ninhabited islands;
but the banks of the river appearing to be covered with houses, I again
renewed my signals with my waistcoat and a shirt, which I took out of
the trunk, hoping, as the river narrowed, they might be perceived; the
distance was too great. The velocity with which I was going convinced me
of my near approach to the dreadful rapids of La Chine. Night was
drawing on; my destruction appeared certain, but did not disturb me
very much: the idea of death had lost its novelty, and become quite
familiar. Finding signals in vain, I now set up a cry or howl, such as I
thought best calculated to carry to a distance, and, being favoured by
the wind, it did, although at above a mile distance, reach the ears of
some people on shore. At last I perceived a boat rowing towards me,
which, being very small and white-bottomed, I had some time taken for a
fowl with a white breast; and I was taken off the barge by Captain
Johnstone, after being ten hours on the water. I found myself at the
village of La Chine, 21 miles below where the accident happened, and
having been driven by the winding of the current a much greater
distance. I received no other injury than bruised knees and breast, with
a slight cold. The accident took some hold of my imagination, and, for
seven or eight succeeding nights, in my dreams, I was engaged in the
dangers of the Cascades, and surrounded by drowning men.

My escape was owing to a concurrence of fortunate circumstances, which
appear almost providential. I happened to catch hold of various articles
of support, and to exchange each article for another just at the right
time. Nothing but the boom could have carried me down the Cascades
without injury; and nothing but the barge could have saved me below
them. I was also fortunate in having the whole day. Had the accident
happened one hour later, I should have arrived opposite the village of
La Chine after dark, and, of course, would have been destroyed in the
rapids below, to which I was rapidly advancing. The trunk which
furnished me with provisions and a resting-place above the water, I have
every reason to think, was necessary to save my life; without it I must
have passed the whole time in the water, and been exhausted with cold
and hunger. When the people on shore saw our boat take the wrong
channel, they predicted our destruction: the floating luggage, by
supporting us for a time, enabled them to make an exertion to save us;
but as it was not s