66 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



the rock, it was caught on the broadside by 

 the current, and, in defiance of our utmost 

 exertions, hurried down the rapid. Fortu- 

 nately, however, it grounded against a rock 

 high enough to prevent the current from 

 oversetting it, and the crews of the other 

 boats having come to our assistance, we 

 succeeded, after several trials, in throwing 

 a rope to them, with which they dragged 

 our almost sinking vessel stern foremost up 

 the stream, and rescued us from our peri- 

 lous situation. We encamped in the dusk 

 of the evening amidst a heavy thunder- 

 storm, having advanced two miles and 

 three-quarters. 



About ten in the morning of the 23d we 

 arrived at the Dramstone, which is hailed with 

 pleasure by the boats' crews, as marking 

 the termination of the laborious ascent of 

 Hill River. We complied with the custom 

 from whence it derives its name, and soon 

 after landing upon Sail Island prepared 

 breakfast. In the mean time our boatmen 

 cut down and rigged a new mast, the old 

 one having been thrown overboard at the 



