Nov. 11, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



316 



Innonnq. 



Secretaries of cojioe clubs are req-aested to send to Fotiest and 

 Bteea>i tlveir addresses, with name, memberatiip, signal, etc., of 

 their clubs, and also notices in advance of meetings and races, and 

 report of the same. Canoeiats and aU interested in canoeing are 

 requested to forward to Forest and Stream their addresses, with 

 logs of I'rulses. maps, and information concerning tlieir local 

 waters, drawings or descriptions of boats and fittings, and all Items 

 relating to the sport. 



A. C. A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. 



To the Memhcrs of the American Canoe Associatim : 

 The Exec uli-^ i; Committee of tlio Ajnerican Canoe Association 



will meet on Sa turday moinins at 10 o'clock, Nov. 13, at the Gilsey 



House, New York city. All are invited. 

 Deseronto, Ont., Oct. 16. F. S. RATHBirar, Commodore. 



THE OAKLAND C. C. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Since the last report of the doings of the Oakland C. C, the can- 

 oemou have been jogiiing along at about the same old gait. They 

 have taken a number ot cruises about tliebay, to (xoat Island, Bay 

 Island Farm, etc. The racing men in :lie Mystic, Flirt, Zoe Mou 

 and Waif have Ivcpt up a lively scrimmage every week, each iu 

 turn corning in ahead and enjoying the happy consciousness of 

 Bailing the fustest craft, only to be disappointed later, when some 

 Other icllow got the bes! of it. Any capsiKesV Well, yes— .so to 

 speak— several; the Shadow, wliich boasted of .'i clean record, and 

 the Undine, one day i-eturniny from an all riight trip, got too close 

 together, interlocked their mi/.zcn Ijooins and turned bottom up. 

 The Commodore one day all by hislouesolf, trying an extra spread 

 of muslin, got tlie mainboom foul of the mizzen brail and had to 

 be towed ashore in a limp condition. 



One of the pret tiest trips was on Admission day, Sept. 9, Avhich 

 in this State is a general holiday. The Pacific V, C. held their 

 annual regatta on that day and the cauoe chib made ut) a party to 

 go out and ,«ee the race. The fleet consisted of the canoes Mystic 

 (flagship). Zephyr, Zoe IMou, Flirt, Uudine, Hltadow, Waif, No 

 Name and the Spray. The cutter AJolia, yawl Nautilus, Skiff 

 Yum Yum and the yacht Stanley as escort, nil gayly decorated 

 with bunting. They made a fine appearance as they dropped down 

 the creek about lU A. M. 



Little or no wind made slow work for the voyagers and not un- 

 til they were well into the bay did they catch a decent breeze. It 

 was nearly 2 o'clocl< before tiiey reached Goat Island and got 

 through lunch. Soon after, tiie yacht fleet, vvhicit started at 1 

 o'clock froui the city, came booming along, and tacked right close 

 to the island iii tine view of the excursionists. They liad to beat 

 from Goat Island doNVTi the channel to a stakeboat and run back, 

 and before this ^\•as accomplished the fleet of small craft gotunder 

 way and sailed out into the bay to intercept them. Unf(u-tunatc] j' 

 a light tog settled over the bay and the landscape was greatly ob- 

 scured, and tlic vie^v of the race cntii-cly marred. The leading 

 yachts came looming out of the mist fairly shroitded with kites, 

 balloon jibs. clubLopsails and staysails, water sails and what not, 

 and passing \\'crc soon lost again in the gloom. The LuT'linc was 

 first. Halcyon and Aggie following, the Annie, ISellie.aud others 

 coming .after. The catioc fleet returned to Os.kland about ]'. M.. 



The next events of iwie hi the annais of I lie club were a series of 

 contests between tlic Mystic and the Spray. The latter, afcor the 

 return from Clear ijakc, did not return to tlie club house, but went 

 into dry dock acd thoroughly overhauled, had joined tlie fleet at 

 Goat Island on Admission day. She did the best sailing oti that 

 day iu the light In eeze, and the next day in a set race of three 

 miles beat the Mystic some three rruuutes. The skipper of the 

 Mystic realized that something had to be done and went to woi-k 

 on a new sail, better shape and more area. The ne.\t two races 

 were taken by tlie Mystic by some si.v minutes. Tlien the Spray 

 came out with a bonnet to her mainsail, adding some -Oft. aud 

 overtopping tJie Mystic's spread by perhaps 10 or 15ft. But tlie 

 "sit" was not there, and Mystii; won the next two races with some 

 five or SIX m.uutes to spare. All this was very Interesting, as the 

 races for the gold championship badge uere approaching (Oct. 17). 

