The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-10-27
HENRY j. BIOSSAT, Business Manager.

u VIZ Ppeu ourselves In our blankets,
and fallen asleep on our bear-skin
couches, when we were suddenly awak-
ened by a rude shock, followed by the
surge OF broken water. Surprising we
were descending a rapid, we Law still for
moment and listened. But the tur-
mol 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.
rifle, and echoed by the shrill screams
OF women. Some disaster had evident
~ 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 fastened across
the logs to learn its meaning, we all
but stepped into the rushing rapid, rem
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-
manned unheard. Again and again we
repeated our cries, but with the same
result; while gradually the voices grew
fainter, proving that the divided por-
tons of the raft were already scatter
ing; and at length all sound ceased as
they passed entirely out of hearing.
We were men not easily daunted, but
ours was no pleasant position, alone In
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 divesting
ourselves of our heavier cloth
ing, in case of emergency,
we sat awaiting daylight, and
what it might disclose. Meanwhile
the waves still foamed 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 a 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
RATS 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
swan ashore to continue our journey
on land, we should be unable to climb
the wall-hke 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 loose plank
we contrived filler, to get
some command over the I'M
wieldy craft, which still held it's 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 help1essness, 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 frowning upon US from each side,
and those frequently recurring rapids
checkering our course. About noon we
entered upon the fiercest we had yet en-
countered. Our tiller was useless
among the breakers, which roared and
ragged around the raft.
grew almost terrified as | noted how
swiftly we sped past the rocks, which
here and there stood up from the waves
like silent warmers; and yet more was |
alarmed 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 RATS are made for such encoun-
tiers; fearlessly the log-boat plunged
from ledge to ledge. At length deep,
reverberating roar rose above the
surrounding tumult. My brother
and I started at the unexpected
sound; then we looked eagerly forward
and perceived, but short way ahead, a
cloud of silvery haze floating like a
halo over the surface of the river. 1t
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 SPECIFY 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-
manned to us now was to die together.
Meanwhile the din of the fall swelled to
a thunderous roar that reverberated
through the surrounding woods; the
tumultuous rapids surged into a tiercer
fury, and urged the raft to a