The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1888-12-22

were rudely dispelled by another kind of lullaby.
The cook, having in mind early breakfast,
proceeded TO chop wood for that meal within two
yards Of our berths, At the same time favoring US
groans the obdurate wood refused TO yield TO the
Establishments of the AZ. The result was this:
al HAN! - ma coUSiRe- HAN ! cOusiac an
gcie-HAH!s
erything we lay and laughed till we could laugh
no more.
About half after tour in the morning the me-
lodious cook sailed into room and gazed around
for moment, then walked off with our pitcher.
We were up and dressed about five o'clock being
brought TO time by the smell of boiling ham. Be-
fore leaving the cabin we had been unconscious of
any movement of the raft, but emerging found
ourselves being tugged by the John A. Macdonald"
We plored the raft from stem to stern and found
that two of our drains we're of oak and Of
pine.
Breakfast over, and finding that 1t was only six
o'clock we prov led arou nj again, and examined the
style of cooking. For ourselves had q stove,
but the hands had two large kettles hung gypsy
fashion, from sticks over a large fire. The
immense pieces of boiling beef said much for the
appetites OF the men.
but now in the distance could be heard the roar
of the rapids, the men flew to draw up the long
ropes that held the drains together and in another
moment each one entirely separated from the
others The John A" drew in her cable and
forged ahead, but keeping near enough to render
assistance in case OF need. But "John A. evidently
didn't care 10 let have all the fun ourselves and
consequently, ran aground the foremost dram, the
left paddle heel sticking up in the air in a
most helpless manner Nearly half an hour was
spent before j ohnny" could be induced to disem-
bark. At last he withdrew his embarrassing
attentions and once more our stately procession
moved on.
Ahead the long line of curling white loaned
the roar grew louder; faster and faster went the
raft The rowers still labored at the oars, keeping
their eyes fl xed on the boiling waters ahead, and
their ears pricked up for the voice of the pilot,
which could be heard above the din of the waters,
one moment shouting zen hGUf!"-meaning to row
at the bow-then "d derrierei'-at stern.
Now we approach within a few yards, and at a
shout from the pilot the rowers drop their oars
and spring back drenched with spray, not a moment
too soon Into the seething mass we rush, the
terrible waves dashing up on either hand, like
strange monsters crouchiDg and sprnging to devour
US
The shanty leaps in the air. Writing, strain
ing, wrenching, creaking, the whole raft shoulders
in agony-the logs tremble and shrek. Up spurts
the water between as though each log were
mighty porpoise. On every hand jut bare deadly
rocks ready to grind raft to pieces should the
water fail TO destroy
Our pilot is nearly wild few feet too much
to one side the other will cost Us our lives.
Once we run aground a rock, where we spin around
like a top, and "the bravest held his breath for
time" But in some way we slide to one side,
and are oil again but having reversed our position,
having the stern of our dram demonstrating
sweeping along, till the last rock is past, and we
glide into calm water with sigh of relief, relaxing
our grasp upon whatever noun happened to be
nearest u.s. and drop back into the dolce far niete
that characterized the beginning of our trip.
Now a fresh breeze springs up, and we rest in the
shade of the shanty, watching the hosting of the
sails. Up they go, not an ungraceful line any
where curviDg themselves out proudly, like some
large, beautiful white birds that being swept
before rude wind, but refusing to acknowledge
that they are being driven against their will.
But our luxurious idleness Is not destined to last
long, as greeted by roar like thunder.
Looking up to ascertain the cause, we find the sky
clear and lovely. But away ahead we see myriads
of diamonds flashing and sparkling in the air. We