ck some distance from the river.

"We will make a landing," said Jim, "before we reach the junction of the
two streams and get a bird's eye view of the situation."

"It's a good idea," I said, "I'll keep a sharp lookout for a landing."

I soon sighted ahead an excellent place in a rocky little cove, where
the waters were quiet. Here we effected an easy landing and climbed up
on a plateau of absolutely bare rock that extended from the river to the
cliffs.

"What curious looking formation," exclaimed Jim. "It looks something
like layer cake. A thick red base then a strip of grey and the red
again."

There were low walls of this formation bordering the rock plateau and
much recessed.

"Isn't that a strange looking rock over there," said Tom, "something
like a bunty church with a round tower."

This expressed it as nearly as possible. Two-thirds of it was of the
solid red rock with the broad white band of stone placed squarely upon
it. But I cannot stop to refer to the many odd and curious formations,
that came under our observation, for I would never have done.

After a walk of about a half a mile we came to a place where we could
look down upon the mingling of the two rivers. They rushed together
equally, the Grand being the clearer of the two streams. They whirled in
a round dance as they met, forming a great whirlpool.

"We will have to look out for that," said Jim, shaking his head, "but I
think we can avoid it all right."

We returned to the boat and prepared for the descent. Everything was
made tight and snug. "The Captain" trimmed perfectly and we shoved off.

"All ready now?" said Jim.

"Ready," we replied.

We were feeling fresh and fit and were prepared to put every ounce of
our strength into the pull. We dropped easily down until we came to the
junction.

There were deep eddies carved in the water upon the outer edge of the
whirlpool, within them was the deadly smoothness moving around and
around. We could not see whether there was any central suction of a
dangerous character and we did not intend to find out by experience.

We got into one of the outer eddies and then we pulled until the blades
of our paddles bent almost to breaking, while Jim threw all his weight
and strength against the sweep to cross the eddy that was struggling to
get the boat into its slow, powerful control.

It was an obstinate, bitter fight. For ten minutes it was an even break,
then with a supreme, united effort we b