NIAGARA. 13? 
first, and he turned to the left over the stones. They were 
sharp and trying. The base of the first portion of the cat- 
aract is covered with huge boulders, obviously the ruins of 
the limestone ledge above. The water does not distribute 
itself uniformly among these, but seeks out channels 
through which it pours torrentially. We passed some of 
these with wetted feet, but without difficulty. At length 
we came to the side of a more formidable current. My 
guide walked along its edge until he reached its least turbu- 
lent portion. Halting, he said, "This is our greatest diffi- 
culty; if we can cross here, we shall get far toward the 
Horseshoe." 
He waded in. It evidently required all his strength to 
steady him. The water rose above his loins, and it 
foamed still higher. He had to search for footing, amid 
unseen boulders, against which the torrent rose violently. 
He struggled and swayed, but he struggled successfully, 
and finally readied the shallower water at the other side. 
Stretching out his arm, he said to me, " Now come on." 
I looked down the torrent, as it rushed to the river below, 
which was seething with the tumult of the cataract. De 
Sanssure recommended the inspection of Alpine dangers, 
with the view of making them familiar to the eye before 
they are encountered; and it is a wholesome custom in 
places of difficulty to put the possibility of an accident 
clearly before the mind, and to decide beforehand what 
i ought to be done should the accident occur. Thus wound 
up in the present instance, I entered the water. Even 
where it was not more than knee -deep, its power was 
manifest. As it rose around me, I sought to split the 
torrent by presenting a side to it; but the insecurity of the 
footing enabled it to grasp my loins, twist me fairly round, 
and bring its impetus to bear upon my back. Further 
struggle was impossible; and feeling my balance hopelessly 
gone, I turned, flung myself toward the bank just quitted, 
and was instantly, as expected, swept into shallower 
water. 
The oilcloth covering was a great incumbrance; it had 
been made for a much stouter man, and, standing upright 
after my submersion, my legs occupied the center of two bags 
of water. My guide exhorted me to try again. Prudence 
was at my elbow, whispering dissuasion; but, taking every- 
thing into account, it appeared more immoral to retreat 
