CHAP. XMI. KOCKS AND RAPIDS. 289 



of these were fifteen feet high, and all symmetrically 

 arranged, one lying against the other. The general 

 inclination being down stream, ice had no doubt brought 

 many of them from the Upper Country, and packed them 

 close at the bends of the river. It was very trying and 

 indeed dangerous work to bring the canoes across them ; 

 for we could not yet afford to break a canoe, being still 

 about sixteen miles from the fishing-station at the mouth 

 of the river. At the foot of the fourth rapid, a little 

 accident occurred which for the moment alarmed us all. 

 I had crossed the river in safety, although the swell was 

 terrific ; yet the skill of Pierre was so great, that we only 

 shipped about a bucketful of water. As soon as we 

 reached the eddy on the opposite shore, Pierre said I had 

 better tell Mr. Gaudet not to attempt to cross in the large 

 canoe with six men in it, as the water was too rough, and 

 there was danger of their being swamped. I turned 

 round in my canoe to beckon to Mr. Gaudet, but it was 

 too late ; he had already started, and was pursuing the 

 same course across the tail of the rapids which we had 

 just taken. We watched his progress with breathless 

 anxiety ; the canoe came two-thirds of the distance in 

 safety, but when it entered the swell of the rapid, the 

 water came over the sides of the frail craft. One of the 

 men called out, ' We 're sinking ! ' Gaudet replied, in a 

 voice which could be heard above the roar of the torrent, 

 4 Nage ! Nage ! ' (paddle ! paddle !) Inch by inch we saw 

 the canoe settling deeper, as they forced it through the 

 water ; the men, with Louis in the stern, exerted them- 

 selves to the utmost. It seemed doubtful whether they 

 would reach the shore ; they succeeded, however, just 

 VOL. i. u 



