AMONGST THE WILD GOATS OF THE CASCADES. 303 



we should have found the set of the waters favourable, 

 or moving in the opposite direction ; or some cape or 

 promontory, no matter how distant, would be accused 

 of causing a counter-current on purpose to oppose 

 our progress. 



It was strange to observe the torn and ragged-edged 

 purple clouds hurrying past overhead. About five 

 o'clock the little bay was in sight right ahead across a 

 channel of rough water about a mile wide, where Jack 

 asserted were the Indian houses, and a species of 

 whirlpool formed by the tide, in which salmon 

 abounded. In the strong breeze which was now 

 blowing the struggles of Jack with his paddle were 

 amazing as he pressed it against the keel, if the pro- 

 jecting bottom of a keelless canoe could be so named, 

 in opposition to the disposition the sail had of twisting 

 us broadside to the seas. Under these circumstances 

 I never ventured to take his place. At this hour the 

 tide should have been turning, and the incoming 

 waters, advancing from both sides of Vancouver's 

 Island, should have been meeting somewhere in the 

 neighbourhood. I was trusting in our usual good 

 fortune to befriend us in avoiding the tide-rips, as 

 this was my first intimation of the real position of 

 the Indian hamlet. Not long after this I became 

 aware of a strange white line of boiling, spuming 

 foam between us and the land, and it seemed to be 

 advancing in the teeth of the wind. We were flying, 

 as it were, to meet or intercept it at a rate nearly 

 exceeding that of the surrounding waves, until sud- 



