412 NARROW ESCAPE. 



bend ; but see, see ! they will strike, they will be 

 smashed to atoms. They are lost ! Push off, good 

 bowmen ! — push, brave fellows ! There ! ! No — they 

 are safe ! That pole held its footing well ; and, just 

 brushing the rock, the boat swings lightly off, and is 

 in a moment reposing quietly by our side. The next 

 barge approaches the dangerous point ; she also 

 seems to be running into the very jaws of destruction, 

 but her bilge strikes one of the hidden stones. She 

 hangs for a moment, is swung round by the resistless 

 current, and now, heading right down the channel, 

 releases herself from the stone, and gains the tranquil 

 space below the rapid. But look, look ! her crew 

 are pulling in haste for the shore, and shouting loudly 

 for aid : the boat is stove, and rapidly filling. We 

 hasten to her side ; and in a few seconds eighty 

 packs of furs are transferred from her to our craft, 

 and Ave all hurry to shore, and drag her up on the 

 beach, where she is speedily repaired. 



Such are some of the incidents which attend the 

 descent of dangerous rapids, which I need scarcely 

 observe are formed by obstruction of the com'se of 

 the stream, or by a sudden and irregular incline in 

 its bed. Few scenes can be more stirring; the 

 rushing waters, full of whirlpools, hidden rocks, and 

 counter-currents, foaming, bubbling, roaring, and 



