From his vantage point, Russell could
pick out the most dangerous places, and chart a course through the rapids
accordingly. But throughout these ten miles of granite, the walls are sheer
and smooth for the first fifteen hundred feet of their rise. Russell could
find no foothold, and the men for the first time faced the necessity of
"shooting" unknown waters.
Russell's Method of Shooting Rapids. As always, Russell led the way in his
boat, swinging it into the boiling current stern first - his own method of
taking each cataract making the frail craft respond to his will, when
possible, by a forward pull on one or the other of his oars. For half an
hour the men were hurled down the seemingly neverending length of tossing
waters. After the first minute, the cockpit in which each man sat was
filled to the gunwales with icy water, in which the oarsmen worked, covered
to the armpits. Hundreds of times great waves totally submerged them, the
little boats each time staggering out from under the weight of water, only
to plunge into more.
Russell Gets Safely Through. With less than a quarter of a mile still to be
covered, before the less turbulent water below was reached, and just as
Russell was sweeping around the last great curve beyond which he could see
the placid water, he heard his companion in the rear cry out in alarm.
Before he could turn to see the cause of the cry, he was driven round the
curve. Mooring his boat to the bank as quickly as possible, Russell half
climbed, half waded along the shore of the river, and made his way back up
the side of the rapids.
Monett in Danger. Monett, his boat wedged tight between two jagged rocks,
a foot below the surface of the sweeping water, was hanging desperately to
the gunwale of the little craft, his body straightened out horizontal by
the rush of the water about him. The boat was completely wrecked. But
Russell, when he threw a rope to his companion, was astounded to see the
boy work his way slowly nearer the boat, and begin to tie its contents
securely with the line intended for his own salvation.
Rescued with Difficulty. Against the roar of the rapids, it was useless for
Russell to call to his companion to let the provisions go and save himself.
Four times the lad let Russell drag sides of bacon and sacks of beans
through the thirty feet of roaring water between him and the shore, before
he finally caught the rope and was dragged to safety.
