BUSINESS AND ROMANCE 321 



the river. Dark, ominous water raced ahead for a hundred 

 yards then disappeared, leaving nothing but a great surging 

 mass of white that leaped high and dropped out of sight in the 

 apparently forsaken river-bed. Then the steersman stood 

 up, too, and Indian words passed between them. Every 

 moment we were gaining impetus, and always heading for the 

 highest crest of foam. Waiting for the word to paddle was 

 even worse than waiting for the starter's gun in a scuUing race. 

 At last it came, just as we were twenty-five yards from the end 

 of dark water. With a wild shout from the bowman we drove 

 our paddles home. The great canoe trembled a little at first,^ 

 as our work was somewhat ragged, but a moment later we 

 settled into an even stroke and swept buoyantly among the 

 tossing billows. Now before us ran a strange wild river of 

 seething white, lashing among great, gray-capped, dark green- 

 ish boulders that blocked the way. High rocky banks standing 

 close together squeezed the mighty river into a tumidt of fury. 

 Swiftly we ghde down the racing torrent and plunge through 

 the boiling waters. Sharp rocks rear above the flying spray 

 while others are barely covered by the foaming flood. 

 It is dangerous work. We midmen paddle hard to force the 

 canoe ahead of the current. The steersman in bow and stem 

 ply and bend their great seven-foot paddles. The bowman 

 with eyes alert keenly watches the whirling waters and signs 

 of hidden rocks below. The roar of seething waters drowns 

 the bowman's orders. The steersman closely watches and 

 foUows every move his companion makes. Down we go, 

 riding upon the very back of the river; for here the water 

 forms a great ridge, rising four or five feet above the water- 

 line on either shore. To swerve to either side means sure 

 destruction. With terrific speed we reach the brink of a 

 violent descent. For a moment the canoe pauses, steadies 

 herself, then dips her head as the stern upheaves, and down we 

 plunge among more rocks than ever. Right in our path the 



