26 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



When engaged in this exciting amusement one 

 day, Milton went ahead down stream in chase of a 

 wounded bird, while Treemiss and Cheadle remained 

 behind to look after some others which had taken to 

 the land. The former was paddling away merrily after 

 his prey, when, at a sudden turn of the river, he came 

 upon the steamer warping up a shallow rapid. Eager 

 to get on board and taste the good things we had lately 

 lacked, he swept down the current alongside the over- 

 hanging deck of the steamer. The stream was rough 

 and very strong, and its force was increased by the 

 effect of the stern- wheel of the steamer in rapid motion 

 in the narrow channel. The canoe was drawn under 

 the projecting deck, but Milton clung tightly to it, and 

 the friendly hands of some of the crew seized and 

 hauled him and his canoe safely on board. The others 

 following shortly afterwards, and observing the steamer 

 in like manner, were equally delighted, and dashed 

 away down stream in order to get on board as quickly 

 as possible. 



The stern-wheel was now stopped, but as they 

 neared the side it was suddenly put in motion again, 

 and the canoe carried at a fearful pace past the side of 

 the boat, sucked in by the whirlpool of the w^heel. By 

 the most frantic exertions, the two saved themselves 

 from being drawn under, but w^ere borne down the 

 rapid about a quarter of a mile. Eover attempting a 

 similar feat, was carried dow^n after them, struggling 

 vainly against the powerful current. Grreat was the 

 wrath of Cheadle and Treemiss against the captain for 

 the trick he had served them, and they squabbled 



