with which he was compelled to view her situation, he now soon began
to be admonished that she was immediately threatened by a danger from
which she had thus far been so providentially preserved--that of being
crushed or swallowed up at once in the broken ice. He could perceive,
from the increasing commotion of the ice around her, that her hitherto
level and unbroken support was growing every moment more insecure and
uncertain. And as it rose and fell, or was pitched forward and thrown
up aslant, in the changing volume, he could plainly hear her piteous
shrieks, and see her flying from side to side of the plunging body, to
avoid being hurled into the frightful chasms which were continually
yawning to receive her.

"Lost! lost!" he uttered with a sigh; "no earthly aid can now avail
her. But stay! stay!" he continued, as his eye fell on the two or
three remaining beams or string-pieces of the old bridge still
extended across the river a short distance below. "If she reaches that
place alive, and I can but gain the spot in time, I may yet save her.
O Heaven, help me to the speed and the means of rescuing her from this
dreadful death!"

And calling loudly to his companions, whom he had already outstripped,
to come on, he now set forward, with all possible speed, for the place
which afforded the last chance for the poor girl's rescue. The banks
of the river, at the point which it was now his object to gain, were
so much more elevated than those above, that he had little fear of
finding the path leading on to the bridge obstructed by the water. And
it had glanced through his mind, as he descried this forgotten spot,
and saw the remains of the bridge still standing, that the maiden
might here be assisted to escape on to the bank, or be drawn up by a
cord, or some other implement, to the top of the bridge, which, being