IMMINENT DANGER. 321 



a torrent. The boat was lightened of her cargo, 

 and I stood on a high rock, with an anxious 

 heart, to see her run it. I had every hope 

 which confidence in the judgment and dexterity 

 of my principal men could inspire ; but it was 

 impossible not to feel that one crash would be 

 fatal to the expedition. Away they went, with 

 the speed of an arrow, and in a moment the 

 foam and rocks hid them from my view. I 

 heard what sounded in my ear like a wild 

 shriek, and saw Mr. King, who was a hundred 

 yards before me, make a sign with his gun, 

 and then run forward. I followed, with an 

 agitation which may be conceived ; and, to my 

 unexpressible joy, found that the shriek was 

 the triumphant whoop of the crew, who had 

 landed safely in a small bay below. I could not 

 but reward them with a glass of grog a-piece, 

 and they immediately applied themselves to 

 the fatiguing work of the portage, with as 

 much unconcern as if they had only crossed a 

 mill-pond. It grew late before this last task 

 was accomplished, and then Malley was miss- 

 ing. Some of the men were despatched in 

 search of him ; and at length he returned, 

 heartily tired with rambling among swamps and 

 rocks, having lost himself in consequence of 

 deviating from the course of the river. Such 

 incidents (among voyageurs) generally afford 



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