Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-07-28

objected, on the ground that it was
night; that knew nothing about the
stream, and we were carrying very
large sail. They said they wanted to
go before the sail so that they could
see ahead, so l yielded and took the
helm. When they left they said they
would return and take lhe helm as
soOn as we passed Mt. Hood. Minutes
passed. The wind increased its mo-
m-ntum. Mt. Hood whirled past us.
The Sea Serpent ploughed through the
water with frightful speed, but wait
ed patiently for more than an hour,
still no one came to take the helm.
AT length the truth flashed through
my mind. The broad sail broke the
wind off from the bow of the boat
twas warm there. Dame Somnes, the
sly goddess, had enfolded every living
soul aboard in her soft embrace, and
the swift waters and angry winds were
Fastening all to Davy Jones' locker.
called at the top OF my voice, but no
answer came back. 1 dare not leave
the helm. Feeling round 1 got hold
OF piece of log chain and throwing
it to where my brother had laid down,
succeeded in bringing him back to
state OF semi-unconsciousness. He
raised up and asked what was wanted.
l told him we must be near the falls,
to go forward and bring the boatmen
back as quick as possible. He went
and brought them back at half
asleep pace. They wanted to know
what was the matter. asked if we
were not getting pretty near the falls.
Their answer was, 40 no, no; we have
to pass Mt. Hood first" To this an
swered, eve passed Mt. Hood more
than an hour ago, and you can see the
speed at which we are running" This
had the effect of getting move on
them. They went before the sail, but
only to take one look ahead. They
returned on the double quick, one
shouting 10 me to turn in to shore IS
quick as possible, that we were out
side of the island just on the point OF
going over the falls, the other calling
all hands to the oars. / brought the
boat round as short / dared to, and in
a few seconds after it was turned
quartering up stream, / had the salts
faction OF seeing that with the impetus
it had gained, added to the help of q
quartering sail and the oars, it was
slowly but surely moving up stream,
Soon after the owner of the boat and
the captain sprang ashore with the
line and found that we were on the
north bank, and only the length of
the boat above the proper landing.
With the rope we dropped down into
the cove and made fast. Had we have
been outside OF the island, as they
supposed, no power on Earth could
have saved us. The remainder of the
night we spent in vain endeavors to
toast our shins by a fire under an
open shed, but the attempt was use
less for the wind blew the Goals away
as fast as they formed.
The longest road has an end, so had
that night. A calm and day light
came at last, and revealed the fact
that we had been much nearer to
where the water poured over the rocks
than was pleasant to think of. If we
had proceeded half minute longer,
we would have jumped over the falls
on to rocks forty feet below, dashed
the boat and its lading into atoms and
changed the sweet embrace OF mother
Somnes into that sleep that knows no
waking. While looking over the
scene of what might have been fatal
disaster, resolved never again to take
the helm in strange place. above a
cataract for sake of giving others an
Opportunity to enjoy a refreshing
snooze.
We we're detained a week at the
Cascades, waiting for boat, but
finally got off, our captain telling us
that we would get to Vancouver be.
fore night. The first night we camped
in a swamp with an Oregon mist
pouring down from above, and the
Earth beneath adding its quota of
moisture. But in spite of these little
irregularities, We enjoyed our intro
duction to Western Washington with
all the dignified stoicism that our pet
ulant dispositions would admit of.
The second night, we found ourselves
among snags in very swift water.
Deeming it unsafe to run any farther
in the dark, the captain ran in to
shore and camped. BY feeling, we
picked camp ground ON the hill
side. Here we started fire, stretched
our tent and prepared to enjoy the
never-ceasing patter of the descending
mist. But as the night advanced the
filling drops became larger and thicker
till finally the windows of Heaven
bursting open the mist poured down
in torrents that caused our tent to
surge and sway under its weight. The
flood that came pouring down the hill.
side was checked by the log that We
had laid for a pillow, but soon it leaped
this barrier and came rushing in
brOoklets through the beds. Disturbed
and aroused by the angry waters l
braced my feet against a convenient
sapling, and courted again the forget
fulness of sleep. But before slumber
had returned to my eye lides, the cry
40 there's a spring branch running
through my bed," awoke the whole
camp, and started such a clatter of
tongues that the thought OF sleep was
banished for the remainder OF the
night.
As soon as we could see in the