An % Etcher's Voyage of Discovery, 315 



incur a risk for the pleasure of a genial companion. So 

 it was settled that the doctor should send his servant 

 on to Toulon with his carriage, and that we should see 

 how the canoe would behave with both of us. Amongst 

 my stores I had a waistcoat containing India-rubber air- 

 bags, to be worn whilst descending particularly danger- 

 ous rapids ; so I made the doctor put this waistcoat on, 

 and inflated the air-bags, till he looked like a pouter 

 pigeon. All being ready, we got into our places very 

 steadily, sitting face to face ; and I took the paddle, 

 making my passenger promise to turn neither to the 

 right hand nor to the left. He quietly lit a cigar, and 

 sat as coolly as if he had been on a safe ship and a 

 deep and tranquil sea. 



The river here was a series of rapids and deep pools, 

 where the swirling water was always trying to get you 

 under the steep walls of rock. It was necessary in 

 several places to cross a rapid to avoid being caught 

 between great boulders, and we bad very near shaves 

 for it once or twice. The coolness of the doctor all this 

 time was admirable to behold. He smoked his cigar qui- 

 etly and sat with perfect equilibrium, so that I had no 

 trouble with him of any kind except for his weight, 

 which was considerable indeed. I praised his self-pos- 

 session, and he answered that he had perfect confidence 

 in my skill. I said I could not promise to get us through 

 such a succession of dangers without an accident. * In 

 that case,' he replied, ' I am satisfied that you will do what 

 can be done, and am content to take the consequences.' 

 1 But, if we capsize, you may be drowned in spite of the 



