ON ROTTEN ICE. 203 



I took another turn through the jungle, but 

 only saw a few doe jeran and the slot of a 

 stag, which, though I hunted early and late, 

 never showed a sign of his horn. So we moved 

 on to a fresh bit of forest, keeping along the 

 banks of the river for some ten miles, after which 

 we had to cross it. 



The ice was rotten, and though it would 

 bear a man, was not good enough for a pony. 

 The channel being only about 4 feet deep, 

 we determined to break up the ice as best we 

 could and make the ponies ford. Taking off 

 the loads, these were soon carried across ; then 

 we set to work with the first pony. Tying a 

 long halter to each side of his head-stall, with 

 a man on each side, he was led on to the ice, 

 which gave with him at once : he then tried 

 to scramble and flounder on again, and broke 

 another junk. In this way he was got over, 

 and a channel cut, which the others waded 

 through without difficulty. 



Skirting a big marsh which was swarming 

 with ducks and geese, at which I did not shoot, 

 not wishing to make a noise, I came to a fairly 

 open tract. Along the banks and on the sandy 

 soil were tracks of a big stag. While hunting 



