126 Mackenzie’s Voyages

or maimed by large rocks which were continually rolling
from the banks.

A reconnaissance of several hours through the woods
brought them out on the river where the mountain spur
abuts on the stream. The channel was about a hundred yards
broad, and from this point, looking downstream, they saw
the river contracted to fifty yards and rushing with great
velocity between perpendicular rocks. Mackenzie waited
here in great anxiety for the arrival of the canoe. At last
he sent Mackay down in search of it, while he and the others
continued a mile and a half farther up, where the river
flowed between precipices three hundred feet high in a
succession of rapids and cascades. Returning to the last point,
the canoe was seen being portaged over a rocky projection
below. It had been broken but the men had repaired it, and
now with the line they were able to ascend to where Macken-
zie had been. An inviting beach led them to camp for the
night, and while resting by their fires of driftwood they were
interested by the appearance of several elk feeding on the
edge of the opposite precipice three hundred feet above them.

The explorer sent a man and an Indian ahead next day
to reconnoitre. The voyageur reported that it would be im-
practicable to pass several points, particularly thosew here
the undercut cliffs projected. ‘he canoe was again broken
next day in hauling it over a difficult place and Mackenzie
risked his life in jumping to a place of vantage in order that
he might assist the others to the same point without danger
to them. When the poles failed them they had recourse to
the towing-line, a highly dangerous proceeding as the men
who held the line were high up on the cliffs; and had
frequently to pass it around projecting rocks and trees that
overhung the cliffs, while the men below had all they could
do to prevent the current from swinging them in and out