Before he stepped on board, John, who was to push at the stern, looked out over the broad river.  The current made in toward the shore where he was standing and was clearly defined.  The swift waters bore around a bend not more than fifty yards below them.  It is true that the passage here had already been made and the boat hauled back, but the very fact that a previous voyage had been tried although it allayed certain fears nevertheless made both Go Ahead Boys aware of the places where peril would confront them.

Pete was in the bow holding a long pole in his hands, while Fred was to take his friend’s place whenever the latter desired him to.

In a brief time the strong heavy skiff was caught in the sweep of the channel and was borne swiftly down the rushing Colorado.

There was an excitement in the attempt that manifested itself clearly in the faces of all three.  At one place where for a brief time the waters were stiller Pete turned to his fellow voyagers and shouted, “My, I must say you’re the two nerviest boys I ever see.”

John and Fred stared blankly at each other at the compliment, neither in fact having been unduly alarmed or suspecting that they were passing through any unusual peril.

Twice the boat had been swept in close to a projecting ledge but fortunately had escaped without any serious crash.

At the end of ten minutes the boys were aware that they were approaching the place which they dreaded most of all in their descent.  The river became somewhat narrower here and the waters consequently were much deeper.  A shoal or some huge hidden ledge rose in mid-stream and the swift current, divided by the obstacle, roared and sang as it rushed forward on its way on either side.  One hundred yards below the projecting rock the divided channel was reunited.  There was a great peril, however, that the little boat, as it was driven forward by one part of the stream, might be caught in the eddies that were formed when the waters united.

For a time the rocky shores seemed to be flying past the advancing boat.  Occasional glimpses of the sky far above them added to the picture.  Before them extended a long, narrow defile through which the deep water seethed and boiled as it sped forward.  The grave peril here was that the boat might strike some of the projecting rocks or be grounded on one of the hidden projections.  It was impossible for any one to use his pole here and Fred had passed the paddle to John while he himself insisted upon taking his place in the bow and ordering Pete to seat himself amidship.

The boat was moving at least ten miles an hour.  Two-thirds of the passage had been safely made.  The expression on Fred’s face was tense as occasionally he caught a glimpse behind him of his long friend working desperately with his paddle.

Every ounce of strength each boy possessed was required for the effort.  Occasionally the guide shouted his direction first to one boy and then to another and then to both alike.  Neither Fred nor John, however gave much heed to their advisor nor indeed was it possible for them to hear what he said.  The sound of the noisy water filled their ears, the peril of the projecting rocks continued to face them and a glance at the dark colored stream below was sufficient to warn them of dangers to be avoided there.