UNBEK THE FALL. 25 



second view of the American Fall, wMcli has little of the gran- 

 deur of the Canadian side, the body of water being smaller and 

 more shallow- There is here a little islet, connected with Goat 

 Island by a slight foot-bridge to which there is attached a fear- 

 ful story. A foolish man carrying his child across the bridge, 

 held it by way of joke over the torrent ; in its horror the child 

 struggled and fell out of his arms. He sprang after it, and in 

 one moment both were in the abyss. 



Eeturnxng to the Canadian side of the river, I was conduct- 

 ed down a very long stair to the edge of the water, and thence 

 by a narrow footpath under the Table rock to the foot of the Fall, 

 behind which, on a footpath of shingle and rock, slanting out- 

 wards to the horrible cauldron, we stand and look through the 

 Fall, which is pouring out above, but clear of us in front. We 

 then follow the guide a little further. A very few yards bring 

 us to a point of rock beyond which there is nothing but sheer 

 precipice. There is said to be no danger, but I was almost 

 smothered with the spray, faint for want of breath from the ab- 

 solute loss of air in the thick flying foam. At this point it is 

 hardly safe to turn with the face towards the Fall, and a very 

 short stay here will satisfy the most curious. Getting back to 

 a more secure position, we stood for some time watching the sun 

 as now and then he was to be seen through a momentary thin- 

 ness or opening in the falling water. 



On reaching the top of the bank, we drove up the Canadian 

 side to view the rapids, which are perhaps eq.ual in grandeur to 

 any part of the scene. Standing by the river side and looking 

 up the stream, we see nothing whatever between the horizon 

 and ourselves but the great river roaring and leaping down, 

 miles broad apparently, though that is an illusion ; but there it 

 comes just as if we had got to the edge of the world and saw 

 the sea come leaping down the gap. The descent, which |i 

 here sixty feet in a mile, aids the illusion, for the vision is cir-» 



