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Show CHAPTER IV. THE CANON OF LODORE. June 8.-W e enter the canon, and, until noon, find a succession of rapids, over which our boats have to be taken. Here I must explain our method of proceeding at such places. Tho "Emma Dean" goes in advance; the other· boats follow) in obedience to signals. When we approach a rapid, or what, on other rivers, would often be called a fal1, I stand on deck to examine it, while the oarsmen back wator, and we drift on as slowly as possible. If I can see a clear chute between the rocks, away we go; but if the channel is beset entirely across, we signal the other boats, pull to land, and I walk along the shore for closer examination. If this reveals no clear channel, hard work begins. We drop the boats to the very head of the dangerous place, and let them over by lines, or make a portage, frequently carrying both boats and cargoes over tho rocks, or, perhaps, only the cargoes, if it is safe to let the boats down. rrhe waves caused by such falls in a river differ much from the waves of the sea. The water of an ocean wave merely rises and falls; the form only passes on, and form chases form unceasingly. A body floating on such waves merely rises and sinks-does not progress unless impelled by wind or some other power. But here, the water of the wave passes on, while the form .remains. The waters plunge down ten or twenty feet, to the foot of a fall; spring up again in a great wave; then down and up, in a series of billows, that gradually disappear in the more quiet waters below ; but these waves are always there! and.you can stand above and count them. A boat riding such, leaps and plunges along wHh great velocity. Now, the difficulty in riding over these falls, when the rocks are out of the way, i~ in the first wave at the foot. This will sometimes gather for a moment, heaping up higher and higher, until it breaks back. If the boat strikes it the instant after it breaks, she cuts through, and the mad breaker dashes its spray over the boat, and would wash us overboard did we not cling tight. Figuro t!.- Galu ot I .utlvt1·. |
