30 
GOONDI 
CHAP. 
boat swung round, and we knew we were caught on 
a snag. 
It seemed inevitable now that a hole must be 
driven through the thin planks, for the force of the 
current sent us spinning round in a most uncanny way ; 
for a moment we wrestled with fate, suddenly our boat 
seemed to sink, then we were tilted up again and the 
jerk fortunately emptied out some of the water, other- 
wise we must have gone under. In the dim light we 
could just distinguish the great black trunk of an 
uprooted tree, in whose branches we had been caught, 
and we were carried some distance down stream before 
we could extricate ourselves. Now in a bend of the 
river there was a horrible roar and bubbling as another 
swollen stream, with a violent rush, joined it. Stunned 
by the shock, the meeting waters leaped into arches 
and were thrown heavily back. 
We were caught on the outside edge of the torrent 
and there were tossed like a leaf, now helplessly swept 
forwards, then eddying round corners and darting on 
again with the swiftness of horses in a race, and 
suddenly we found ourselves in smoother water, but 
only to find that we had sprung a leak, and we had to 
bale out the water with our hats to keep ourselves 
afloat. A break in the clouds showed us the faint 
outline of the black belt of mangrove trees which 
meant “ land ” ; only two points now were left to pass, 
if we could manage to keep from sinking. The 
welcome sight of a steamer was the next thing I 
remember in the excitement ; we knew then that help 
was at hand, and in a few moments our little boat, 
which had borne us so bravely through the perils of the 
swollen waters, was beside it, only to sink as we were 
hoisted, just in time, into the friendly vessel. 
By daylight the storm was over, and between Hinchin- 
