He was none the worse for his dip, though it was no joke to be plunged head over ears in that icy cold water.  Several of the other men fell in at different times, for although it was freezing hard the rapidity of the current prevented the ice forming securely in many places.  We had occasionally, therefore, to leave the river and to make our way through the forest--no easy undertaking.  But we could get through any places, provided they were more than two feet wide.  When camping, we shovelled away the snow until we reached the moss on which we formed our beds; then we made our fire in the centre of the hole, and took our places round it.