The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-30

surge Of broken water. SuppOSlng we
 were descending rapid, we lay still for
 a moment and listened. But the tur-
 moil of water appeared louder than
 usual, and in another instant there
 arose wild cry that made us start to
 our feet, followed, ere we could leave
 the hut, by many others yet more ter
 rife, and echoed by the shrill screams
 of women. Some disaster had evident
 ly occurred; but when we rushed out
 upon the raft, the cloudy dark
 dess prevented our distinguish
 ing what it was. while the con-
 fusion of voices and the hoarse cries of
 the lumberers added to our bewilder-
 ment. However, as we hastened across
 the logs to learn its meaning, we all
 but stepped into the rushing rapid, ren-
 dered visible by its pale wreaths of
 foam; and then the truth flashed upon
 us that some violent blow had broken
 the huge raft into the number of small
 ones of which it had originally been
 composed, and that our own portion
 had separated from all the rest, leaving
 my brother and me alone, for Jerome
 slept on another part of the raft. As
 soon as we discovered our position we
 called to announce it to the lumberers,
 but, in the tumult of voices. ours re-
 mained unheard. Again and again we
 repeated our cries, but with the same
 result; while gradually the voices grew
 fainter, proving that the divided DOT
 tions of the raft were already scatter
 ing; and at length all sound ceased as
 fhary V0oecoI VI, Y,f Of hooripor
 We were men not easily daunted, but
 ours was no pleasant position, alone Tn the darkness among the rapids, which might at any moment break up the raft
 beneath our feet; while of what means were available to save ourselves, we
 knew nothing. There seemed nothing
 left us but patience; and divest;ng
 ourselves of our heavier cloth ing, in case of emergency,
 we sat awaiting daylight, and what it might disclose Meanwhile the waves still loaned around us, as if the rapid were interminable, and the raft grated and grounded necessarily against the rocks. At length, just as day dawned, revealing, to our aston ishment, our raft wedged among the rocks near the shore, she gave sud- den jerk, and whirling round into the rapid soon swept down into the smooth water below.
 We had now leisure to look around us. As we expected, none of the other rafts were visible, but great was out disappointment to discover that the river now flowed between sharp, rocky banks, and that if, as we meditated, we swam ashore to continue our journey on land, we should be unable to climb the wall-lIke barrier. The only re- source left us, little as we understood its management, was to remain on board the raft and float along at the will of the current and rapids until some change in the shore might favor our landing.
 Meanwhile, out of a loose plank we contrived tiller, to get some command over the un- wieldy craft, which still held its way down stream. But as the hours passed by, showing no break in the stern bank of rock between which we glided, our hope of landing began to fade; and when night again fell on our loneliness, our helplessness, and our ignorance of what dangers might await us on that unknown river, we felt nigh despair. Almost to our surprise, the night was got through safely, and morning saw our shapeless craft still floating down the solitary stream, with those dark precipices, crowned with pine forests, still drowning upon us from each side, and those frequently recurring rapids our course. About noon we entered upon the fiercest we had yet en- countered. Our tiller was useless the breakers, which roared and ragged around the raft.
 1 grew almost terrified as I noted how swiftly we sped past the rocks, which here and there stood up from the waves like silent warmers; and yet more was I when, looking ahead, beheld the long vista of leaping, surging cas- cades, down whose troublous course we should be driven if the fabric beneath our feet still held together. But back woods rafts are made for such encoun- ters; fearlessly the log-boat plunged from ledge to ledge. At length deep, reverberating roar rose above the tumult. My brother and 1 started at the unexpected sound; then we looked eagerly forward and perceived, but a short way ahead, a cloud of silvery haze floating like a halo over the surface of the river. It was the confirmation of our newly awakened fears, the unerring indication that cataract was before us, and that we were rushing at railway speed on a terrible and speedy death.
 Never shall forget the pang of that fearful discovery; the bitter prospect of dying in health and strength, and yield ing up the hopes and aspirations of our youth; the thought of the dis tant home we should never see again; and the beloved and loving ones soon to be doubly bereaved; and worse than all, the knowledge that the dear brother must share our impending fate With a warm impulse of fraternal love, we clasped each others hands-all that re- mained to us now was to die together. the din of the fall swelled to 3 thunderous roar that reverberated through the surrounding woods; the rapids surged into fiercer fury, and urged the raft to speed which made her tremble; while we, her hapless passengers, stood silently awaiting our inevitable doom, to be swept over that relentless fall, to be tossed in that horrible abyss, and finally cast forth disfgured and bruised, among the seething eddies of the still rushing river. It was a fearful inter- val. Nearer and nearer the raft drew to the fatal brink-nearer and yet nearer, until we could almost look into the dark void beyond. Her last mo- ment and ours alike seemed come, and in the deep anguish of such a parting we clunp closer tn each other