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"This morning the ground was firmly frozen, and the thermometer stood at 28o,
when we commenced our operations. Early Saturday,
in the afternoon we arrived at the lower part of the mountain
that is delineated in the annexed engraving, and which we had
kept in view this day, and the greater part of the preceding. As we had now to ascend a succession of rapids for fifteen miles, and two of our crew were lame, I directed the canoe to be laid up on the shore, and took the Canadian and the boys to assist at the tow-line. We had not advanced more than two miles before we met with an accident that was likely to have been attended with serious consequences: in the act of hauling round a projecting point, and in the strength of the current, the tow-line broke, and the boat was driven with great force against a large stone at some distance from the shore, having deep water on every side. There it lay with the broadside exposed to the whole pressure of the current, beating violently against the stone; and from this situation it could not have been extricated, had not Gustavus Aird, the strongest man of the party, ventured to wade into the river, at the imminent risk of being swept off his feet, until he could catch the rope that was thrown to him from the boat." |
