t the gloom of the canyon with
weird intensity, flashing a strange glare on the red and turbulent
river.

It was exceedingly dangerous and wonderfully exciting. I do not know how
we would have managed if Tom had not been free to watch the river ahead.

It was so dark in the chasm that we could see only a short distance
ahead. And the roar of the river and of the thunder was something
terrible.

No landing could be made and we dashed blindly down. It was marvelously
exciting, and we were keyed to the highest pitch of efficiency.

The white line of foam would be the first warning we would have of a
rock ahead, then we would bend all our strength and sometimes our boat
would tilt on the current that ran off from the rock. It was close.

If we had struck head on we would have been in a most critical
situation. The lightning was of no real help, only serving to blind us.
Tom closed his eyes for the second of the flash so that he would not be
blinded.

Fortunately the storm was brief and we saw a beautiful sight when the
clouds cleared. On both sides of the canyon, from the cliffs twelve
hundred feet in height, sprang numerous little water falls.

Some amber, others tinged with red or glittering with the silver of the
sun. The largest in volume were four or five feet across, but before
they reached the river below, they feathered out in spray. These
cascades were beautiful indeed.

Several days after the thunder storm we had an overwhelming experience.
It came on us suddenly and without sufficient warning to enable us to
reach the shore.

It was a clear day and there had been no storm in our vicinity. We were
going swiftly down the current, in the midst of a canyon, with towering
walls over three thousand feet in height.

Suddenly my ear caught the sound of a louder roar than the usual tone of
the river. I glanced back and in my dismay I could give no word of
warning.

But the other boys had heard the ominous, thunderous roar filling the
narrow depth of the canyon. Jim sprang to the steering oar, and without
a word Juarez leapt to Jim's vacant place.

A great flood wave was charging down the canyon, filling it from side to
side, the center of it bulging and boiling forward in foam. It was a
terrific sight.

"Roll the stern anchor forward," yelled Jim.

The wave was a quarter of a mile away, coming down upon us with
devouring fury.

"Defy the dragon, will you?" it seemed to roar. "You are caught in its
jaw