r of Niagara. Quickened by the emotions
there aroused, the blood sped exultingly through the arteries,
abolishing introspection, clearing the heart of all bitterness, and
enabling one to think with tolerance, if not with tenderness, on the
most relentless and unreasonable foe. Apart from its scientific
value, and purely as a moral agent, the play was worth the candle. My
companion knew no more of me than that I enjoyed the wildness of the
scene; but as I bent in the shelter of his large frame he said, 'I
should like to see you attempting to describe all this.' He rightly
thought it indescribable. The name of this gallant fellow was Thomas
Conroy.

We returned, clambering at intervals up and down, so as to catch
glimpses of the most impressive portions of the cataract. We passed
under ledges formed by tabular masses of limestone, and through some
curious openings formed by the falling together of the summits of the
rocks. At length we found ourselves beside our enemy of the morning.
Conroy halted for a minute or two, scanning the torrent thoughtfully.
I said that, as a guide, he ought to have a rope in such a place; but
he retorted that, as no traveller had ever thought of coming there, he
did not see the necessity of keeping a rope. He waded in. The
struggle to keep himself erect was evident enough; he swayed, but
recovered himself again and again. At length he slipped, gave way,
did as I had done, threw himself towards the bank, and was swept into
the shallows. Standing in the stream near its edge, he stretched his
arm towards me. I retained the pitchfork handle, for it had been
useful among the boulders. By wading some way in, the staff could be
made to reach him, and I proposed his seizing it. 'If you are sure,'
he replied, 'that, in case of giving way, you can maintain your grasp,
then I will certainly hold you.' Remarking that he might count on
this, I waded in, and stretched the staff to my companion. It was
firmly grasped by both of us. Thus helped, though its onset was
strong, I moved safely across the torrent. All danger ended here. We
afterwards roamed sociably among the torrents and boulders below the
Cave of the Winds. The rocks were covered with organic slime, which
could not have been walked over with bare feet, but the felt shoes
effectually prevented slipping. We reached the cave and entered it,
first by a wooden way carried over the boulders, and then along a
narrow ledge, to the po