 Spray had won it in May in a contest for cruisit\g outiit, and Mys- 

 tic had been laying for it e%'er since. But bet oro the championship 

 races came a cloud over the fortunes of the O. C. C. In this 

 wise: 



Tne San Francisco Yacht Club have been in the habit of giving 

 an annual mosquito regatta, putting up prizes for 'N^Hjitehall boats, 

 fishermen's boats, ship's boats, yawls, small yachts, etc., aud it is 

 looked forward to as one of the events of the season. Anxious to 

 test the canoes with these larger craft the O. C. C. entered 

 some eight or ten of their best boats for the regatta which was 

 appointed for Oct. 9. The weather had been mild a nd gentle for 

 many weeks and canoe breezes were the order of the day. Our 

 canoemeu were very confident of making a good record. The 

 starting point was Mission Rock, off San B'rancisco, some 8 miles 

 from Oakland, and the time of stai'ting l:4o P. M. So the boys had 

 more tuan half the day to sail down tlie creek and across the bay. 

 But to make assurance doubly sure, that they would be on time, 

 a steam tug was engaged to tow them and also enable tliem to 

 take some guests to see the race. A jolly good time was antici- 

 pated. On the day appointed everybody was on hand in good 

 season, but the wind was on the rampage. Good judgment dictated 

 that tlie attempt to cross the bay in such weather was foolhardy. 

 But the club has never yet turned back on account of the weather 

 and the canoes were equipped and strung out in a line behind the 

 tug in the following order: Flirt, Mystic, Spray, Coney Island and 

 Shadow, the li tie Waif being stowed on board. The skippers of 

 the three last ivcre towed in their boats at first, but when two or 

 three breakages of painters had occurred going down the creek, 

 all except Shadow were taken on to the tug to lighten the strain, 

 he being last on the line was kept there to steer and make liimself 

 generally useful. 



There Avas quite a sea running in the creek, and the wind was 

 blowung 30 or ^5 miles an hour against a strong tide, and before the 

 mouth of the creek was reached the canoes were pitching heavily. 

 Outside the sea was immense, and before they had gone a quarter 

 of a mile the painters parted again. Orders were then given to 

 abandon the ti-ip. As the tug turned \\uth the wind and sea fol- 

 lowing, of course the craft in tow were jammed against her. The 

 captain of the Mystic got into his boat and the Shadow's crow 

 was already on board, and these two got along very well under 

 driver and paddle, but the Flirt, Coney island and Spray being 

 towed were upset, rolled over aud otherwise ill-treated, and the 

 Sprayflually had her stem pulled out, and being witb.out air tights 

 sunk altogether. By dint of hard work Flirt aud Coney Island 

 were gotten to the narrow-gauge railroad wharf (near by), bailed 

 out, and in company with Mystic and Sliadow saDed home in 



frand style under diiver alone stepped in main mast hole. 

 Inch sjinpatny was felt for Mr. Eugelbrecht, as the Spray was 

 his own handiwork, and was one of the crack canoes of the fleet, a 

 loss to the club as well as to her owner. The other boats were 

 slightly injured, but nothing serious. 



As for tUe regatta, it was started by a few of the entries, but the 

 stake boats dragged their aiichors and had to leave their posts for 

 safety, and those tuat did manage to g;et over part of the course 

 were nearly s'wauiped atid many capsized, so if was declared off 

 for a week, being sailed on Oct. 17. It was a perfect day, and if the 

 canoes had entered they would have made 5. good showing, but our 

 eugagement prevented. 



The race for the gold badge presented to the O. C. C. by Mr. E. 

 Mayrisch, of iyaincda, was held on Oct. 17. It has to be contested 

 for every three months. This was tlie first contest. There were 

 live entries. Mystic, Zephyi-, Zoe Mou, Flirt and CoTiey Island. 

