RAPIDS 73

The boat shot out of the tributary and swept
with the current into the centre of the Dease above
the outspread rapids. At the top of the curved spine
of breakers she turned and headed for the big
boulder near the left bank. She slipped over the
arching green swell beside the boulder, avoided
the whirlpool just below it and veered to the right
so that she rode between the rocks on one side
and the high-curling waves on the other. Then she
struck across toward the farther bank, diagonally,
her blunt nose slapping and buffeting the waves at
the base of that angry column. The motor throbbed
and roared. Spray rose over the bow, shone in the
sun and fell heavily upon the tarpaulin. A comber
stood beside us, high above the boat; before it
could break over the side we leaped beyond it
to poise on another crest. The blunt nose lifted,
quivered and plunged. The motor roared and
strained, and was swung up so that the propeller
span for a second above the water, sending a con-
vulsive shudder through the craft. Spray fell heavily
over the side and stern; over the motor: there was
a choke, a stutter and a sudden awful silence above
the noise of the rapids. The boat swung helplessly
and went with the current. Rocks below us, and
the second stretch of rapids! The oars, quick! O
God! And then a heavy, cold calmness of mind,