A DIABOLICAL PASSAGE 
to see what was in the channel. The top rocks in that 
particular spot formed innumerable little points, quite 
sharp, and it was painful to walk on them with bare feet. 
Antonio and white Filippe, who had been instructed 
to reconnoitre, went a short distance away, where they 
sat themselves down behind some rocks, comfortably 
smoking cigarettes. After twenty minutes or so they 
returned and said they had gone all along the channel, 
and there was absolutely smooth water and no danger 
whatever. I was not well satisfied with their answer, but 
they swore they had inspected the channel thoroughly, and 
there was no danger. So I ordered them to enter the boat 
once more, and we started off. 
No sooner had we turned the corner round the high 
rocky cliffs and entered the narrow gorge, than we were 
confronted by a huge central wave some forty feet high in 
the channel. It was formed by the clashing waters, coming 
from three different directions, meeting at that spot and 
trying to push through simultaneously. Before we knew 
where we were, the canoe actually flew up in the air, in an 
almost vertical position, to the top of that enormous wave. 
Baggage, men, and dogs slid down in confusion, the 
canoe glided back into the water and progressed as swift 
as an arrow down the channel. The next moment we 
were on the point of being dashed against the high rocky 
cliff on our right. To my amazement, and just as I 
was expecting the impact, the canoe gracefully shaved the 
rock, the backwash which took place along the rocks shift¬ 
ing us once more toward the middle of the stream. 
Once again the great rush of water shot us up in the 
air, above the central wave, and this time the canoe bucked 
and rode down on the other side of that foaming mass 
of water. 
My men were terrified. “ Rema! rental (Row! 
row!) for Heaven’s sake!” I shouted to the perplexed 
men, as I tried to instil into them a little courage, when 
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