 Distance about due and a half miles down thewiud to astake,ivith 

 a beat home. The distance entire may fall short of three miles 

 perhaps soventj -lix'c yards. The Mystic took the lead, followed by 

 Zoe Mou, the other three in a buneJi. In rounding the stake the 

 Mystic missed stays, thereby losing a good lead of about 100 vds., 

 the Zoe Mou getting around fir.st and the FUrt following a short 

 distance after. The wind being a little southerly of west enabled 

 the canoes to make the trip back in about three tacks. Mvstic 

 soon regained the lead and passed tlie -winning line 49s. ahead of 

 Flirt. The following is the summary: 



Start. Finish. Time. 



Mystic 3 30 35 3 03 01 42 28 



Flirt a 30 3.5 3 03 50 43 15 ,49 



Zoe Mou 2 30 a5 8 0,5 20 44 4S 2.19 



Coney Island 3 30 35 3 0.5 45 45 10 3.41 



Zephyr .3 30 35 3 05 46 45 11 2.45 



After this race the Zephyr and others had a scrub race. Tlie 

 Zephyr went over tlie course in 40m. SOs. and Mystic in 41ni. 5s., 

 the improvement in ZeiJhyr being on account of a centerboard 

 added to her keel, 



The next event, on Nov. 2, ia to be a contest between the second 

 and third class c.-inoes— say Falcon, Meteor, Coney Island, Shadow, 

 Water Lily, Belle and others. A handsome cup has lieen pre- 

 sented as a trophy for these classes only; a race to be held every 

 month until some one canoa wins five races, when her skipper is 

 to be the owner of it. 



Tlie Oakland O. C. has had a fine season and is in a flourishing 

 condition. Jfc has nearly doubled its membership, and its fleet is 

 out of debt escept l.h.it secured on its club house, and tJie income 

 of the club exceeds its expenditures. Unlike the fraternity in the 

 East, the canoists here arc not going into winter quarters. The 

 season here is not over, but just goes riglvt on. In fact, from now 

 until spring, barring occasional rain, will be our prettiest weather 

 for canoeing. If some ot the enterprising ones in the East would 

 pack their boats on the overland route and take a trip out to 

 this coast, they would find fine cruising for a few months and a 

 wann welcome from the Oakland canoeists. The latchstring 

 hangs out. Mtstic. 



THE A. C. A. AND THE CLUBS. 



Ed'ltor FVrt'cst and Stream: 



I have read Mr. Eraser's article on the above and think that un- 

 tU something better is proposed it has the field by a large major- 

 ity. 



It seems to me that the only difficulty would be the getting of 

 the clubs who have no A. C. A. members among them into the 

 union. The other clubs will see at once the advantage of every 

 member of their club being an A. C. A. man, and 1 tliink we can 

 take it for granted that they will go in for it heartily. 



But how are we to get ti.iose clubs \vltich have no A, C, A. nvem- 

 bers among them, to point out the advantagcsof that Association, 

 to join iu with us and make the A. C. A. count iu thousands where 

 wc now have hundredsV I think one of the chief points to them 

 will be the reduced foe (1 take it for granted that the fee will be 

 i-educcd if the membership is run up to a thon.saud or above). 



Suppose the fees were reduced to one dollar. For that small 

 sum they cotild belong to a large and powerful oi-ganization, could 

 have the privilege ot attending a division meet or the A. C. A. 

 meet, or both, each year with ail the special rates, etc , that that 

 imiilies. 



1 t hink Mr. Eraser's idea to have the club secretaries collect the 

 fee is a good one, because unless a member attends the division or 

 A. C. A. meet, aud hears Dr. Ncide's cheerful "Have I got your 

 dollarr' he is apt to forget that he has not paid his annual fees 

 and let it fdip past for that year. Will G. MciitaNDRiCK. 



TonoNTO, Canada. 



PADDLE AND CURRENT. 



SECOND PAPER. 



FRIDAY, July 3, wc left the city of Binghamton for tlie head- 

 waters of the Delaware. We had inquired anxiously how far 

 up it would be safe for us to start; and, as the result of the infor- 

 mation gained, bought our tickets for Hancock, A run of fifty 

 miles found us in front of a bare, unnaiuted station, surrounded 

 by a few still more forlorn houses, the .sun just setting and the 

 river half a mile away. We were not sufhciently prepossessed 

 with the place to desh-e to stay there all night. Being prow.dod 

 ■with a good cami)ing outiit, after a few preliminary pui'chases, we 

 looked around for the best method of reaching the water. Our 

 canoe had attracted the usual number cf loiterers. Taking hold 

 of it and turning to these with "A cigar for every man that lends 

 a hand," wc had the whole colony running at our side with our 

 effects pell mell down the hill, 



The road first touclied the river at a rapid, a fitting introduction 

 to the Delaware. Hurriedly launching in an eddy at the foot of 

 this ra.pid, we, for the first time, took a survey of our surroundings. 

