EPISODES 



451 



point, and there the current is to all appearance of double 

 strength, and right against it. The men, who have all 

 rested a few minutes, are ordered to take their stations, 

 and lay hold of their oars, for the river must be crossed, 

 it being seldom possible to double such a point, and pro- 

 ceed along the same shore. The boat is crossing, its 

 head slanting to the current, which is, however, too strong 

 for the rowers, and when the other side of the river has 

 been reached, it has drifted perhaps a quarter of a mile. 

 The men are by this time exhausted, and, as we shall 

 suppose it to be twelve o'clock, fasten the boat to the 

 shore or to a tree. A small glass of whiskey is given to 

 each, when they cook and eat their dinner, and after re- 

 pairing their fatigue by an hour's repose, recommence 

 their labors. The boat is again seen slowly advancing 

 against the stream. It has reached the lower end of a 

 large sand-bar, along the edge of which it is propelled by 

 means of long poles, if the bottom be hard. Two men 

 called bowsmen remain at the prow, to assist, in concert 

 with the steersman, in managing the boat, and l<eeping its 

 head right against the current. The rest place themselves 

 on the land side of the footway of the vessel, put one end 

 of their poles on the ground, ...e other against their 

 shoulders, and push with all t leir might. As each of the 

 men reaches the stern, he cresses to the other side, runs 

 along it, and comes again to the landward side of the 

 bow, when he recommences operations. The barge in 

 the meantime is ascending at a rate not exceeding one 

 mile in the hour. 



The bar is at length passed, and as the shore in sight 

 is straight on both sides of the river, and the current 

 uniformly strong, the poles are laid aside, and the men 

 being equally divided, those on the river side take to 

 their oars, whilst those on the land side lay hold of the 

 branches of willows, or other trees, and thus slowly propel 

 the boat. Here and there however, the trunk of a fallen 



