us. We were at the foot of the second cataract and the
following morning were ordered to take the light boats up the cataract
to the first naval camp, about three miles distant, to make one trip and
if possible two. Seven men took one boat and all the crews made two
trips, some getting through early, some late.

The first trip I made, I took a different channel from those who started
before. I stepped the two masts with which the boat was provided and
used the sails and the six oars only, the wind being as usual from the
north. We needed all our resources but we reached the camp in good time.
We walked back the three miles took another boat and tried the channel
generally taken, it being apparently the shortest route. I had to use
the tow-line at one place where there was a "gate" or channel, as we say
in Canada, with about three feet of a fall, about eighteen feet wide
and a good standing place to tow from. Right there was stationed our
acquaintance, the reporter, in his little tug moored above the gate. One
of the voyageurs while wading must have stepped into some seam, he
jumped quickly back into his boat, leaving behind his moccasin and said
he was bitten by a crocodile, which all of us were kind enough to
believe and we advised him not to wade any more. All had accomplished
their task in the evening and come back to our camp. Soon afterwards
General Sir Evelyn Wood arrived and went towards Colonel Denison's tent.
I heard my name called by my officer and went before the General who
demanded the number of my men and wanted to see them. Getting the men in
line, the General asked me if they spoke English and I said they spoke
enough for boating purposes, but no more. The General then left. After
supper I was informed by my officer that I had to take thirty-five men
with me and go about a hundred miles up the river.

Here commences the second railway of the river route, about thirty miles
long, and the first train on the following morning brought Lord Wolseley
on his way to the front. The second train had on board, Col. Alleyne,
Lord Avonmore, Capt. Moore, Lieut. Perry and Lieut. C. R. Orde. This
train took me and my men on and stopped at Gemai where we found several
boats which had been portaged on cars. We pitched tents and did not
leave until 10 o'clock the next morning, October 29th. I picked crews as
nearly equal as I could, with a captain to each and started with six
boats, nearly light, only the five officers an