stream became still more
impetuous. The Indians had cut long poles, and as they drifted down one
stood at each corner of the raft, using their poles occasionally as
paddles to keep it straight. Stephen remained in the canoe in the centre.
He would gladly have shared in any work that was to be done, but here he
felt that he could be of no use.

"To-morrow we shall be in the full force of the rapids, senor," Hurka
said. "I should advise you to lay yourself down in the bottom of the canoe
and to pass the day in sleep. It will be safer so should there be an
accident, for, with your weight at the bottom, the canoe will be more
likely to keep upright than it otherwise would. You cannot aid us, and the
speed at which we shall do the next hundred miles will be great indeed. In
eight hours we shall be at the foot of the rapids."

"I will sit down at the bottom of the canoe, but I must see what is going
on. I am accustomed to the aspect of a sea in a violent gale, and this
great body of water, however fast it rushes, will not be more trying to
the nerves than such a scene as that. There is one thing that I should
wish you to do. Let each tie a light rope round his waist and fasten the
other end to the canoe, and then if the raft does go to pieces you will be
able to get on board, and at any rate, if she upsets we shall be
together."

"We will do it if you wish, senor, but there would be danger of our
capsizing the canoe."

"Not so much danger as there would be of the canoe upsetting if I were
alone in it, for I should be powerless even to keep her straight, and she
would go broadside on to a rock and be dashed to pieces."

"The senor is right, Hurka," Pita said gravely; "we will do as he wishes.
But the ropes must be long, so that if we are flung off the raft there
will be no sudden pull on the canoe. Should there be such a misfortune I
will shout to you, and we will then swim towards the boat, taking up the
ropes as we go, but putting no strain upon them; when we reach the boat,
one will aid the senor to steady it while the other climbs in; after that
it will be easier to get the second on board."

"You still think that it is better to make a passage than to carry the
whole kit and the canoe over?"

"It would take many weeks, senor. Besides, though I have never been here
before, I have heard that the difficulties are so great that the river
Indians never attempt to carry even a light canoe over. I am at your
service, se