It Was The Duty Of The Man At The Bow To Look Out
Ahead For The Proper Course, And When He Saw A Rock Or Snag, To Call
Out To The Steersman.
Tuba doubtless thought that talking on board
might divert the attention of his steersman, at a time when the
neglect of an order, or a slight mistake, would be sure to spill us
all into the chafing river.
There were places where the utmost
exertions of both men had to be put forth in order to force the canoe
to the only safe part of the rapid, and to prevent it from sweeping
down broadside on, where in a twinkling we should have found
ourselves floundering among the plotuses and cormorants, which were
engaged in diving for their breakfast of small fish. At times it
seemed as if nothing could save us from dashing in our headlong race
against the rocks which, now that the river was low, jutted out of
the water; but just at the very nick of time, Tuba passed the word to
the steersman, and then with ready pole turned the canoe a little
aside, and we glided swiftly past the threatened danger. Never was
canoe more admirably managed: once only did the medicine seem to
have lost something of its efficacy. We were driving swiftly down, a
black rock over which the white foam flew, lay directly in our path,
the pole was planted against it as readily as ever, but it slipped,
just as Tuba put forth his strength to turn the bow off.
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