r.

We were at the top of a bank which descended steeply for a great
distance. It was almost a cliff, only it was not rock, but sandy soil,
dotted here and there with patches of grass and clumps of trees. Far
below us was the river, whose broad bosom lay spread out for miles,
dotted with the white sails of passing vessels. The place
where we stood was a slight promontory, and commanded a larger and more
extended view than common. On the left and below us was the Ile
d'Orleans, while far away up the river Cape Diamond jutted forth,
crowned by its citadel, and, clustering around it, we saw the
glistening tin roofs and tapering spires of Quebec. But at that moment
it was neither the beauty nor the grandeur of this wonderful scene that
attracted my gaze, but rather the river itself. My eyes fastened
themselves on that broad expanse of deep and dark-blue water, and
wandering from the beach beneath, up the river, to the shore opposite
Quebec--many a mile away--in that moment all the events of our
memorable journey came back before me, distinctly and vividly. I stood
silent, Marion, too, was silent, as though she also had the same
thoughts as those which filled me. Thus we both stood in silence, and
for a long time our eyes rested upon the mighty river which now rolled
its vast flood beneath us, no longer ice-bound, but full and free, the
pathway for mighty navies, and the thoroughfare of nations.

Now I was able to grasp the full and complete reality of our fearful
adventure. We had wandered from the opposite shore far up near Point
Levi, toiling over treacherous ice, which, even as we walked, had moved
onward toward the sea, and had thus borne us down for miles till we
attained the shore at this place. Looking at the river, I could trace
the pathway which we had taken, and could fix the locality of every one
of those events which had marked that terrible journey--where the horse
ran--where the sleigh floated--where I had drawn it to the ice--where
the ice-ridge rose--where we had clambered over--where Marion fell
--till finally beside this shore I could see the place where that open
channel ran, near which she had fallen for the last time, when I had
raised her in my arms and borne her back to life. And there, too,
below us, was the steep bank up which I had borne her--how I knew not,
but in some way or other most certainly--till I found refuge for her in
the hospitable cottage. At this last I looked with the strongest
emo