28 i 
A Runaway Boat 
they were by no means vertical, they were more violent than 
what is ordinarily called a rapid. This was one part of the 
canyons where White, in his imaginary journey, found an easy 
passage! The next day Powell took me with him on a climb 
to the top. We had little trouble in getting out. On the way 
back the Major’s cut-off arm was on the rock side of a gulch 
we had followed up, and I found it necessary, two or three 
times, to place myself where he could step on my knee, as his 
stump had a tendency to throw him off his balance. Had he 
fallen at these points the drop would have been four hundred 
or five hundred feet. I mention this to show how he never 
permitted his one-armed condition to interfere with his doing 
things. The walls here were eighteen hundred feet, a gain of 
three hundred feet over the Junction. While we were away 
the men below had lowered the boats over two rapids, in one 
of which the Nell broke loose and went down alone with her 
cargo on board. As good fortune will have it, there is fre¬ 
quently an eddy or two at the foot of a rapid and into one of 
these she ran. By a desperate exertion of Hillers in swimming 
she was regained. 
A boat must never be allowed to move without men aboard 
or lines attached. This would seem to go without saying, but 
for fear it does not I mention it for the sake of any who may 
want to try their skill at this work. In the morning there was 
a pleasant smooth stretch for some distance, but it was soon 
passed, and cataract followed cataract till we counted ten. 
Seven we ran with exhilarating speed ; the other three demand¬ 
ing more respectful treatment, we lowered the boats by lines, 
when the noon hour was at hand and a halt was made for refresh¬ 
ments, five miles from the starting-point of the morning. As 
soon as we had consumed the allowance of bread, bacon, and 
coffee, we took up our task by making two very difficult and 
tiring let-downs; that is, manoeuvring the boats in and out, 
among and over, the rocks alongshore by lines, with one or two 
men aboard, always on the lookout to prevent being caught by 
outer currents. This brought us face to face with a furious fall, 
but one that seemed free from obstructions, and the order was to 
run it. Accordingly, over we went, the boats shipping the great 
