The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-11-15


long. An opening Of some thirty |
yards wide connected the pool with !
the river, which may be said to have |
spilled IT'S greater surges into the
hlgh-walled basin.
One OF these surges, which seemed
to result from the rapid rising Of the
water, had driven as IN. The river
was as II choked for few moments
about once every five minutes; then
surge whelmed into the pool. While
we were now looking around us, study
ing the cliffs and wondering how we
could ever get out, Iko pointed to an
incoming wave.
1t ran at us with o crestless front
about two feet high, hurried our raft
around the basin, dashed 1t against
the cliff at the lower end, and then
raced It back toward the entrance, as
II to give us to the main stream again
But at the critical moment the force
Of the water died away; and we float
/ ed as at first on waveless pool.
"We're caught In an eddy" said Ike,
"and Wen have some tough work to
get out, I'm thinking. But get out we
must, and soon, too, or Wen be dashed
TO pieces against these rocks. Wait
until the next rush comes; then be
ready with your poles. When she
sings us back near the opening, pole
for all you're WORTH
We were all ready for the next
surge, and did not allow it to dash
the raft against the cliff again, al
though the Tending Off was no easy
Job, until the stream itself pulled us
away and rushed us once more to-
ward the opening. There we poled and
tugged and used oil our strength to
shove the raft over the four or five
yards between 1t and the main cur
rent. but all in vain, for once again
the surging overflow lifted us aud hur-
ried us toward the cliff.
Six times did we undergo this expert
ence before we gave up hope of es-
Gaping in the attempted manner.
Then, weak, worn and dispiritcd, we
sat down and let the water do as II
would except that we thrust out our
pole and held the raft from dashing
up against the cliff.
We were not only in trap, but in
one which seemed likely to hold oul
bones. The river was at its height
and would soon fall rapidly. We
could see that the pool was separated
from the main stream by a bar Of
+ rocks, which were then mostly sub
, merged, but would be out Of wateI
, after a fall of three or four feet. /
e we should fail to get out at higl
, water, we could not get the raft on
= at low water.
We might at low water knock it t
4 pieces, carry the pieces into the mail
Y stream, and then rebuild the raft, bu
that we had neither tools nor prov
4 sions enough to make such rebuilding
;. practicable. AS to going on withou
: the raft, that was impossible. w
: could not walk up perpendicular cliff
h or down a furious river without on
% | Inch VI DtuCus
p Ike Thompson lay down, closed hi
eyes, and seemingly gave up for
I time, leaving us to fend off from til
" rocks as best we might. At this W
# got Yexed, and by way of rousing IL
# we let the raft crash hard against IL
n cliffs. AS this did not stir him, W
II all gave up, too, and lay down.
.. Then Ike bestirred himself. He toe
o. two lariats and twisted them togethe
III At one end he made a running noos
20 and fastened the free end to the Sc
- ond crosspiece Of the raft. Then
:. made another similar rawhide cabl
. fastened it to the third crosspiece, al
- coiled the slack with the loop on to
,,r Ike then remarked, in rousil
NJ voice, Boys, there's just one chan
or to save our hides. I'm going to t
va it. You've got to look sharp and he
,s for all you're worth. Now when t
or raft get up yonder to near the roc
vo at the opening, I'm going to jump
n them"
he you can't reach them" said 1
,er father.
ad II can try. Just as well drown Il
lm ing as drown when this raft g
It's. broken up, or starve when our char
Oh of getting clear is gone. Alfy," t
lid to me, you stand by that second TO
wo and when l call for it heave it ril
did into my arms. No slip, mind; you
re- got to heave it true. There'll he Of
ing one chance at this game, and it's go
the by old Ike Thompson if you dc
l. | +l,rn,-. thnt lnriat strnioht Thn I