head land, presented a more even and less agitated
surface. This head land once doubled, the safety
of the adventurers was ensured, since, although the
tremendous current which swept through the inner channel
must have borne them considerably downwards, still
the canoe would have accomplished the transit below
the town in perfect safety. The fact of this
opportunity being neglected, led at once to the inference
that the adventurers were total strangers, and distinct
voices were now raised by those on the bank, to warn
them of their danger—but whether it was
that they heard not, or understood not, the warning
was unnoticed. Once indeed it seemed as if he
who so ably conducted the course of the bark, had
comprehended and would have followed the suggestion
so earnestly given, for his tiny sail was seen to
flutter for the first time in the wind, as with the
intention to alter his course. But an impatient
gesture from his companion in the bow, who was seen
to turn suddenly round, and utter something, (which
was however inaudible to those onshore,) again brought
the head of the fragile vessel to her original course,
and onward she went leaping and bounding, apparently
with the design to clear the whirlpool at a higher
point of the river. Nothing short of a miracle
could now possibly enable them to escape being drawn
into the boiling vortex, and, during the moments that
succeeded, every heart beat high with fearful expectation
as to the result. At length the canoe came with
a sudden plunge into the very centre of the current,
which, all the skill of the steersman was insufficient
to enable him to clear. Her bow yawed, her little
sail fluttered—and away she flew, broadside
foremost, down the stream with as little power of resistance
as a feather or a straw. Scarcely had the eye
time to follow her in this peculiar descent, when
she was in the very heart of the raging eddy.
For a moment she reeled like a top, then rolled two
or three times over, and finally disappeared altogether.
Various expressions of horror broke from the several
groups of whites and Indians, all of whom had anticipated
the catastrophe without the power of actively interposing.
Beyond the advice that was given, not a word was uttered,
but every eye continued fixed on the whirlpool, as
though momentarily expecting to see something issue
from its bosom. After the lapse of a minute,
a dark object suddenly presented itself some twenty
yards below, between the island and the town.
It was the canoe which, bottom upwards, and deprived
of its little mast and sail, had again risen to the
surface, and was floating rapidly down with the current.
Presently afterwards two heads were seen nearly at
the point where the canoe had again emerged.
They were the unfortunate adventurers, one of whom
appeared to be supporting his companion with one arm,
whilst with the other he dashed away the waters that
bore them impetuously along. The hats of both
had fallen off, and as he who exerted himself so strenuously,