N— 



senger, and was trimmed by the stern, the 

 better to meet the quick curling waves. 



This pilot was unable to keep N 's line, 



and finding that he must be carried broad- 

 side against the breaker, ceased paddling 

 and fell on his face to even the trim and 

 lower the centre of gravity. The canoe 

 smashed into the roaring white wall, climb- 

 ed it by some miraculous luck, but was left 

 approaching the centre of the rapid stern- 

 foremost. This, beyond peradventure, 

 meant death in a few seconds to both con- 

 cerned. There was nothing for it but a 

 vault to the middle of the canoe, and this 

 brought the steersman sitting in a lady's 

 lap but facing the right way, with the craft 

 on an even keel. It was then possible to 

 haul water, slip by outside the swamping 

 seas and sneak through scarcely wetted. Not 

 so fortunate the third canoe. It filled in a 

 moment and the bow-man was drowned. . . 



For N , the peril had no existence, 



and he credited others with the strength and 

 skill of that marvellous arm. Every prob- 

 lem of river-work was equally simple to 

 him. Without a trace of boastfulness, he 

 seemed to have no doubts that the waters 

 would always provide a path which his 

 canoe could find and follow. 

 207 



