CHAPTER XXIII. 



Jiuuuing a Rapid. — A Rapid Catalogue. — Portage du Diable. — A fatal 

 disaster. — Tales by the way. — Riviere Maligne. — The " Pas." — Norway 

 House. — Les Portes d'Eufer. — Retui-n home. 



We have just arrived at the head of a bad rapid, 

 and are preparing to " run " it : will you take a seat 

 Avith us in the boat, reader, and share the striking- 

 episode ? Come then. 



See, our old steersman, who has held the sweep 

 during ordinary progress, now relinquishes it to 

 L'Esperance, who will here trust only to his own well- 

 tried experience and sagacity; the steersman and 

 bowmen plant themselves in the bows with long poles 

 to push off from rocks or stones, and assist the guide 

 in altering the direction of the vessel's progress. 

 Hitherto we have been quietly gliding down a 

 moderate current, but now — " etes-vous pret ? — 

 tenez !" we enter the race, and in an instant are whirled 

 into the midst of the boiling rapid, and rush headlong 

 onwards with lightning speed, the water bubbling 

 and foaming and roaring around us, spray dashing 