 An air of primitive Avilderness hung over all, the hills and tilie 

 woods seemed to be working together to choke oH the stream, 

 which struggled along past both as if defying opposition. 

 The river Avas a small matter; mountains and forests monopolizing 

 the landscape. 



Paddling rapidly forward, passing wdthout difficulty two or tliree 

 rifts, we felt assured that our acquaintance with the Delaware 

 would be a pleasant one. The last blood-rod rays of the sun \\crc 

 lingering on the hills high above us, a celestial beacon fire to warn 

 of the approach of night. The woods, thick and dense, hun^ dark 

 like ihunder clouds over the water. At last, long after tAvilight, 

 we scaled a height to wliere, some fifty feet above the river, there 

 seemed to be an opening in the forest. After much Avading over 

 rough stones and through mire, and laborious carrying up the hill, 

 AA^e Avere at last ensconced with the sAvift-rumiing, noisy river at 

 our feet and the valley, vocal with the sounds of summer, spread 

 befoi-e us 



A native returning home by a path in our rear from the dissipa- 

 pations of the toAvn, coming suddenly out of the gloom, very 

 naturally, in this seemingly uninhabited and uninhabitable region, 

 surprised us. He had been a raftsman on the river, and gave us 

 many practical directions. After a pleasant chat, Avith the remark 

 that he had to go four miles through the Avoods, he left us as 

 silently as he came. 



La>5ily reclining beside the cheerful fire, a harsh Aibration, 

 strangely out of keeping Avith the peaceful sounds of this almost 

 utter solitude, strikes the ear; a nervous, rattling noise, growing 

 louder and louder till sharply Avaking the sleepy echoes trom the 

 quiet hills a locomotive, A\ith a headlight glaring like the evil 

 eye of some monster, burst into view. Rushing shrieking along, 

 seeming as if flying in the air half way up the liillside so distinctly 

 outlined is it against the inky darkness of the mountain, the loco- 

 motive sending up .shoAA'ers of sparks, the furnace nOAv and then 

 emitting a lurid gleam, the biilliantly lighted passenger train 

 flashes, wit h a shock like that of a SAA^ora thrust, through the still- 

 ness ot the night. We felt as if haunted. We had left the city, 

 we had left our employment; and by so doing ha^ hoped to escape 

 for a time all thoughts of the cares and annoyances of the hum 

 drum work day life. Here, howeA^er, Avas a feverish eager mon- 

 ster, filled with people more restless than itself, Invading the spot 

 which, of all others, seemed to be the most free from suggestions 

 of business Avori-y- 



lu the morning Ave found that the marsh that had bothered us 

 to cross was caused by springs of Ice cold Avater. All thai forenoon 

 the river Avas peacefully disposed; there Avere many rapicLs, some 

 of them involving Avading, but nothing that Avas dangerous. The 

 scenery was charmingly Avild. The river filled the valley com- 

 pletely; and the hills, ahvays thickly Avooded, here hardly deserv- 

 ing the name of mountains, rose from the Avater at a not abrupt 

 angle. A house occasionally, at long intervals, showed its top 

 above the trees, the forest, as if chary of iiuman foothold, closing 

 tightly around. 



Where a tributary came in affording a few tillable acres, a farm 

 house Avould appear. But the great business along the Upper Del- 

 aAA'are is lumbering. Few people can be met on this part of the 

 river who have not for many years in i;he spring freshets navigated 

 rafts of logs down to Trenton and Piiiladelphia. This fact enables 

 the canoeist to keep aa'cII posted regarding the bad rapids. Lum- 

 ber mills are in places more common than farm houses, and many 

 of the aA'ailable streams flowing into the Delaware are pre-empted 

 by mills. 



