1 i O DANGEROUS RAPIDS. Chap. VII. 



because whistling made the wind come. It was the duty 

 of the man at the bow to look out ahead for the proper 

 course, and when he saw a rock or snag, to call out to the 

 steersman. Tuba doubtless thought that talking on board 

 might divert the attention of his steersman, at a time 

 when the neglect of an order, or a slight mistake, would 

 be sure to spill us all into the chafing river. There were 

 places where the utmost exertions of both men had to be 

 put forth in order to force the canoe to the only safe part 

 of the rapid, and to prevent it from sweeping down broad- 

 side on, where in a twinkling we should have found our- 

 selves floundering among the plotuses and cormorants, 

 which were engaged in diving for their breakfast of small 

 fish. At times it seemed as if nothing could save us from 

 dashing in our headlong race against the rocks which, now 

 that the river was low, jutted out of the water ; but just 

 at the very nick of time, Tuba passed the word to the 

 steersman, and then with ready pole turned the canoe a 

 little aside, and we glided swiftly past the threatened 

 danger. Never was canoe more admirably managed : once 

 only did the medicine seem to have lost something of its 

 efficacy. We were driving swiftly down, a black rock, 

 over which the white foam flew, lay directly in our path, 

 the pole was planted against it as readily as ever, but it 

 slipped, just as Tuba put forth his strength to turn the 

 bow off. We struck hard, and were half-full of water in 

 a moment ; Tuba recovered himself as speedily, shoved off 

 the bow, and shot the canoe into a still shallow place, to 

 bale out the water. Here we were given to understand 

 that it was not the medicine which was at fault ; that had 

 lost none of its virtue ; the accident was owing entirely to 

 Tuba having started without his breakfast. Need it be 

 said we never let Tuba go without that meal again ? 



We landed at the head of Garden Island, which is 

 situated near the middle of the river and on the lip of the 



