First sticks were thrown into the water, to catch the trend of the main
current. Milton pointed out to Enoch that if the stick were deflected
against one wall or another, great care had to be exercised to prevent
the boats being dashed against the walls in like manner. But, he said,
if the current seemed to run a fairly unobstructed course, it was
hopeful that the boats would go through. There were a number of rocks
protruding from the water, but the current appeared to round these
cleanly and Milton gave the order to proceed. They worked back
upstream a short distance so as to catch the current straight prow on,
and in a moment they were dashing through a sea of roaring waves that
drenched them to the skin.
Forrester and Milton steered a zigzag course about the menacing rocks,
grazing and bumping them now and again, but emerging finally, without
accident, in quieter waters. Here they hugged the shore and waited for
Harden's boat, the Mary, to come down. And come it did, balancing
uncannily on the top of the waves, with Jonas' yells sounding even
above the uproar of the waters.
"More of it below, Harden," said Milton as the Mary shot alongside.
More indeed! It seemed to Enoch that the first rapid was child's play
to the one that followed.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278