When I got to the water, it was a sheet of ice as far as I could see.

I put on to it, but hadn't got far before it broke through with me; and so I took out my tomahawk, and broke my way along before me for a considerable distance.
"At last I got to where the ice would bear me for a short distance, and I mounted on it and went ahead.

But it soon broke in again, and I had to wade on till I came to my floating log.

I found it so tight this time, that I know'd it couldn't give me another fall, as it was frozen in with the ice.

I crossed over it without much difficulty, and worked along till I came to my lodged sapling and my log under the water.
"The swiftness of the current prevented the water from freezing over it; and so I had to wade, just as I did when I crossed it before.