158 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



the shadow of a hemlock which grew on the very 

 margin of the bank, sojne fifty yards to the west 

 of the camp, and waited. I cannot say that I ex- 

 pected anything unusual would show itself. I am 

 no believer in Spiritualism. I am not nervous by 

 nature. I never dream. It was these facts which 

 made it so hard for me to account for the appear- 

 ance of the nigh^ before. The more I had reflected 

 the more had I been puzzled. 



" John," said I, at length, speaking in a guarded 

 whisper, " this is the queerest ambush you and I 

 ever made." 



" I was just thinking of that very same thing," 

 responded he ; " but I am very glad we are here. 

 For fifteen years I have wanted to do this very- 

 thing, but never found any one to attempt it with 

 me. How do you feel ? " 



" Never better in my life," I replied ; " although I 

 must say that I hope we may not run the rapids. 

 Moonlight is not sunlight, after all; and if you 

 should make a mistake, or — " 



"Mr. Murray," broke in John, "did you ever 

 know me make a mistake ? Have not you and I 

 run rapids worse than these, time and again ? and 

 when have we taken anything but foam and spray 

 into our boats ? I tell you I am not afraid to run 

 the rapids ; only if we do go down, remember the 

 dead hemlock. It would n't do to go over the 

 falls." 



