THE ALLEGASH AND EAST BBANCH. 
255 
that there would not be more than a mile of carry. It. 
turned out that the Indian, who had lately been over 
this route, was nearest right, as far as we were concerned. 
However, if one of us could have assisted the Indian in 
managing the canoe in the rapids, we might have run 
the greater part of the way; but as he was alone in the 
management of the canoe in such places, we were obliged 
to walk the greater part. I did not feel t^uite ready to 
try such an experiment on Webster Stream, which has 
so bad a reputation. According to my observation, a 
bateau, properly manned, shoots rapids as a matter of 
course, which a single Indian with a canoe carries round. 
My companion and I carried a good part of the bag¬ 
gage on our shoulders, while the Indian took that which 
would be least injured by wet in the canoe. We did 
not know when we should see him again, for he had not 
been this way since the canal was cut, nor for more than 
thirty years. He agreed to stop when he got to smooth 
water, come up and find our path if he could, and halloo 
for us, and after waiting a reasonable time go on and 
try again, — and we were to look out in like manner 
for him. 
He commenced by running through the sluice-way 
and over the dam, as usual, standing up in his tossing 
canoe, and was soon out of sight behind a point in a wild 
gorge. This Webster Stream is well known to lumber¬ 
men as a difficult one. It is exceedingly rapid and 
rocky, and also shallow, and can hardly be considered 
navigable, unless that may mean that what is launched 
in it is sure to be carried swiftly down it, though it may 
be dashed to pieces by the way. It is somewhat like 
navigating a thunder-spout. With commonly an irre¬ 
sistible force urging you on, you have got to choose your 
