In the morning Jonas constituted himself ship's carpenter and mended
the Ida very creditably. Forrester was surly and avoided every one.
Harden was cheerful, as usual, but did not speak to his adversary. The
sun was just entering the Canyon when the two boats were launched and
once more faced the hazards of the river.
During the morning the going was easy. The river was swift and led
through a long series of broken buttes, between which one caught wild
views of a tortured country; twisted strata, strange distorted cedar
and cactus, uncanny shapes of rock pinnacles, in colors somber and
strange. They stopped at noon in the shadow of a weathered overhanging
rock, with the profile of a witch. The atmosphere of dissension had by
this time permeated the crew and this meal, usually so jovial, was
eaten with no general conversation and all were glad to take to the
boats as soon as the dishes were washed.
The character of the river now changed again. It grew broader and once
more smooth canyon walls closed it in. As the river broadened,
however, it became more shallow and rocks began to appear above the
surface at more and more frequent intervals. At last the Na-che went
aground amid-stream on a sharp rock.
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