1 82 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



There was nothing that could be done, but to turn 

 aside and jump into the creek. With one desperate leap I 

 cleared the ice that lay along the bank, and fell into the run- 

 ning water. I was a fast swimmer and got some start of 

 her, but she soon gained upon me rapidly. A large rock was 

 upon the opposite, bank,, some distance down the stream. 

 My only hope lay in reaching it. Horror! I had not 

 thought of the Devil's Slide, and was almost into the rapids 

 that would dash me to death against the rocks. 



Death menaced me on every hand. I threw my side 

 against the waves, and ventured on a little further. The 

 rapids were not so near as I thought, although the waves 

 were strong. One last powerful stroke brought me to shore 

 a little way below the rock, but, while climbing the step 

 bank, the big brute came so near, that I was compelled to 

 relinquish my grasp and push her off with my gun. Con- 

 centrating all of my strength, I pushed her with so much 

 force as to send her out into the rapids, which bore her to 

 speedy destruction. 



Had it been possible to live in the boiling waters, the 

 tall rocks on either side made it impossible for her to get out, 

 and I ran down the bank, trying to catch a glimpse of her 

 but in vain. I was almost ready to die with cold and fatigue. 

 My wet clothes hung upon me like leaden weights. In this 

 condition I reached camp, made a fire, dried my clothes, 

 cooking supper at the same time. A strong cup of coffee 

 strengthened and relieved me at once. John was still on the 

 war-path, or had been downed by a grizzly. 



The waning light shone dimly through large cracks in 

 the wall,, for darkness was settling around the shack. The 

 sweet, yet mournful, murmur of the stream fell soothingly 

 upon my weaned senses. I could hear the deer as they 

 crossed and recrossed and the beavers slapping the water 



