196 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE 



same order 1 experienced amid the spray and thunder of 

 Niagara. Quickened by the emotions there aroused, the 

 blood sped exultingly through the arteries, abolishing in- 

 trospection, clearing the heart of all bitterness, and ena- 

 bling one to think with tolerance, if not with tenderness, 

 on the most relentless and unreasonable foe. Apart from 

 its scientific value, and purely as a moral agent, the play 

 was worth the candle. My companion knew no more of 

 me than that I enjoyed the wildness of the scene; but as 

 I bent in the shelter of his large frame he said, "I should 

 like to see you attempting to describe all this." He 

 rightly thought it indescribable. The name of this gal- 

 lant fellow was Thomas Conroy. 



We returned, clambering at intervals up and down, so 

 as to catch glimpses of the most impressive portions of 

 the cataract. We passed under ledges formed by tabular 

 masses of limestone, and through some curious openings 

 formed by the falling together of the summits of the rocks. 

 At length we found ourselves beside our enemy of the 

 morning. Conroy halted for a minute or two, scanning 

 the torrent thoughtfully. I said that, as a guide, he ought 

 to have a rope in such a place; but he retorted that, as 

 no traveller had ever thought of coming there, he did 

 not see the necessity of keeping a rope. He waded in. 

 The struggle to keep himself erect was evident enough; 

 he swayed, but recovered himself again and again. At 

 length he slipped, gave way, did as I had done, threw 

 himself toward the bank, and was swept into the shal- 

 lows. Standing in the stream near its edge, he stretched 

 his arm toward me. I retained the pitchfork handle, for 

 it had been useful among the bowlders. By wading some 

 way in, the staff could be made to reach him, and I pro- 



