IN GUSINA CAMP 71 
be entirely filled with drifted snow. Now, as this snow 
begins to thaw, it drops, of course, towards the middle, 
until it lies at the sides at an angle say of 45°. At the 
bottom forms a stream, the banks of which vary in height 
from six to twelve feet or more, and are either perpendi- 
cular, or more frequently sloping inwards, so that the 
edges overhang. You will understand at once what a 
nasty place this would be. 
A GULLY 
But very often the stream itself was out of sight— 
entirely bridged over with snow; only you could hear 
the water plashing and tinkling somewhere down below. 
Here, then, was a regular trap. If by any chance one 
had fallen through the snow-bridge or had otherwise 
