They crouched, dull and drooping, around their fires; many of them began to express a wish to remain where they were for the winter.
The very necessity of crossing the river dismayed some of them in their present enfeebled and dejected state.

It was rapid and turbulent, and filled with floating ice, and they remembered that two of their comrades had already perished in its waters.

Others looked forward with misgivings to the long and dismal journey through lonesome regions that awaited them, when they should have passed this dreary flood.
At an early hour of the morning, December 23d, they began to cross the river.

Much ice had formed during the night, and they were obliged to break it for some distance on each shore.

At length they all got over in safety to the west side; and their spirits rose on having achieved this perilous passage.