EPISODES 225 



gushed from the fissures formed in the ice, and the prospect 

 was extremely dismal. When day dawned, a spectacle 

 strange and fearful presented itself: the whole mass of 

 water was violently agitated, its covering was broken into 

 small fragments, and although not a foot of space was 

 without ice, not a step could the most daring have ventured 

 to make upon it. Our boat was in imminent danger, for 

 the trees which had been placed to guard it from the ice 

 were cut or broken into pieces, and were thrust against her. 

 It was impossible to move her ; but our pilot ordered every 

 man to bring down great bunches of cane, which were 

 lashed along her sides ; and before these were destroyed 

 by the ice, she was afloat and riding above it. While we 

 were gazing on the scene a tremendous crash was heard, 

 which seemed to have taken place about a mile below, 

 when suddenly the great dam of ice gave way. The cur- 

 rent of the Mississippi had forced its way against that of 

 the Ohio, and in less than four hours we witnessed the 

 complete breaking up of the ice. 



During that winter the ice was so thick on the Missis- 

 sippi that, opposite St. Louis, horses and heavy wagons 

 crossed the river. Many boats had been detained in the 

 same manner as our own, so that provisions and other 

 necessary articles had become very scarce, and sold at a 

 high price. This was the winter of 1810-11. 



THE PRAIRIE 



On my return from the Upper Mississippi I found 

 myself obliged to cross one of the wide prairies which, 

 in that portion of the United States, vary the appear- 

 ance of the country. The weather was fine; all around 

 me was as fresh and blooming as if it had just issued 

 from the bosom of Nature. My knapsack, my gun, 



VOL. II. — 15 



