Our horses walked very carefully but some fell and floundered before they could regain their feet.

We were leading them by the bridle.

With bowed heads and trembling all over they kept their frightened eyes ever on the ice at their feet.
I looked down and understood their fear.

Through the cover of one foot of transparent ice one could clearly see the bottom of the river.

Under the lighting of the moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the grasses were distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres and more.