and besides Batters told us everything was smooth for
twelve miles ahead."

It is more than probable that when Batters made this statement he had in
mind his own safe and bulky craft, which could have stood any amount of
rough usage without upsetting. But this version of the matter did not
occur to the boys. They confidently paddled on, hoping to find a stretch
of swift water that would give them a lift on their journey.

Just at the commencement of the curve a spit of rocks and trees jutted
out from the right shore. As the boys were whirled swiftly around this,
the first brief glimpse of what lay beyond proved far from satisfactory.

The creek narrowed to half its former width, and the greater part of
even this contracted channel was rendered unnavigable by a long bar of
gravel and grass, over which an inch or so of water crawled sluggishly.
The main channel--only half a dozen feet wide--headed abruptly to the
right, and swept at breakneck speed in a perfect half circle under the
outwardly projecting base of a steep and wooded hill. Here and there the
bushes hung down to meet the madly tossing waves, and swayed violently.

It was already too late to turn back, and it was equally out of the
question to cut across the swift rushing current and gain the shallow
bar. Speedy disaster would have resulted from _that_ step.

Ned was half a canoe's length in advance, and without a second's delay
he swung the bow of the Pioneer around to meet the curve of the channel.

"Paddle toward the left!--the left!" he shouted hoarsely to his
companions. "Keep your heads down when you come to the bushes."

Ned had no chance to say more. His own affairs required his undivided
attention. With a dizzy jerk he swung into the half circle, rising and
falling with the huge waves. A few tremendous paddle strokes deflected
him to the left, and fortunately he cleared the outer fringe of bushes.

Just when the worst seemed to be over the Pioneer ran broadside on a
submerged rock, tipped instantly, and out went Ned head over heels.

He was dragged clear to the bottom of the rapids before he could gain a
foothold. Then, waist deep in water, he grabbed the Pioneer as it
drifted by him, and waded with it to a narrow landing place at the base
of the hill.

Even less fortunate was Nugget. The dizzy whirl of the current and the
jolting motion of the waves so terrified him that he dropped his paddle
and clutched the combing with both hands. Then, a