Satanstoe, or the Littlepage Manuscripts: A Tale of the Colony - The Writings of James Fenimore Cooper

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ...aad Mary remained still as death-"What means that sound, Guert?" inquired Herman Mordaunt; the concern he felt being betrayed by the very tone of his voice. " Something seems wrong 1" " Something is wrong," answered Guert, coolly, bat very decidedly; " and it is something that must be seen to." As this was said, Guert stepped out on the ice, which he struck a hard blow with the heel of his boot, as if to make certain of its solidity. A second report was heard, and it evidently came from behind us. Guert gazed intently down the river; then he laid his head close to the surface of the ice, and looked again. At the same time, three or four more of these startling reports followed each other in quick succession. Guert instantly rose to his feet. " I understand it, now," he said, " and find I have beea rather too confident. The ice, however, is safe and strong, and we have noticing to fear from its weakness. Perhaps it would be tetter to quit the river notwithstanding, though I am far from certain the better course will not be t«. push on." " Let us know the danger at once, Mr. Ten Eyck," saia Herman Mordaunt, " that we may decide for the best." " Why, sir, I am afraid that the rains and the thaw together, have thrown so much water into the river, oil at once, as it might be, as to have raised the ice and broken ii loose, in spots, from the shores. When this happens above, before the ice has disappeared below, it sometimes causes dams to form, which heap up such a weight as to break tht whole plain of ice far below it, and thus throw cakes over cakes until walls twenty or thirty feet high are formed. This has not happened yet, therefore there is no immediate danger; but by bending your heads low, you can see that such a break has just taken place...