It was then that the military swung into action. With lengthy poles anc rods they tried to the best of thei furious ability to break up the ice-jam—but all to no purpose. Only one thing remained which was blasting and this meant a battle agains time. All through the night the crackling and thudding of the ice blocks with the loud swishing of the rushing water were punctuated ever and anon by the dull booming thunder of the explosions as blast after blast was set off to break the mountains of ice gathering greater Porportions hour by boni Meantime the fear-stricken inhabitants of Hailar were in the best positions they could find, but fearful every minute of being swept to a horrible death by the vicious intensity of the ice-laden Immingol. Every time one of the jagged lumps of ice struck up against the walls of their houses they breathed a prayer to be saved. And saved they were. Not 4 life was lost, which may be placed to the almost incredible energy and perseverance of the military—for just before dawn the channel was cleared.
With the ice broken up the level of the river soon went down, the blocks went hurriedly on their way downstream, and the soldiers set off in numerous boats to rescue the mos! unfortunately placed of the sufferers. These people, laden with their cats. dogs, birds, and gems of their posses-
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