180 AUSTRALIA ANt) THE AUSTRALIANS. 



swaying to and fro with the force of the current. Into 

 this we went with a smash, and in a second the canoe 

 was overtiirned and I found myself clinging to this 

 limb. Notwithstanding the weight of the current 

 pressing on my chest, which seemed as if it would 

 tear my arms from their sockets, I could not make 

 my hands let go their hold, and I can fully under- 

 stand the clutch of a drowning man. 



I looked for rny companion and saw him fifty yards 

 away clinging to the canoe. Just then he appeared to 

 look for me, and shouted, " Come on, come on." With 

 a great effort of will 1 managed to let go, to be imme- 

 diately carried under water, but only for a few seconds. 



On gaining the surface T struck out with might and 

 main and, assisted by the current, made amazing head- 

 way so that the canoe was soon overtaken, although 

 the effort somewhat exhausted me. 



Our gallant ship now floated level with the water 

 and threatened to go down altogether, so we had to 

 content ourselves with clinging to it, and by kicking 

 against all the trees we passed, we gradually worked 

 it to the shore. 



All this time my brother was running along the 

 river bank, blowing up his life-belt (which he managed 

 to retain all through his troubles), thinking he might 

 have to go in and try to save one or other of us. My 



