THE TRIAL PASSED. 411 



tions, beyond wliicli the angry stream hangs for a 

 moment in gm*gling gyrations — then speeds on again 

 in wild career ? At that spot there is a dangerous 

 turn of the stream, and a right difficult task shall 

 we have to guide our frail bark in safety beyond 

 that frowning extremity, and through those lurking 

 obstacles. Steady, lads, steady : mind your oars and 

 watch me well, — pull easy for a moment, — now pull ! 

 pull ! hon ! easy now, easy ; now pull hard the 

 larboard, backwater the starboard oars ! — Oh Ciel ! ! 

 nous sommes creve sur le roche ! push off with the 

 poles — pull ! larboard oars push, push ! backwater, 

 starboard, back — push, push ! there, she turns ! push, 

 pull ! — ^we rush frantically onwards at furious speed — a 

 moment of intense excitement and uncertainty, then, 

 Ah, grand Dieu, merci ! relaxed speed and smoother 

 water tell that the difficulty is passed. Our own trial 

 is ended ; let us turn to watch the fortunes of our 

 companion boats. See, the foremost nears the crooked 

 channel, the crew pulling lightly and quietly in 

 preparation for the approaching struggle : now the 

 steersman shouts lustily to his crew, and vigorously 

 plies the long sweep to swing his boat ; the rowers 

 labour at their oars like tigers ; the bowmen shift 

 their poles from spot to spot, as each emergency 

 needs, and our comrade hurries towards the narrow 



