214 BACK'S LAND EXPEDITION. 



It is related by Back, that, not many years ago, a 

 canoe was pursuing its way quietly down one of the 

 streams through which the Arctic exploring party was 

 now passing. It was approaching one of the many port- 

 ages with which these streams abound, and the bowman 

 and steersman were standing erect at stem and stern, 

 casting quick glances ahead and on either side as they 

 neared the waterfall which obstructed their progress. 

 The approach to the landing-place was somewhat diffi- 

 cult, owing to a point of rocks which projected into the 

 stream, in the direction of the fall, and round which 

 point it was necessary to steer with some dexterity, in 

 order to avoid being drawn into the strong current. 

 The fearless guides, however, had often passed the 

 place in former years in safety, and, accordingly, dashed 

 at the point with reckless indifference, their paddles 

 flinging a circle of spray over their heads, as they 

 changed them from side to side, with graceful but vigor- 

 ous rapidity. The swift stream carried them quickly 

 round the point of danger, and they had almost reached 

 the quiet eddy near the landing-place, when the stem 

 of the canoe was caught by the stream, which in an 

 instant whirled them out from the shore, and carried 

 them downwards with fearful rapidity. Another mo- 

 ment, and the gushing waters dragged them, despite 

 their most frantic efforts, to the verge of the waterfall, 

 which thundered and foamed among frightful chasms 

 and rocks many feet below. The stem of the canoe 

 overhung the abyss, and now the voyageurs plied their 

 paddles with the desperation of men who felt that their 

 lives depended on the exertions of that terrible minute. 

 For a second or two the canoe remained stationary, and 

 seemed to tremble on the brink of destruction ; and then, 

 inch by inch, it began slowly to ascend the stream. 

 The danger was past ! A few more nervous strokes, 



