Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-09-27

compelled to hold on though sitting.
1t was great fun running to our goal
at least ten miles an hour there in
the glow of the beautiful sky and
the cool of the evening under many
towering frowning cliffs.
We kept our course until the swift
flowing water ceased to run so fast,
and until it seemed to die a natural
death in the broadness of the stream,
and We went ashore and lay down to
sleep.
The next afternoon we probably
came nearer losing our lives than
any time in the history of the trip.
We went ashore at 4 o'clock, tide
ebbing. The spot we didn't consider
suitable after an examination. Upon
starting TO back away the discovery
was made that we were hung between
the shore ard group of rocks-the
tide had gone from under US and
high tide or camp was our only
choice. We camped. Carried our
duffle for Eve hundred yards. When
we came to carry the boat it was too
far, and we anchored her to help her
slowly in with the rising tide.
The shore at this point was very
steep for little way from where the
high water mark lay, and then ran
out to where the Dipper stranded
with the apparent flatness of floor.
| got down on my knees and gauged
the incline, and it seemed scarcely
perceptible. We reasoned then that
we could let the water rise to the
foot of this decline and reach the
boat conveniently with a pair of
long boots, though she lay so far off
that a person aboard could not be
recognized. We ate supper. The
water came slowly to the mark
reached it. put on the boots and
started out. Twenty steps convinced
me that we were in an awful predica-
ment. There was no hope of reach
ing the .Dipper without swim; the
current was so swift that l kept my
footing in waist-deep water with diff,
ticulty. The boats anchor line was
so short that it would pick up her
anchor and drift away if left to re-
main another forty minutes. And
there was no hope of another boat.
John was used to current swimming,
so he undertook the task of wading
down stream and reaching her while
swimming up. We waded out to-
gether until our footing was uncer-
tain. John started. l thought several
times while he was on his way that
he would reach the boat all right.
But when he got fairly close his mis-
calculation was disclosed. He passed
fifteen yards on the out-stream side.
1t must have been tragic moment
in his life. Out into the river he
went with thousand chances to one
of his not reaching the other shore
and no chance at all for his reaching
the one he left. Now it was my turn
to profit by his example and either
save us both or drown us both.
made calculat and started.
1 am not going to make a bad
situation worse by quoting at what
times | thought 1 would miss and
what times l would reach the Dipper
and what my thoughts were. 1t will
be enough to say that l was some
what excited and had my hands
amply full. But l managed when
was carried by the Dipper to catch
her cable. Rest assured it was a
tight hold gave it. / picked John
up some distance out in the river
apparently none the worse for the
adventure.
And now when persons speak of
"experience, that great MASTER" we
say nothing and look wise.
On the afternoon of the eighth of
August we pulled away from the little
fishing village of Mount Louis.
We rowed only about FIVE miles
east of the little settlement that
afternoon when the wind shifted to
northeast. During the night it blew
heavily and rained. But in the
morning the sun was out and the
wind coming out of the northwest a
young gale. The gulf was as white
as l presume it ever gets. The whole
truth of the matter was we should
have known better than to attempted
to continue. But We had just losI
two days, and, again, we had never
stopped for weather, and, in short
we all have to learn lessons.
We made only fair start from q
rocky, bad place. In trying to ayoit
a rock We let her ship some water
before We cleared the shore we'll, and
we never entirely recuperated from
the break, and in getting the watel
out we let more come in. The sea-
lowered above us like monsters. w,
were surprised and overwhelmed a
once. We rowed awhile and decided
that one would have to steer to kee,
II