we had gone through.

Our lunch was speedy, as we had nothing to eat. The moment I had finished
my observations for latitude and longitude we started off once more, my
men keeping their eyes all the time on the forest on the look-out for
nut-trees, the river that day giving us no fish at all.

Within ten minutes we had shot two powerful rapids, and in one place went
over a dangerous submerged wall of rock extending across the river from
E.S.E. to W.N.W.

The men--very hungry--were extremely quarrelsome that day and insulting
to one another. The canoe went broadside down a rapid we met, the men
gesticulating instead of paddling along as they should have done. With a
great bump we stuck with a heavy list to starboard on a rock in the
middle of the rapid, and presently the canoe was filled with water. Had
we not stuck fast on that rock we certainly should have capsized. The
water was baled out in due course, the canoe was floated once more. Soon
afterwards another strong rapid, with a _pedraria_ extending right across
the stream from S.S.W. to N.N.E., gave us endless trouble.

I warned Alcides to get us alongside some rocks in order that we might
let the canoe down with ropes, as the rapid, with a sheer drop of over 6
ft., looked too dangerous for us to shoot it. But Alcides was furious
with the other men, and in order to punish them steered the canoe into
the most dangerous part of the rapid. A second later the canoe, at an
angle of 45 deg., was swept away down the foaming current along the slant of
the rapid, which extended there for about 15 m. The channel was a most
intricate one, with rocks scattered all over it, so that it was
absolutely impossible for the canoe, with her great length, to go through
without having an accident.

As we shaved a big rock in the middle of the rapid, and I saw the canoe
steering straight for another big rock in front, I knew disaster was
imminent, and leapt out on the rock. So frequently was it necessary for
me to do so, that I had become quite an expert at jumping, and had
acquired almost the agility of a monkey. Alcides, too, seeing the danger,
also tried to follow my example, but unfortunately missed his footing and
was swept away by the current. I just managed to seize him before he
disappeared for good, and dragged him safely on to the rock.

In the meantime the canoe had swung with great vigour and struck the big
rock sideways, smashing her side and filling at once with water.