158 Journal of a Voyage through the 



man, who had been compelled to abandon his place, and 

 had not recovered from his fright, called out to his com* 

 panions to save themselves. My peremptory commands 

 superseded the effects of his fear, and they all held fast to 

 the wreck ; to which fortunate resolution we owed our 

 safety, as we should otherwise have been dashed against 

 the rocks by the force of the water, or driven over the cas- 

 cades. In this condition we were forced several hundred 

 yards, and every yard on the verge of destruction ; but, at 

 length, we most fortunately arrived in shallow water and 

 a small eddy, where we were enabled to make a stand, 

 from the weight of the canoe resting on the stones, rather 

 than from any exertions of our exhausted strength. For 

 though our efforts were short, they were pushed to the ut- 

 most, as life or death depended on them. This alarming 

 scene, with all its terrors and dangers, occupied only a few 

 minutes ; and in the present suspension of it, we called to 

 the people on shore to come to our assistance, and they 

 immediately obeyed the summons. The foreman, how- 

 ever, was the first with us ; he had escaped unhurt from 

 the extraordinary jerk with which he was thrown out of 

 the boat, and just as we were beginning to take our effects 

 out of the water, he appeared to give his assistance. The 

 Indians, when they saw our deplorable situation, instead 

 of making the least effort to help us, sat down and gave 

 vent to their tears. I was on the outside of the canoe, 

 where I remained till every thing was got on shore, in a 

 state of great pain from the extreme cold of the water ; 

 so that at length, it was with difficulty I could stand, from 

 the benumbed state of my limbs. 



The loss was considerable and important, for it consisted 

 of our whole stock of balls, and some of ou* furniture ; 

 but these considerations were forgotten in the impressions 

 of our miraculous escape. Our first inquiry was after the 

 absent man, whom in the first moment of danger, we had 

 left to get on shore, and in a short time his appearance 

 removed our anxiety. We had, however, sustained no 

 personal injury of consequence, and my bruises seemed 

 to be in the greater proportion. 



All the different articles were now spread out to dry. 

 The powder had fortunately received no damage, and all 

 my instruments had escaped. Indeed, when my people 

 began to recover from their alarm, and to enjoy a sense 

 of safety, some of them, if not all, were by no meam* 



