Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-08-13

surprise and delight he was riding right
side up in the lee of the rock-still grasp
ing his gunwaIe and his boat half full Of
water. It was but couple of boat lengths
to shore, so [ shouted to him TO paddle
himself ashore with a hatch, was
whirled around massive point OF stone
jutting out from the mountain, and lost
sight of him. found smooth water in the
lee of the point. and few yards below. the
stern of skiff jutting out from among
the rocks denotipg landing of some sort
80 hung close to the lee and padded care
fully back up under the rocks to try and i,
find George. picked up his floating hatch,
then his foot rest-Ominous signs, and my
heart was in my mouth, and my spirits
went down, down, as L feared what had
happened to him. Carefully peering around
the point, was greatly relieved to find
him seated on rock, with his boat half
ashore, dipping the water out of her. So
1 dropped down to the skiff before ~ en-
toned and secured rude apology for
paddle, with which returned to him, and
in few moments we were standing on
the rocks
HOLDING COUNCIL OF WAR
Our position was not inviting-We stood
on small platform of rocks compare
lively level for few yards. Behind us
arose Loudoun Heights, from 1000 to 1000
feet to the summit Of the Blue Ridge in
front of us-the roaring. raging river
above US. the rapids we had come through
below us half mile of still worse rapids
which it appeared our only resource was
to shoot. It was clearly impossible for
George to move a boats length from
where we were, equipped as he was, 80 we
prepared to go into camp where we were,
as 1t was growing dark and the place of
fered really good facilities for camping
wood and water Ia nice spring. being at
hand, when one of those cracker noun
taineers. who are always found living in
such places. appeared on the scene. A
bargain was struck and he and his sons
carried the canoes along the bank, half a
mile further down, below the worst Of the
rapids, and we went into camp there. In
the morning, early "wednesday 28th,) we
were astir and had the boats carried a
little further down and launched. [ pad
died across and down the river to the ferry
landing but few yards above the Poto-
mac, while George crossed in the ferry
skiff, towing the "Rosa." While waiting
for him to cross, I padded the s'Frankie''
out of the Shenandoah into the Potomac,
and back up to The ferry, where was soon
joined by George, and in a few minutes
our boats were beached, and our long,
eventful, difficult. but delightfully."- pleasant
CRUISE OF 1872 MILES,
was ended. I say pheasant" advisedly, for
while it had its hardships and actual dan
gers. it had its beauties also, and the men,
cries of long, still, beautiful. shady
reaches of smooth water, alternated with
swift, exhilarating rapids-not so rough
as to be unpleasant or hazardous-lovelY
landscapes, imposing mountain views
pleasant days and nights in camp-the
uneventful, unrecorded, every day features
which really constituted the greater part of
the trip-will occupy prominent place in
our recollections equally with the rough,
trying scenes just described. Neverthe-
less the Shenandoah river, as whole
while one of the most beautiful and lovely
rivers it has ever been my good fortune to
cruise upon-is rough, difficult stream
to navigate, and should not be attempted
but in canoes, and by those having con-
siderable experience in their manage
ment.'