Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-04-05

strange monsters crouching aud spring
ing "a devouf us.
The shanty leaps III the air. Writhing.
straining, wrenching. cfcaking. the
whole raft shoulders in agony the logs
trctnble and shrek. Up spurts the
water between. as though each log were
"a mighty porpoise. On every hand jut
bare, deadly rocks. ready TO grind our
raft to pieces should the water fail 10
destroy us.
Our pilot Is nearly wild. A few feet
toO much to one side or 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 a
time But IN some way we slide 10 one
side. and are of again. but having rc-
verscd our position. having the stern Of
our dram ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
along till the last rock is past, and we
glide into calm water with a sigh If re-
lief, relaxing grasp upon whatever
noun happened TO he nearest us. and
drop back into the dolce far niente that
characterized the beginning Of u trip.
Now q fresh breeze springs up, and we
rest in the shade OF the shanty, watching
The huistin1 Of the sails. Up they 90,
not an ungraceful line anywhere, curv-
ing themselves out proudly, like some
largo, beautiful white birds that are
being swept before a rude wud, hut re-
fucing to acbn9 wlcdge uat they are
being driven against their will.
But our luxurious idlensss r. not des-
tined To last long. as our cars are greeted
10y a 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 spark
ling in the air. We are approaching
Cedar rapids, which are much more
dangerous and longer than the Coteau,
which we had just como through. The
same experience repeated, only with a
lluta greater emphasis. After passing
the Cc0afs eefciv for which we breath q
sigh Of thaukfuDiess. We sight the Split
Rock rapids. Here again Is danger. only
u narrow channel being open to as. The
immense rock from which the rapids
take their name lifts It's head and stares
the vuyagers in the face. LIN u breath
less hurry we sweep past, only failing 10y
some inches TO grind against Its edges.
Now We are through, and here VIC drop
anchor to wait forthe boat loado Of Indians
who are to pilot us through the Lachine
rapids, which, as every one knows, are
the most dangerous Of all Nineteen
men are required to lift the anchor and
bNk ~ ~ UOoANADAt O0bf NAAAOAA hA4ANAl1 ~
is dropped too soon, and a long time Is
spent in shipping it again. A long line
line Of men arrange themselves on the
raft-one boat load goes out, and to
gether they begin to draw the long cable
that holds the anchor, swaying this way,
then that way, their voices ringing out
unsteady in the fresh air: 20 hoy=ye
hol o hoy-ye hol'
But all things come to an end, and so
must this, and the sound of a deep bass
voice saying something about 'Lachine"
awakes us to the fact that cur anchor is
shipped. III rowers in place. the Indian
pilot standing like a bronze statue, and
we are advancing with treacherous
smoothness, but in reality at the rate Of
eighteen miles an hour.
The rowers. A moment before they
had been laughing and talking carelessly.
Now each man has dropped to his knees
and is imploring lie bon Dieu and ali the
saints to guard lis we'll
II was a curious thing to see all these
rough men, caring nothing for the OBJ
seryation Of our party, barring their heads
and lifting their eyes to heaven, believ-
ing that their simple act of devotion
would bring them safely through all the
dangers of rock and tempest" But the
time allotted to prayer is short. A
moment more and every one is in his
place; every back bending TO the oar,
every eye keen and watchful. As be-
fore, the pilot shouts, the rowers spring
back, and with a crash we strike the
mass Of foaming water which filings it.
self out 10 meet us. Again the "solid
ground" seems to fall beneath our feet. &"
Again our shanty shudders and springs
into the air. Again the horrible twist
ing and grinding Of the logs. Airy
water sprites dance along just ahead Of
us, reckoning with glittering fingers.
Drawn at a terrific speed by millions OF
cruel foany hands, drenched with spray
breathless but triumphant, we clear the
last rock, speed safely into smooth
waters, and. passing beneath the Vic
toria bridge, glide calmly onward. and
at last reach 1.-The haven where we
would be'-M Montreal Detroit Free
Press.