 sea-pigs with a shot-gun. The porpoise dives 

 merrily, until a well-timed shot strikes him ; then, 

 instead of perforating his hide with shot, the 



