Middletown transcript., 1909-06-26
THE CANNON OF lTERROR
BIZ CHARLES A. Foss

service. and drew a long breath.
Thank goodness, that jobs
overthe calculated.
We we're in no haste, but we
began leisnrely to scan the shore
for q suitable camp site.
Suddenly, as the canoe round.
ed q sharp bend, we saw before
US two PERCEPTIONS walls OF rock,
and a narrow vista of swirling
water between. The river had
violently contracted, and swift
current was rushing us toward
the canon.
Head her for the shore! shout.
ed Don from the bow, aghast.
With a mighty sweep ofhis long
arms, Bruce pushed his paddle
against the boiling mass behind,
but the canoe hardly sweryed.
"A counter current, stronger
than any force that could be ex.
erted from the stern, was point
ing the PROV of the ctaft, and
we. perforce. must follow.
Sit quiet, you fellows, yelled
Bruce, from the rear, and let's
keep her straight and steady!
That's all we can do.
In another instant we had been
swept into the canon.
Bruce's angular features were
as gray as the rocks that hem
med US in but his eyes were
like two points of steel and his
lips were set in a grim line as,
with arms stiffened like bars OF
iron, he pressed his paddle with
all his strength against the cur
rent, that seemed bent on hurl-
ing our frail craft against the
western wall of the chasm.
Hooked at Don. He was on
his knees, leaning over the PROV,
with his pole couched like a bay
onet. All I could see was the
back of his neck, and that was
as ROSTERS comb.
Luckily, there were no rocks
in the channel. The water was
too deep for that, but its green
tide was rushing on like a mill
race. Suddenly there burst on
our ears an angry appalling roar,
seemingly not a hundred yards
ahead.
The falls gasped Bruce.
I heard a low grunt from Don,
almost vicious in its intensity. /
sat frozen to the pack-sacks with
horror. We had not a doubtnow
that the torrent on which we
were embarked was dragging us
straight on to the brink of the
cataract.
I laughed hysterically. By
one of those incongruous freaks
Of the human mind in the pres
ence of great danger, there had
flashed into my brain the vision
of the untimely end awaiting a
a bottle of pickles which Don had
insisted on packing into our limi-
ted store of grub, and which he
had managed to preserve through
thick and thin up to that disas:
trous moment.
Keep your head, d,old man! Bruce
called, hoarsely. There may be
q way out Of this yet!
A yell from Don froze the
words on his lips, but it was a
yell of exultation. Almost be.
fore it died away we were shot
out of the mouth of the canon
and into a broad, open BODY Of
water as placid and clear as a
mountain lake, save for the ed
dies at the foot of the torrent.
The river made a wide bend.
Ahead of US, but still out of sight,
we could hear the boom of the
falls.
The sudden relaxation of the
tension fairly made US weak.
Bruce drew his paddle to his
knees and began to laugh uproar-
iously, but bis broad hands were
as with palsy. Don re-
mained immovable on his khess,
but the long companion of his
for SO may anxious hours
slid from his grasp and foated
away from the canoe.
1t was he, at last, who broke
the silence. His hands had been
nervously feeling about the pock-
cts of his Canvas coat.
I can't find my handkerchief!
he growled.
Then did Bruce and I laugh as
immoderately as a pair of school.
girls. To US Don turned a steam.
ing red face, with a look of vexa-
tious rebuke.
/ don't see anything funny
he began.
A. 4 III n n