Sir Charles Sliiigsby 265 



Just as we were starting, I saw Sir Charles at the far 

 end of the boat shutting the gate, but the one at our end 

 was left unclosed. He was talking to Mr. Eobinson, and 

 the moment after, while I was idly watching how close 

 the flood was bubbling up, almost to the top of the board 

 forming the side of the boat, I saw Sir Charles' horse, 

 " Saltfish," stretch his neck over the gate, as if to smell 

 the water, and the next instant he jumped over into the 

 river, dragging Sir Charles with him by the bridle. 

 Instantly there was a rush to that side, and a cry, "Oh 

 save Sir Charles ! " The boat lifted a few inches above 

 the water on the up-stream side, and the horses being 

 thrown off their equilibrium began to trample and slide 

 down to the other side. The boat recovered itself again, 

 and the idea flashing across me, " Here's a row ; I had 

 better be out of it," on the impulse of the moment I 

 shoved my mare violently back into the water, and 

 jumped out myself. The misfortune as it had first 

 appeared, of being on one of the last, instead of the 

 first, now proved a blessing, for not only was I able to 

 extricate myself easily from the crowd, but I was also 

 nearer by the length of the boat — 30 feet — to the bank 

 we had left. 



The vessel swayed again twice, each time going higher 

 into the air. With the frantic struggles of the horses, as 

 they were tossed up and down, we soon saw that it was an 

 impossibility for the boat to right itself, and that a fearful 

 calamity was impending. At last it slowly turned over, 

 rearing right up into the air, and pouring men and horses 

 in one confused heap down into the water. It then 

 remained bottom upwards, with many of its late occupants 

 underneath, confined by the wooden side railings, which 



