312 IMMINENT DANGER TO THE BOAT. 



light, to run the fall. Unfortunately the steers- 

 man kept her rather too much to the left ; in con- 

 sequence of which, after descending the first 

 fall, she was drawn upon a shelving rock, form- 

 ing part of the ledge of the second : this brought 

 her up with a crash which threatened imme- 

 diate destruction, and called forth a shriek 

 from the prostrate crew. The immense force of 

 the water drove her farther on, so that she hung 

 only by the stern. The steersman jumped on the 

 rock ; but though he maintained his footing, he 

 could not lift her off: he jumped on board 

 again, whilst I called out and made signs for the 

 men to go forward into the bow, and be ready to 

 pull the larboard oars. Amidst the confusion this 

 direction was not attended to, and, in an instant, 

 her stem was swept round by the large fall. I 

 held my breath, expecting to see her dashed to 

 shivers against a protruding rock, upon which a 

 wave five feet high was breaking directly before 

 her; but, happily, the steering oar had been only 

 half laid in ; and, taking the rock, it twirled 

 her broadside to the rapid, which then carried 

 her down without further injury. The water 

 being pumped out, it was found that she did not 

 leak ; and this being so, I was, upon the whole, 

 not sorry for the adventure, as it not only gave 

 the men a memorable proof of the strength of 

 these clear- water rivers, but afforded me an occa- 



