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on either side when I stood upright. This was quickly 

 tied to my stick, and two or three pocket-handkerchiefs 

 added to the comforter, made a sufficiently long rope. 

 Getting on to a large piece of ice I cast the line, as if I 

 was using a rod, and fortunately succeeded the first throw 

 in hitting him in the face. He clutched hold, and by 

 turning my skates broadside I got a good purchase, 

 sufficient to prevent being dragged in. Plenty of willing 

 hands knotted another rope, which was thrown to me, 

 and we were both speedily hauled on to the firm ice. 



In this same frost a terrible accident happened at 

 Bearwood, not far distant from Aldershot. One of the 

 young Walters broke through, and a brother endeavoured 

 to save him by lying down on the ice and holding out 

 his hands. He had no purchase, however, and was 

 speedily pulled in also, thus making the misfortune still 

 worse. A third brother rushed up, and unfortunately 

 repeated the same manceuvre, and he, too, was pulled in, 

 there being then three that had to be extricated instead 

 of only one. Eventually two were saved, I think the first 

 and the third that were immersed, but one poor fellow 

 was drowned, and it threw a gloom over all the district. 



It is lamentable how many lives are yearly lost which 

 might be saved, if those who are present but keep cool 

 enough to think how a rope can be quickly made. A few 

 years ago poor old Holmes — so well-known to everyone 

 quartered at Gibraltar at that time — was drowned in 

 trying to ford a torrent, on the way home from hunting. 

 He had companions with him, and was whirled by the 

 current almost within arm's length of the shore, and yet 

 no endeavour was made to construct a rope, though 

 hunting whips, stirrup-leathers, and reins, were all at 



