156 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDEENESS. 



been notched or chipped ; for, starting from the very- 

 rim of the cataract, spouts of water leaped into the 

 air, and, falling in feathery spray, formed a veil 

 through which the dark green torrent might be 

 seen as it fell behind it. In one spot only did the 

 current flow unimpeded. Near the middle of the 

 stream, for some eight feet in width, the down- 

 rushing waters rolled to the brink and curved 

 over without jet or seam, smooth as a sheet of 

 glass. Underneath, the water was churned into 

 foam, boiling and tossing about in the wildest 

 confusion. 



For several minutes we stood admiring the wild 

 scene in silence. " Mr. Murray," at length shouted 

 John, putting his mouth close to my ear, so as to 

 make himself heard amid the uproar, " if any poor 

 fellow should ever get caught in the rapids alone, 

 and have to shoot the falls, he should steer for that 

 smooth water, and, when on the very brink, put his 

 whole strength into one stroke of his paddle ; 

 and if he could project his boat so that, when it 

 struck, it would fall on the outside of that upheav- 

 ing ridge, he would be safe, but if he fell inside of 

 that white line of foam, he would be sucked under 

 the falls and torn to pieces on the jagged bot- 

 tom." 



" Jolm," said I, " it could be done, I verily be- 

 lieve, as you say, but not one man in fifty could 

 hold his paddle or sit his boat steadily, gliding 