In the afternoon the rapids grow more formidable. They oc- 

 curred at regular distances. The river, Aviuding greatly, the hilLs 

 always keeping close to the stream aud Avinding with it, Avould 

 tloAv sluggishly, broaden out into a pool, and thou just around a 

 point Avould go flying off doAvn hill at a reckless pace. Frequently 

 in coming to an unusually straight stretch, glancing along the 

 water, Ave could see a hill down Avhich it almost made one dizzy to 

 look, at the same time Avhen at a distance the descent being steep 

 and beginning so suddenly that the surface at the commencement 

 ot the mchne Avas hidden from vleAv, no billows, no rough AA'ater 

 AA'ere to be observed. Tne i-ixev now assumed on a large scale tlie 

 characteristics of a trout stream. Instead of a broad bed paved 

 with small stones and containing numerous shallows, the flow Avas 

 compressed between narrow banks, huge rocks appeared around 

 which tlie Avater eddied and gurgled, and in the rapids the deep 

 current, studded Avith boulders, rushed with resistless force, Tliis 

 change, though requiring more skill and being dangerous. rellcA^ed 

 us of vexatious Avading and kindred annoyances attendant on 

 shalloAV Avater. A quick eye .and hand Avere necessary to carry us 

 through. Hurrying along at a race-horse speed, fragments of 

 stone AA-ould blocii our path. No time Avas left for decision; thought 

 and action had to coiucide. A mistake in most cases meant a 

 shattered boat, in some cases cru.shed bodies or drowning, T'nis 

 fact, although the exhilaration Avas delightful, kept a great strain 

 upon the nerves. We svere constantly on the lookout lor our fate. 

 In each smooth expanse w^e were thinking of the next rapid. Long 

 before Ave saAV tJie rough water Ave heard its noise. Not only 

 would Ave hear it at a distance, but so accustomed were our ears 

 to the soimd of running Avater that we could tell from the roar, 

 boom or surge whether it Avas caused by a steep rush, a fall or a 

 sunken rock. 



Late in the afternoon I came near having: an intervdew Avith 

 Davy Jones. At the foot of a rapid requiring all om- attention 

 Avas a ferry cable stretched from bank to bank, .fust where Ave 

 must pass the cable lay low on the Avafcer. It was a hard thing to 

 locate the position of this snare, it appearing further off tljan it 

 was. jNIorris lifted it up and got under, but I, besides miscalculat- 

 ing the distance, also failed to realize the speed at Avhich we were 

 going. The result was tliat I was caught under the chin and 

 jerked over backward. Fortunately, by the merest accident, I 

 feU in the boat, other Avise Ave would have been swamped. 



It had rained hard that day. The ground Avas so thoroughly 

 saturated that the idea of camping was not pleasing. Hiding tlie 

 >ioftt among the avUIoavs and shouldering our outfit, w« started 



across the fields for a house about a qu.artef Of a mUe away. This 

 dAvellin^ Avas a curiosity, being strongly constructed of atone and 

 located m the middle of a garden that was elevated some tAventy 

 feet above the road and surrotmded by a stone terrace. Altogether 

 it looked as if built for war, reminding one of a castle or an Indian 

 stockade. We scaled the ramparts, approached the door, and 

 were saluted by a mastiff. On our attempting to knock the brute 

 expressed such a strong inclination tor trosh meat that Ave 

 reached for our revolvers. ^\lter much potmding and Avaiting a 

 woman's face appeared OA^er the railiug of the piazza above and 

 eyed us very suspiciously. Upon making kuowii our Avants, we 

 Avere requested to wait till her husband returned. We were much 

 amused at being mistaken for tramps or lightning-rod men. Sub- 

 sequently, by waw of atonement, we received profuse apologies and 

 good quarters. We chatted Avith them a long Avhile, and nest 

 morning the farmer and one of his boys carried our duffle doAvn to 

 the rlA^er. 



In running rapids there is no time for consideration, much less 

 for consultation. Some one has to do the steering and take com- 

 mand. With us no Avords but those relating to the running of the 

 boat Avere spoken. Because I OAvned the canoe, rather than for 

 any other reason, I had the stern paddle and Morris the bow. 

 Morris saAV the necessity of acting on the instant, and. no matter 

 hoAv deep the water or what the circumstances, when I gave the 

 Avord to jump he was OA^erboard as soon as I. In fact, his zeal 

 occcasionally anticipated my directions, and, being forward and 

 therefore able to see obstructions sooner than T could, he woxtld 

 sometimes leap before I thought it was necessary. 



