As the Canyon walls offered no landing it was necessary
to make one here and Forrester volunteered to jump with a rope to a
flat rock which projected from the near end of the reef.
"Leap just before we are opposite the rock, Forr," directed Milton.
"When that rough water catches us, we're going to rip through at top
speed."
Forrester nodded and, after shipping his oars, he clambered up onto the
forward compartment.
"Now," shouted Milton.
Forrester leaped, jumped a little short, and splashed into the boiling
river. The Ida, in spite of Enoch madly backing water, shot forward,
dragging Forrester, who had not let go the rope, with her. Milton
relinquished the steering oar, dropped on his stomach on the
compartment deck, his arms over the stern, and began to haul with might
and main on the rope. Now and again Forrester, red and fighting for
breath, showed a distorted face above the waves. The Na-che shot by at
uncontrollable speed, her crew shouting directions as she passed.
Milton at last, just as the Ida entered a roaring fall, brought
Forrester to the gunwale, but having achieved this, the end of the rope
dropped from his fingers and he lay inert, his eyes closed. Forrester
clung to the edge of the boat and roared to Enoch:
"Milt's fainted!"
But Enoch, fighting to guide the Ida, dared not stop rowing.
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