76 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



inexperienced, against the advice of friends, I was 

 to attempt, unaided and alone, to guide my boat 

 past ledge, through torrents, and over waterfalls, 

 to the still bay below. The preparation was 

 simple, and soon made. I strapped my rifle, rod, 

 and all my baggage to the sides and bottom of the 

 boat, relaced my moccasins and tightened my belt, 

 so that, in case I stove the shell, or, failing to keep 

 her steady, should capsize her, I might take to the 

 water light, and have my traps drift ashore with 

 the wreck. ^Nevertheless, I did not intend that 

 the boat should upset ; indeed, the chances were 

 in my favor. Oars and boats had been my play- 

 things from a boy ; and wild indeed must be the 

 current up and across which I could not shoot 

 the shell in which I sat, — made of forest pine, 

 fourteen feet in length, sharp as an arrow, and 

 weighing but seventy pounds. In addition, John 

 had given me valuable hints, the sum of which 

 might be expressed thus : " In currents, keep her 

 straight ; look out for underlying rocks, and smash 

 your oars before you smash your boat." " Little 

 danger," I said to myself, " of snapping oar-blades 

 made of second-growth ash, and only eight feet 

 from butt to tip." Yet it was not without some 

 misgiving that I shot my boat out into the swift 

 current, and with steady stroke held her on the 

 ver<Tje of the first flidit of water, while I scanned 

 the foam and eddies for the best opening between 



