298 MANAGEMENT OF THE CANOE. 



they are exceptions to the rule. In the western 

 Indian country I received my first lessons with the 

 paddle, and being a good boatman was an apt pupil. 

 In after years I enjoyed much practice in this style 

 of navigation in the lumber districts of Maine. 



My readers, therefore, must not be incredulous 

 if I go so far as to state that I believe myself 

 almost master of the art. At all events, I can shoot 

 a rapid with the rocks projecting in many parts 

 of the channel, and can jump a fall of a foot or 

 two, although the moment after the leap is taken, 

 my buoyant craft must be shot off at right angles 

 to its original course to avoid a rut. The old man 

 soon found this out, and saddled me with a great 

 proportion of the duties of Palinurus ; respecting 

 age, and being aware of its infirmities, I permitted 

 myself to be imposed upon. 



Our patching was a success in one respect, and 

 not in another; for although the canoe was made 

 watertight and capable of bearing us on our way, 

 from having a big side where a new rib had been put 

 in, it took an enormous amount of exertion to bring 

 it round to starboard, and when it commenced to come, 

 it did so all of a rush, making the strongest amount 

 of port-paddle necessary to prevent the head of the 

 cockle-shell from turning to where its tail should 

 be. I did not find this out before an unenlightened 

 eye-witness would several times have imagined that 

 our course was against stream, not with it. 



However difficult it may be to navigate a birch- 



