THE RIVER SHOWS ITS TEETH 295 



warn't glad! ice on river, frost in air, 14 mile run on 

 snowy rocks, but I no care, I bet I make dat boss glad 

 when he see me." 



"Glad ! I never felt more thankful in my life! My 

 heart swelled with gratitude to the brave boys that 

 had leaped, scrambled, slidden, tumbled, fallen, swum 

 or climbed over those 14 perilous, horrible miles of 

 icy rocks and storm-piled timbers, to save the books 

 that, to them, seemed of so little value, but which 

 they yet knew were, to me, the most precious of all 

 my things. Guns, cameras, food, tents, bedding, 

 dishes, were trifling losses, and the horror of that day 

 was turned to joy by the crowning mercy of its close. 



'"I won't forget you when we reach the Landing, 

 Rob!' were the meagre words that rose to my lips, but 

 the tone of voice supplied what the words might lack. 

 And I did not forget him or the others; and Robillard 

 said afterward, 'By Gar, dat de best day's work I ever 

 done, by Gar, de time I run down dat hell river after 

 dem dam books ! ' " 



