like in other streams; and that this was the case,
was evident to our hunters, who had entered the mouth of the rivers from
the icy surface of the bay, and were gliding in their sledges up its
frozen channel.

After having gone three or four miles up this icebound stream, which ran
through a narrow valley with steep sloping sides, the guide warned our
hunters that they were close to the place where the water would be found
open. At this point a low ridge ran transversely across the valley--
through which the stream had, in process of time, cut a channel; but the
ridge occasioned a dam or lake of some half-dozen acres in superficial
extent, which lay just above it. The dam itself was rarely frozen over;
and it was by the water remaining in it, or flowing sluggishly through
it--and thus giving it time to cool--that the stream immediately below
got frozen over.

The lake lay just on the other side of the ridge, and was now only
hidden from their view by the rise of the ground. If not frozen over,
as the guide conjectured, there was likely to be a bear roaming around
its edge; and therefore they resolved to observe caution in approaching
it.

The sledges were to be taken no further. Our hunters had learnt how to
manage both dog-sledges and dogs. Their experience in Finland, as well
as in the countries of the Hudson's Bay territory, had taught them that;
and made them skilful in the handling of these animals--else they would
have made but poor work in travelling as they did now. In fact, they
could not have managed at all: since it requires a great deal of
training to be able to drive a dog-sledge. This, however, they had
received--both the boys and Pouchskin--and fortunate it had been so; for
very shortly after they were placed in a predicament, in which their
lives depended on their skill as sledge drivers.

The dogs were left under cover of the ridge, near the bottom of the
little slope; a sign was given to them to keep their places--which these
well-trained creatures perfectly comprehended; and the hunters--the
Kurilski with the rest--holding their guns in readiness, ascended
towards the summit of the slope.

There was no cover, except what was afforded by the inequality of the
ground. There were no trees in the valley--only stunted bushes, not
half the height of a man's body, and these nearly buried to their tops
in the snow. A few, however, appeared growing along the crest of the
ridge.

The hunters c