AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 261 



ever attempt it or he will surely come to grief. It 

 may also be fished from the bank or by wading; 

 and I have even known it to be fished from the 

 hurricane-deck of a cayuse, so that all lovers of the 

 gentle art may be accommodated. 



A large bump of caution Would also be a good 

 thing for the man to take along who essays to wade 

 it, for he will find places slippery places where 

 even the wicked can not stand; for over the surface 

 thereof flows such a mighty torrent of waters that 

 his pride will surely have a fall, even if he do not; 

 and if he get out with a dry thread on his back he 

 will regard it as a miracle and not owing to any 

 skill or strength of his. I think a day on that 

 stream will take the conceit out of any living man 

 and show him what a poor, weak woim he is, if he 

 get into some of the places I have been in. He will 

 find himself in positions from whence he would give 

 half his worldly possessions to be delivered; where 

 he would forgive his bitterest enemy the meanest 

 thing he ever did if he were only there and would 

 cast him a friendly line. The bed of the stream is 

 composed of glacial drift, all the rapids being paved 

 with bowlders varying in size from an inch to two 

 or three feet in diameter. These are worn smooth 

 by the action of the water and coated with a light 

 growth of fungus, so that they furnish a very pre- 

 carious footing at best, and when the power of 

 the raging torrent is brought to bear against one's 

 nether limbs, he is, indeed, fortunate who is not 

 swept into the pool below. 



On the riffles or more placid portions of the stream 

 wading is not attended with so much danger or diffi - 



