EPISODES 385 



of them ripples through the gorge below, during the later 

 weeks of summer and in early autumn, when the streams 

 are at their lowest. 



At the neck of this basin the lumberers raised a tempo- 

 rary barrier with the refuse of their sawn logs. The boards 

 were planted nearly upright, and supported at their tops 

 by a strong tree extending from side to side of the creek, 

 which might there be about forty feet in breadth. It was 

 prevented from giving way under pressure of the rising 

 waters by having strong abutments of wood laid against 

 its centre, while the ends of these abutments were secured 

 by wedges, which could be knocked off when necessary. 



The temporary dam was now finished. Little or no 

 water escaped through the barrier, and that in the creek 

 above it rose in the course of three weeks to its top, which 

 was about ten feet high, forming a sheet that extended 

 upwards fully a mile from the dam. My family was invited 

 early one morning to go and witness the extraordinary 

 effect which would be produced by the breaking down of 

 the barrier, and we all accompanied the lumberers to the 

 place. Two of the men, on reaching it, threw off their 

 jackets, tied handkerchiefs round their heads, and fastened 

 to their bodies a long rope, the end of which was held by 

 three or four others, who stood ready to drag their com- 

 panions ashore, in case of danger or accident. The two 

 operators, each bearing an axe, walked along the abutments, 

 and at a given signal knocked out the wedges. A second 

 blow from each sent off the abutments themselves, and the 

 men, leaping with extreme dexterity from one cross log to 

 another, sprung to the shore with almost the quickness of 

 thought. 



Scarcely had they effected their escape from the frightful 

 peril which threatened them, when the mass of waters burst 

 forth with a horrible uproar. All eyes were bent towards 

 the huge heaps of logs in the gorge below. The tumultuous 

 burst of the waters instantly swept away every object that 

 VOL. II. — 25 



