MORE RAPIDS. S63 



the stream, which rushed with amazing velocity, 

 by 5 p.m. so far cleared itself as to allow of our 

 loading the boat; not, however, without risk 

 from the floating pieces which yet remained beat- 

 ing about in the eddy, and which it required the 

 entire attention of two men to keep off. Scarcely 

 had we pushed from the shore, when we were in 

 the midst of rapids. Two were run ; but the 

 third was too dangerous to allow the attempt 5 

 consequently again we had to carry all the cargo 

 across a portage of half a mile, while the boat 

 so lightened was brought safely down the rapid. 

 The opposite shore was then discovered to be 

 an island, round the western extremity of which 

 another branch of the river cut a broad channel, 

 and joined the one we had selected by a fall often 

 feet. A quarter of a mile below the junction, this 

 extraordinary stream was checked by a shelving 

 ledge of low rocks that turned it to the north, in 

 the direction of the sand-hills which we had seen 

 in the early part of the day. 



An overcast and stormy night, with much rain, 

 brought in a morning which forbade the attempt 

 to start, as it was impracticable, with such a 

 gale, to keep the lead in the rapid before us ; so 

 that there was no choice but to wait until it should 

 calm. In the meantime, M c Kay was sent to exa- 

 mine the river farther down, and returned about 

 noon with an account of several rapids and a 



