ch. xiv.] Bad River Crossings. 291 



mid-stream, unluckily, set its feet on a boulder. Splash 

 we went, all over together, into a deep hole. Ugh ! how 

 I did shiver as I sank to my neck with the buffalo sub- 

 merged beneath me. As we rose again I glanced around 

 and thought for a moment poor Smith had gone. In a 

 moment, however, he rose to the surface of the stream, 

 where he lay extended grasping the ropes of the saddle 

 with one hand at arm's-length, and gasping for breath. 

 All the time we were being carried down stream, and 

 bravely as the plucky buffalo struggled her feet continu- 

 ally slipped on the loose pebbles below. " Hold on, 

 Smith ! " I gasped, as splash we all went over another 

 gigantic boulder, and the water surged up to my ears 

 although on the back of the beast. I clung like a sailor 

 in a gale. Fortunately for us the buffalo regained her 

 footing, and clearing the current by a great effort she car- 

 ried me and dragged poor old Smith up the bank Koung- 

 wards. " That's a narrow squeak, old boy," I said, but 

 Smith was too exhausted to answer as he tottered and 

 staggered to a seat on a stone tying near. I also was 

 glad to rest, and although thankful for our merciful escape, 

 I could scarcely look sober as I glanced at Smith, who 

 was as white as a ghost, and staggered like a drunken 

 man. 



" Well," said he, when he had recovered his breath, 

 *' it's all very well laughing, but you don't catch me cross- 

 ing in that way again." 



And in justice to his veracity I must own that I never 

 did, for he avoided me and the beast at crossings ever 

 afterwards. Arriving at the ford at Koung a young 

 Dusun came and assisted Smith over, the water being 

 very high and rising every minute. He then recrossed 

 and led over my buffalo, who a few minutes afterwards 

 once more regained her liberty on the green, while we, as 



v 2 



