The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling and marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles.

Suddenly I jumped and stopped as though fastened to the spot.

Along the surface of the river ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second and a third.
"Quicker, quicker!" cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his hand.
Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us.

The horses swung back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of them striking their heads severely on the ice.

In a second it opened up two feet wide, so that I could follow its jagged course along the surface.
Immediately up out of the opening the water spread over the ice with a rush.
"Hurry, hurry!" shouted the guide.
With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this cleavage and to continue on further.