34 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



or be smashed upon the rocks. Their speed soon attained 

 that of an express train, while all about them the boil- 

 ing waters were dashed into foam by the great rocks 

 in the channel. Presently it appeared as if they were 

 doomed to be dashed upon a long ugly breaker nearly 

 in mid-stream ; but no ! with two or three lightning 

 strokes of their paddles the collision was averted. But in 

 a moment they were in worse danger, for right ahead 

 were two great rocks, over and around which the tum- 

 bling waters wildly rushed. Would they try the right 

 side or the left ? Only an instant was afforded for 

 thought, but in that instant Pierre saw his only chance 

 and took it heading his canoe straight for the shoot 

 between the rocks. Should they swerve a foot to one 

 side or the other the result would be fatal, but with 

 unerring judgment and unflinching nerve they shot 

 straight through the notch, and disappeared in the trough 

 below. Rising buoyantly from the billows of foam and 

 flying spray, they swept on with the rushing waters 

 until, in a little eddy half-way down the rapid, they 

 pulled in to the shore in safety. They were all well 

 soaked by the spray and foam, but without concern or 

 excitement returned for the second canoe. In taking 

 this down a valise of stationery and photographic 

 supplies, inadvertently allowed to remain in the canoe, 

 got a rather serious wetting, but as soon as possible its 

 contents were spread out upon the smooth clean rocks 

 to dry. Past the remainder of the rapid a portage 

 was made and camp pitched at the foot. While our 

 Iroquois were thus occupied, Schott and his men had 

 been hard at work running down their scows and had 



