34 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
or be smashed upon the rocks. Their speed soon attained 
that.of an express train, while all about them the boil- 
ing waters were dashed into foam by the great rocks 
in the channel. Presently it appeared as if they were 
doomed to be dashed upon a long ugly breaker nearly 
in mid-stream; but no! with two or three lightning 
strokes of their paddles the collision was averted. But in 
a moment they were in worse danger, for right ahead 
were two great rocks, over and around which the tum- 
bling waters wildly rushed. Would they try the right 
side or the left? Only an instant was afforded for 
thought, but in that instant Pierre saw his only chance 
and took it—-heading his canoe straight for the shoot 
between the rocks. Should they swerve a foot to one 
side or the other the result would be fatal, but with 
unerring judgment and unflinching nerve they shot 
straight through the notch, and disappeared in the trough 
below. Rising buoyantly from the billows of foam and 
flying spray, they swept on with the rushing waters 
until, in a little eddy half-way down the rapid, they 
pulled in to the shore in safety. They were all well 
soaked by the spray and foam, but without concern or 
excitement returned for the second canoe. In taking 
this down a valise of stationery and photographic 
supplies, inadvertently allowed to remain in the canoe, 
got a rather serious wetting, but as soon as possible its 
contents were spread out upon the smooth clean rocks 
to dry. Past the remainder of the rapid a portage 
was made and camp pitched at the foot. While our 
Iroquois were thus occupied, Schott and his men had 
been hard at work. running down their scows and had — 
