INTO DARKNESS 47

we were hurtling down the winding trail; on one
side the rocky wall rose steeply, on the other gaped
two thousand feet of blackness. The trail shone
white between shadowy wall and yawning ravine,
and the dogs galloped fiercely round sharp bends
so that the sleigh would swing on one runner until
it struck the next straight down-stretch. Down and
down we plunged into darkness between cliff and
precipice, between sunset and moonrise, until we
could see the frozen river glinting far below. Across
the river two moose in silhouette walked on the
ice.