NIAGARA. 137 



first, and he turned to the left over the stones. They were 

 sharp and trying. The base of the first portion of the cat- 

 aract is covered with huge boulders, obviously the ruins of 

 the limestone ledge above. The water does not distribute 

 itself uniformly among these, but seeks out channels 

 through which it pours torrentially. We passed some of 

 these with wetted feet, but without difficulty. At length 

 we came to the side of a more formidable current. My 

 guide walked along its edge until he reached its least turbu- 

 lent portion. Halting, he said, " This is our greatest diffi- 

 culty; if we can cross here, we shall get far toward the 

 Horseshoe." 



He waded in. It evidently required all his strength to 

 steady him. The water rose above his loins, and it 

 foamed still higher. He had to search for footing, amid 

 unseen boulders, against which the torrent rose violently. 

 He struggled and swayed, but he struggled successfully, 

 and finally reached the shallower water at the other side. 

 Stretching out his arm, he said to me, " Now come on." 

 I looked down the torrent, as it rushed to the river below, 

 which was seething with the tumult of the cataract. De 

 Stiussure recommended the inspection of Alpine dangers, 

 with the view of making them familiar to the eye before 

 they are encountered; and it is a wholesome custom in 

 places of difficulty to put the possibility of an accident 

 clearly before the mind, and to decide beforehand what 

 ought to be done should the accident occur. Thus wound 

 up in the present instance, I entered the water. Even 

 where it was not more than knee-deep, its power was 

 manifest. As it rose around me, I sought to split the 

 torrent by presenting a side to it; but the insecurity of the 

 footing enabled it to grasp my loins, twist me fairly round, 

 and bring its impetus to bear upon my back. Further 

 struggle was impossible; and feeling my balance hopelessly 

 gone, I turned, flung myself toward the bank just quitted, 

 and was instantly, as expected, swept into shallower 

 water. 



The oilcloth covering was a great incumbrance; it had 

 been made for a much stouter man, and, standing upright 

 after my submersion, my legs occupied the center of two bags 

 of water. My guide exhorted me to try again. Prudence 

 was at my elbow, whispering dissuasion; but, taking every- 

 thing into account, it appeared more immoral to retreat 



