Then, with infinite pains, he returned.
"It's impossible to portage," he reported, "but the waves simply fill
the gorge for two hundred feet."
"Tie me in the boat," said Milton. "The rest of you get out on the
rocks and let the boat down with ropes."
Agnew looked questioningly at Enoch, who shook his head.
"Agnew," he said, "can you and Jonas manage to let the Ida down, with
both Milton and me aboard?"
"No, sir, we can't!" exclaimed Jonas. "That ain't to be thought of!"
"Right you are, Jonas!" agreed Agnew, while Milton nodded in agreement.
"Then," said Enoch, "let's land Milton and the loose dunnage on this
rock, let the boat down, come back and carry Milton round."
"It's the only way," agreed Agnew, "but I think we can take a hundred
feet off the portage, if you fellows are willing to risk rowing down to
a bench of rock below here. You take the steering oar, Judge. I'll
stay ashore and catch a rope from you at the bench."
Cautiously, Jonas backing water and Enoch keeping the Ida almost
scraping the shore, they made their way to the spot where Agnew caught
the rope, throwing the whole weight of his body back against the pull
of the boat, even then being almost dragged from the ledge. Milton was
lifted out as carefully as possible, the loose dunnage was piled beside
him, then the three men, each with a rope attached to the Ida, began
their difficult climb.
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