238 METHOD OF CROSSING THE RIVERS. 



Orcones, which was terrible indeed : for being two 

 o'clock in the day, it was very high, and at its 

 greatest velocity. The noise of the stones rolling 

 at the bottom, was certainly appalling, and much 

 resembled underground thunder. I went first 

 with the old courier, and it required our utmost 

 exertions to keep the mules' heads up, to face the 

 torrent, which flew past us over our knees, at 

 the rate of ten knots per hour. I could plainly feel 

 the mule trembling and slipping beneath me, yet 

 straining with all his might to keep upon his legs. 

 On the opposite shore we held the lassoes while 

 the others crossed. Just as the boy got out of the 

 rapid, his mule stumbled and fell ; but we caught 

 them with the lassoes before they got into the 

 stream again. I now looked anxiously for my black 

 mule with the cargo. He brought it over admi- 

 rably, and was sent across again for the other one, 

 with which he struggled through, but buffetted 

 the waves with a little more difficulty. As the 

 merchandize was coming over, one mule was 

 swept off its legs : the torrent first whirled him 