That morning the above fondness for aquatic life got him into 

 trouble. In the midst of a groAvling, spitefiil rift Avas a huge Avave, 

 caused by the impaci. of the Avater against a, granite boulder. The 

 current running high on this rock hid it from vieAV from above; 

 but the Avater diviaing, and the descent being steep, exposed below 

 a large mass of stone high aboA^e the surface. Expecting plain 

 sailing, I headed our craft straight for this obstacle. ^Morris, spy- 

 ing the rock and supposing that I did not see it, Avith a cry of 

 Avarning, holding the bow of the canoe as he fell, leaped into'the 

 deep, turbulent stream. The boat, swinging round in his grasp as 

 on a pivot, struck the rock broadside, the concussion loosening it 

 from his hold, and, Avhile he Avas left helpless in the river, myself 

 poAverless to aid him, the canoe floated doAvn stern first. He Avas 

 carried off his feet by the rush; but, having the good sense to 

 know that it was of no use to struggle, and realizing that he must 

 be carried to shallow Avater, by submitting himself to the current 

 he soon reached a shoal. Acting all this time as a spectator, the 

 canoe floating backAvard unguided, a bump and a lurch Avhich 

 nearly caused another calamity brought me to my senses. Morris 

 Avas soon aboard; but it Avas found that the paddle that he held had 

 in tlie confusion been lost. As the current Avas strong, the river 

 wide and filled AAUtli stones the color of the missing article aud 

 some time having elapsed, it was no easy matter to find the indis- 

 pensable adjunct. However, after many movements and counter- 

 mo,>tements and a sharp lookout on both sides, even this Avas 

 accomplished, and Ave proceeded AAUtli all damages repaired; the 

 Avetting in the AA^arm sun being more of a joke than a serious mis- 

 hap. 



1 should not wonder if traveling on Sunday Avas wrong, e\'en 

 though the Vehicle be only a canoe and the traA^elers those Avho 

 don't mean to make work out of the traveling. At any rate this 

 Avas not one of our lucky days. The afternoou was an "afternoon 

 of shoals and wading, climaxed by a thunderstorm, so terrific that 

 it made us, in spite of our stout rubber coats, want to get under 

 cover. If the fates were opposed to our going on, they certainly 

 offered us the best facilities in tlie Avay of shelter, finding us clean 

 and commodious quarters in an old barn tliat stood close to the 

 bank. Here we came across some wicked young boys Avho, in- 

 stead of going to Sunday school, had stolen away here out of ob- 

 servation to enjoy a quiet smoke. But leaving tlie right or wrong 

 of such matters to the moralist our young acquaintances proved 

 very good friends, liberaly supplying us Avith milk, etc., and stand- 

 ing around in admiring aAvc, Avhile Ave cooked our supper OA'er our 

 miniature spirit stove. Tlie farmer, an energetic, progressive 

 man, came doAAm to see us, trying to make himself agreeable. He 

 had a hobby. That hobby Avas a glen on his premises. 



"Are you gentlemen going to start early to-morroAV morning?" 

 he asked. L'pon our ansAvering in the amrmative he continued: 

 "Well, I have a ravine on my land that I like to shoAA^ to all city 

 people who come along. Many persons go a great distance to see 

 see it, and just as soon as you get through your supper I should 

 enjoy acting as your guide." 



Wo were unable to resist such a peremptory invitation, and soon 

 found oui-selves brushing aside the Avet branches of the laurels and 

 evergreens on our tramp up the bed of the creek that floAved 

 through the lavine. The walls were of limestone formation, af- 

 fording some fine examples of erosion. Here and there were great 

 basins filled with water; again would be caves, tlie sides of which 

 Avcre perfectly smooth, Avliile in the middle of these tunnels of its 

 own making floAved the brook. Jumping across the strefim, get- 

 ting plentifully sprinkled with the spray of the Avaterfalls, climb- 

 ing up steep places by means of shalloAv steps Iioavu in the rock, 

 running along on narroAV slippery ledges around deep pools, and 

 plunging in regardless fashion througn the saturated underbrush, 

 the tough old farmer led us without a pause, talking continu,ally. 



He explained that capitalists had made him an offer for bis glen 

 with the purpose of building a hotel. Then he avou Id branch off 

 into a discussion of the geological formation. "You are college 

 men. Wliat kind of stone is that? A great many crystals Avero 

 taken out there, ^^^lat caused this rock to be worn away so?" 

