282 
The Colorado River 
seas below and each one tapping the keel on a submerged rock 
at the start. Owing to the trend of the canyon, and the late¬ 
ness of the season, the sun now passed early from sight, the 
walls throwing the bottom of the gorge into deep shadow with 
a wintry chill that was quickly perceptible to us in our wet 
clothing. The result was that our teeth chattered in spite of 
all we could do to stop the uncomfortable performance, and our 
lips turned blue. To be soaked all day long near the end 
of September, in our climate, is not an agreeable condition. 
Though less than seven miles was made this day we were 
forced to stop when the shadow fell and make a camp at the 
first opportunity. It was only half-past three o’clock, but it 
had been sunset to us for half an hour. Thus each working 
day was sadly shortened, for even where the bends were most 
favourable, the warm sun shone upon us only for the middle 
hours. The walls were close together and very straight; they 
grew higher and more threatening with every mile of progress, so 
that it seemed as if another day or two would shut out the sun 
from the bottom altogether. On account of our limited larder, 
if for no other reason, we were obliged to push ahead as rap¬ 
idly as possible. The next day we were at it early, easily run¬ 
ning the first cataract, but just below it an immediate landing 
was imperative at the head of another which no man in his 
senses would think of running. Some hard work put us below 
that, and then came one far worse. The morning was gone 
before we saw its foam receding behind us. The following 
day, on summing up, after much severe toil, and stopping to 
repair boats, it was found that we had gone only a mile and a 
half! At this rate, we thought, when would we see the end 
of this gorge? But in the morning our wet clothes were put on 
without a murmur from any one, and once more we renewed 
the attack. The worst fall the next day was a drop of about 
twenty feet in twenty yards; a sharp plunge of the river in one 
mass. As it seemed free from rocks in the middle a run was 
decided on. We therefore pulled squarely into it. On both 
sides the river was beaten to solid foam amongst the rocks, 
but in the middle, where we were, there was a clean chute, 
followed by a long tail of ugly waves. We were entirely sue- 
