The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-30
LIFE ON A RAFT.
Two Brothers Nearly Dashed Over
 @ Cataract.

 It is now some years since, that ac-
 companied by my brother, and under
 the guidance of an experienced hunter,
 I started for three months shooting in
 the Canadian wilds. Our plan was to
 travel by canoe to the lower end oi
 Lake Huron, and then plunging into
 the primeval forest, to make a circuit
 that would bring us out somewhere on
 the St. Lawrence. Never was a pleas
 anter excursion. Those aged woods,
 so gray and grim in win
 ter, seemed to have grown
 young again beneath the affiuence of
 leaves while every sunlit glade was filled
 with flowers, and blossoming vines of
 every hue hung as garlands from the
 branches, as if the woods were .decked
 for some high festival. But more pleas
 ant still to the sportsman's heart was
 the abundant game-the timid deer,
 which fled at our approach; the great
 grisly bear, ready to bid us defiance,
 and the panther and wolf, lurking
 within the covertS; not to speak of the
 cartridges and bustards, and the brill
 iant small birds, flashing like errand
 blossoms among the trees. Mean
 while, despite our pleasure, our time grew short, and it became necessary to
 bend our steps howeward.
 We had not travelled far in this new direction when we came to the banks of a considerable river flowing across our route. We had no boat to take us over it, and Jerome, the guide, searched dil- igently beneath the overhanging alder and hemlock boughs, in case some hunter or backwoods traveller might have hidden his canoe there. But none was to be discovered, and we were ruefully beginning to follow our guides advice, and travel round by the rivers source-which would involve some ten or twelve days extra journey one of those huge rafts in which backwoods timber for exportation is conveyed down country, came in sight. It was floating slowly along on the al most imperceptible current, its single large sail giving just sufficient way to the floating island to allow the enormous tiller to guide it aright; while the smoke from the half-score shanties scattered its surface, rising against the deep green forest, the ever-changing groups of figures, and the lines of washed clothes
 duttering in the breeze, added to its picturesque aspect.
 As the raft drew near, we perceived that 8 canoe was lowed astern, and, hailing the slumberers, we requested its use to cross the river, which they readi- ly accorded. But while the little bark was being padded to land new idea struck us-we would ask them to take us as passengers. Rafting was mode of travel entirely new to us, and the thought of that smooth summer sail was a great temptation to travellers weary with plodding through the woods. The needful negotiation was soon concluded, and in half an hour we found ourselves not only on board the raft, but the happy possessor of a shanty some six feet square. Never do remember any thing more delightful than to sit within its shadow, and, as our raft glided nOiselessly along the widening river, to watch the ever-varying scenery through which we passed-the dark pine-for- ests, alternating with bright green oak and birch and sycamore woods; the swelling hills showing their outlines against the clear blue sky; and the occasional tributary some dashing down their waters in silvery cascades, others bear ing on their placid bosoms some small raft, with its tiny shanty and little fam fly group, to be linked on to the float ing island.
 We found, also, endless interest in the doings of our migratory village. The tall, brawny lumberers in- lounging about their easy duties of trimming the sail, taking their turn in steering and drawing the troll ing lines, which rarely failed of fish; while their wives, grave rugged women, clad in dark petticoats, and snow-white were perpetually busy, knitting, cooking, washing, or chasing their rebellious children about the raft, or else in feeding the cocks and hens that stalked among the logs, and, with 8 wrathful turkey-cock, completed our list of passengers. And when night fell, and the frying of fish and eating of supper were passed, and jest and laughter had given place to silence and sleep, it was beautiful to hear the voices of those quiet women swell over the starlit river in the long-drawn cadences of some old hymn.
 For two days we pursued our tranquil voyage through the same sylvan scenery. But gradually our pace in- creased, as the current gained in strength; and after a time the river began to break into occasional rapids, over whose rugged lodges we and bumped, and down whose surging slopes we slid, thanks to the lumbererS' skill, emerging from their dangers unharmed; for in those days there did not exist on even the most spots any contrivance to lessen the hazards of such descents.
 Ii was the fourth evening of our river voyage. Supper was past. and the sup per-hymn sung, and my brother and l