Tue Great Journey 87

by stones falling from the high banks; later it
was broken again. The next day was even
worse. Every hour or two they had to stop
to repair damage to the canoe; it had to be
pulled up slippery rocks over almost perpen-
dicular portages, and towed by men clinging
to the edge of the cliff so that the line should
not get tangled in the trees. At the mid-day
halt it was carelessly tied, and was just saved
from vanishing down the stream; yet Macken-
zie remembered to take his observation for
latitude at noon. At 5 o’clock they reached a
place where “the river was one continual
rapid”. Taking everything out of the canoe,
they started to tow it up; a great wave broke
the line, which “filled us with inexpressible
dismay, as it appeared impossible that the
vessel could escape from being dashed to pieces
and those who were in her from perishing.”
Very luckily, however, another wave drove
her ashore, clear over some bare rocks, with-
out any serious damage.

That night the men, worn out and
despairing, began to mutter that there was
no alternative but to turn back. Mackenzie