 Finally, though reluctantly, he turned about. We Avere Avell 

 soaked, and "built a big fire to dry our clotlies lief ore turning in. 

 Ai-ound this our loquacious friends gathered, and several hours 

 Avere passed in talking a,bout tlie dangers of the river, the rafting, 

 and listening to stories of famous hunts in the vicinity. 



The boys Avere so loth to have us depart and cast such longing 

 looks at our canoe, that I invited one of them to go with us doAvn 

 the rapid that lay between their home and t he village of Cochec- 

 ton. With OA'cr a hundred pounds of baggage and Ave three, mak- 

 ing above four hundred more, our fifty-pound craft was Aveighted 

 to within an iuch or so of the \A^ater, creating some misgiAungs as 

 to the result in the waves of the rift. We, however, got through 

 safely, and found for the next three miles little rouglt water. We 

 had heard very graphic descriptions of a bad spot a fcAv miles be^ 

 loAV Cochecton called "Foul Rift," or "CocJiecton Falls," and were 

 assured that, compared with the perils of this river's famous rapid 

 those through Avhich Ave had passed Avere as nothing. Notwith- 

 .standing our being told that lumber rafts ran it every spring and 

 that Avo might possibly get through, the dubious Avay in Avhich 

 such an attempt Avas spoken of and the recital of numerous fatali- 

 ties, made us, Ave must confess, a trifle nervous. Aroimd a bend, 

 thee ■ • ... . „ . 

 narr 



the ' .... 



of immense size and all shapes lay scattered in utmost confusion 

 on the immediate shores, Avhich Avere part of the river's bed at 

 high Avater; AA-hile inbetAveen, the Avater, lashed iuto billows and 

 foam, sped among innumerable projecting granite fragments and 

 leaped m fury in several falls upon the stones as if to grind them 

 to powder. 



Our experience here Avas such as makes me hesitate to put it on 

 paper. We had come with stout Jiearts, fully iutonding to sitoot 

 the rapid. Even uoav, AA'hile looking at it, we did not make up our 

 minds to relinquish our purpose. Three or four times did we 

 traA'erse the stony maze that lined the banks of this half mile 

 terrorizer. Many minutes Avere spent in marking out hi our 

 minds just Avhat course aa-o must take. At last aU Avas ready. A 

 start Avas made, one fall was jumped, then the current caught the 

 cuiioe, wtm-lcd it around and dashed it sideAA^ays against a rock. 

 With a desperate effort we managed to get iuto an eddy. We 

 landed for consultation. 



"Well, Ralph," said my friend, "I am Avilling to help you portage 

 the canoe. - That Avas just the beginning, and Ave couldn't do any. 

 thing at all. I don't think aa'c Avould ever get out of there alive. 

 Even if we did the canoe Avould be smashed, I tell you tlic river is 

 too loAV to make the attempt," 



I had thought this Avay also, but did not hav^e the courage to say 

 so. NoAV that Morris expressedhimself Irejoined, "I guess youare 

 right. I am not quite ready to end this trip, especially in that 

 way." Once more afloat we looked at our Avatch and found that 

 thi'ee or four hours had been spent in paying our respects to the 

 only rapid that ever got the better of us. 



"Foul Rift" did not repeat itself that day. In the afternoon we 

 came to NarroAVsburg, About this place the current ceases, aud 

 the banks, prcAdously of earth, here are of limestone, rising perpen- 

 dicularly from the AA'-ater. The village, quite a summer resort, is 

 on a bluff thus formed. At the bottom of this bluff, iu a cove, is a 

 small beach, the village landing place, aud here the river attains 

 a considerable Avldth. It Avas Avhfle eating our dinner at tlds spot 

 that Ave witnessed an amusing spectacle. A roAvboat containing 

 an old man and a boy suddenly shot out from the opposite shore 

 and headed for us. Evidently their mission was an ardent one, for 

 the boy Avas rowing desperately; and, as at every stroke a quantity 

 of Avater would flv into the air. 



Soon Ave understood the object of the noble youth's violent 

 efforts— he was trying to saA'e his grandfather and himself from 

 untimely shlpAvi-eck. The boat AA^as leaking like a basket, and the 

 columns of water, instead of being caused by bad roAAong, were 

 the result of th« passenger's assiduous bailing. As they ne*r^ 



