letter xi.] AN ALARMING PROSPECT. 109 



quite in, and its mountains of white surge looked fearfully near 

 the only possible crossing. I entreated D. not to go on. She 

 said we could not go back, that the last gulch was already im- 

 passable, that between the two there was no house in which we 

 could sleep, that the river had a good bottom, that the man 

 thought if our horses were strong we Could cross now, but 

 not later, &c. In short, she overbore all opposition, and 

 plunged in, calling to me, "Spur, spur, all the time." 



Just as I went in, I took my knife and cut open the cloak 

 which contained the cocoanuts. Deborah's horse I knew was 

 strong, and shod, but my unshod and untried mare, what of 

 her ? My soul and senses literally reeled among the dizzy 

 horrors of the wide, wild tide, but with an effort I regained 

 sense and self-possession, for we were in, and there was no 

 turning. D., ahead, screeched to me what I could not hear ; 

 she said afterwards it was "spur, spur, and keep up the river;" 

 the native was shrieking in Hawaiian from the hinder shore, 

 and waving to the right, but the torrents of rain, the crash of 

 the breakers, and the rush and hurry of the river confused 

 both sight and hearing. I saw D.'s great horse carried off his 

 legs, my mare, too, was swimming, and shortly afterwards, 

 between swimming, struggling, and floundering, we reached 

 what had been the junction of the two rivers, where there was 

 foothold, and the water was only up to the seats of the 

 saddles. 



Remember, we were both sitting nearly up to our waists in 

 water, and it was only by screaming that our voices Avere 

 heard above the din, and to return or go on seemed equally 

 perilous. Under these critical circumstances the following 

 colloquy took place, on my side, with teeth chattering, and on 

 hers with a sudden forgetfulness of English, produced by her 

 first sense of the imminent danger we were in. 



Self — " My mare is so tired, and so heavily weighted, we 

 shall be drowned, or I shall." 



Deborah (with more reason on her side). — " But can't go 

 back, we no stay here, water higher all minutes, spur horse, 

 think we come through." 



Self. — " But if we go on there is broader, deeper water 

 between us and the shore ; your husband would not like you 

 to run such a risk." 



Deborah — " Think we get through ; if horses give out, we let 

 go ; I swim and save you." 



Even under these circumstances a gleam of the ludicrous 



