Snow Shoes and Canoes | Page 7

found that they were frozen as
hard as iron. I made several attempts to thrust in my feet, for I knew
that they would be dreadfully cut should I attempt to walk without
shoes. The exertion contributed somewhat, perhaps, to restore the
circulation in my veins, and at last, after many efforts, I got on my
shoes.
Having accomplished this I broke entirely out of my burrow, and
staggered towards my poor steed. To my great relief the animal moved
its head and looked at me, giving evidence that it was still alive. I
accordingly returned to the hole and dug out my saddle, when, after
great exertion, I managed to reach the horse and put it on. Then,
digging round the poor beast's front feet, and patting it on the neck, I
induced it to move forward a few paces.
It seemed surprising that, after the fearful night it had endured, it
should still be alive and could move its legs apparently without much
difficulty.
I now tried to mount, but could not bend my frozen limbs sufficiently
to get into the saddle. I therefore, taking the bridle in my hand, led
forward my horse, stumbling at every step. I hoped, however, that the
exercise would restore circulation, and that I should be able at last to
get on horseback.
I looked round, but could nowhere see the wood of which I was in
search; though the snow was not falling as thickly as it had done during
the night, the weather still looked very threatening. Dark masses of

snow-clouds obscured the sky like a canopy but a few feet, it seemed,
above my head.
The wind was still piercingly cold, and at any moment the snow might
again come down and overwhelm me. The rough training I had gone
through, however, had taught me never to despair, but to struggle on to
the last. I had no thoughts of doing otherwise, though every limb ached,
and I had scarcely strength to draw one leg after the other.
At last, finding that I could walk no longer, I made another effort to
mount, and succeeded, though not without great pain, in climbing into
the saddle; when I was there, however, my poor horse showed his utter
inability to carry me, and refused to lift a leg; indeed, his strength was
insufficient for the task. In vain I patted his neck and tried to make him
go forward. The only movement he made was to sink down on his
knees. To prevent him from falling altogether, when I might not have
been able to get him up again, I threw myself off his back.
At the same moment the storm burst forth with greater fury than before.
I began to believe that I should perish; but still I had some strength left
in me, and resolved to exert it to the utmost. As to facing the storm, that
was impossible, so all I could do was to turn my back to it and move
forward.
I might be going further and further from the wood, but I trusted that
Providence, which had hitherto preserved me, would direct my steps
towards some other shelter. Still I in vain looked out for any object
rising above the apparently interminable plain of snow. The
saddle-cloth drawn tightly over my shoulders somewhat protected my
back, but the wind whistled past my ears, which had now lost all
sensation.
On and on I went, I knew not for how long. I could scarcely think,
indeed I could scarcely feel, except that I was suffering all over from
pain. The storm sent me along, in what direction I could not tell, though
I supposed that it was towards the south. The thick-falling snow hid all
objects, if any there were, from sight. My companions might be in the
neighbourhood, but I was not likely to see them, nor they me.

I tried occasionally to shout out, but I had not power to send my voice
to any distance. Still I went on, like a hawker crying his wares in a
town, but I had lost all hopes of hearing an answer to my calls. At last
so great became my exhaustion that I thought of killing my horse,
opening him, and getting into his body, fancying that I might thus save
my life. I drew my hunting-knife, and was about to plunge it into the
poor brute's chest, though even then I felt a great repugnance to kill the
faithful creature; when it occurred to me, should I get inside, that, after
the heat had left the body, it would freeze, and I might be unable to
extricate myself. I should thus be immured in a tomb of my own
making. The idea was too dreadful to contemplate