ssengers and
the chests, the canoe was heavily laden; but Gunson suddenly pressed
himself close to the last Indian, reached out one strong arm, and
grasped his paddle, swaying with him, and bringing the full force of his
powerful muscles to bear.

The hint was sufficient. I gave Esau a look, and crawled right forward
to the first paddler, and did precisely the same, and Esau acted
likewise, so that there was the addition of our arms on the port side of
the boat to balance Gunson's on the starboard.

For the moment my Indian, the first, seemed ready to start up, leap
overboard, and swim for his life, evidently thinking I was attacking
him; but he saw what it meant directly, and as soon as we boys were in
regular swing with them, the chief man gave a shout, and the paddles
were plied with such effect that the canoe began to move from where it
had been stationary, as if one end were fixed on a rock, which allowed
the hows to sway a little. Then we gained a foot or two, the feet
became yards, and the Indians set up a triumphant chorus, as we glided
on and on, more into smoother water, and at last right in, under the
lowering precipice on our left, where we got along more rapidly, till
the vessel was steered in behind a huge projecting mass of rock, where
one paddle was sufficient to hold her in the eddy that was caused by the
stone, and here all paused to rest.

"Well done, Bri'ish muscles!" said Esau, looking round, and smiling as
he wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "I say, I thought it was
all over once."

"Yes," said Gunson, "they had all they could do to hold their own, and
of course they would soon have given way."

"Is there much more like this?" I asked.

"You know the river as well as I do, my lad," said Gunson. "As far as I
can make out, it is nearly all like this, and runs through canons and
wild places, where at times the sides are so high that it is quite
gloomy below."

"Well, I like it," said Esau. "There's something in it. I've been on
the river at home in the steamers, but there's nothing to see."

"You'll see enough here," said Gunson, dryly. "What do you think of
your journey up the river now? Didn't I hear one of you speak about
walking on the bank?"

I looked to right and left, and felt my forehead pucker up as I saw the
difficulties we should have to contend with.

"But will the banks be always like this?" I said.

"Of course not. I should say that we shall find everyth