DOWN AN UNKNOWN RIVER 319 



peril, of disaster, to the whole expedition. There might be 

 risk ahead to individuals, and some difficulties and annoy- 

 ances for all of us; but there was no longer the least likeli- 

 hood of any disaster to the expedition as a whole. We 

 now no longer had to face continual anxiety, the need of 

 constant economy with food, the duty of labor with no 

 end in sight, and bitter uncertainty as to the future. 



It was time to get out. The wearing work, under very 

 unhealthy conditions, was beginning to tell on every one. 

 Half of the camaradas had been down with fever and 

 were much weakened; only a few of them retained their 

 original physical and moral strength. Cherrie and Kermit 

 had recovered; but both Kermit and Lyra still had bad 

 sores on their legs, from the bruises received in the water 

 work. I was in worse shape. The after effects of the 

 fever still hung on; and the leg which had been hurt while 

 working in the rapids with the sunken canoe had taken a 

 turn for the bad and developed an abscess. The good 

 doctor, to whose unwearied care and kindness I owe much, 

 had cut it open and inserted a drainage tube; an added 

 charm being given the operation, and the subsequent dress- 

 ings, by the enthusiasm with which the piums and boroshu- 

 das took part therein. I could hardly hobble, and was 

 pretty well laid up. But "there aren't no 'stop, conductor,' 

 while a battery's changing ground." No man has any 

 business to go on such a trip as ours unless he will refuse 

 to jeopardize the welfare of his associates by any delay 

 caused by a weakness or ailment of his. It is his duty to 

 go forward, if necessary on all fours, until he drops. For- 

 tunately, I was put to no such test. I remained in good 

 shape until we had passed the last of the rapids of the 



