"In Passing Along The Side Of A Bluff At A Narrow Pass Thirty
Yards In Length, Captain Lewis Slipped, And,
But for a fortunate
recovery by means of his spontoon, would have been precipitated
into the river over a precipice
Of about ninety feet.
He had just reached a spot where, by the assistance of his spontoon,
he could stand with tolerable safety, when he heard a voice
behind him cry out, `Good God, captain, what shall I do?'
He turned instantly, and found it was Windsor, who had
lost his foothold about the middle of the narrow pass,
and had slipped down to the very verge of the precipice,
where he lay on his belly, with his right arm and leg over it,
while with the other leg and arm he was with difficulty
holding on, to keep himself from being dashed to pieces below.
His dreadful situation was instantly perceived by Captain Lewis,
who, stifling his alarm, calmly told him that he was in no danger;
that he should take his knife out of his belt with his right hand,
and dig a hole in the side of the bluff to receive his right foot.
With great presence of mind he did this, and then raised
himself on his knees. Captain Lewis then told him to take
off his moccasins and come forward on his hands and knees,
holding the knife in one hand and his rifle in the other.
He immediately crawled in this way till he came to a secure spot.
The men who had not attempted this passage were ordered
to return and wade the river at the foot of the bluff,
where they found the water breast-high.
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