NIAGARA 197 



posed his seizing it. "If you are sure," he replied, "that, 

 in case of giving way, you can maintain your grasp, then 

 I will certainly hold you." Remarking that he might 

 count on this, I waded in, and stretched the staff to my 

 companion. It was firmly grasped by both of us. Thus 

 helped, though its onset was strong, I moved safely across 

 the torrent. All danger ended here. We afterward 

 roamed sociably among the torrents and bowlders below 

 the Cave of the Winds. The rocks were covered with 

 organic slime, which could not have been walked over 

 with bare feet, but the felt shoes effectually prevented 

 slipping. We reached the cave and entered it, first by 

 a wooden way carried over the bowlders, and then along a 

 narrow ledge, to the point eaten deepest into the shale. 

 When the wind is from the south, the falling water, 

 I am told, can be seen tranquilly from this spot; but 

 when we were there, a blinding hurricane of spray 

 was whirled against us. On the evening of the same 

 day, I went behind the water on the Canada side, which, 

 after the experiences of the morning, struck me as an 

 imposture. 



Still even this latter is exciting to some nerves. Its 

 effect upon himself is thus vividly described by Mr. Bake- 

 well, Jr. : "On turning a sharp angle of the rock, a sudden 

 gust of wind met us, coming from the hollow between the 

 fall and the rock, which drove the spray directly in our 

 faces, with such force that in an instant we were wet 

 through. When in the midst of this shower-bath the shock 

 took away my breath: I turned back and scrambled over 

 the loose stones to escape the conflict. The guide soon 

 followed, and told me that I had passed the worst part. 

 With that assurance I made a second attempt; but so 



