Part 26 (1/2)

”That's a fact,” added uncle d.i.c.k. ”No one seems to know why these were called the Priest Rapids. Perhaps because a priest read the burial service over some of the voyageurs here. Perhaps because a priest was saved here, or drowned here--no one seems to know.”

They had called a halt here while Leo and Moise walked up on the bank to reach a higher point of view. The boys could see them now, gesticulating and pointing out across the river. Presently they joined the others.

”She's too bad for ron this side,” said Moise, ”but over on other side, two-third way across, is place where mans can get through. No can line on this side--rock, she come straight down on the river.”

”Well,” said Uncle d.i.c.k, ”here is a pretty kettle of fis.h.!.+ I don't like the looks of this in the least. I'm not going to try to take these boys through that rapid over there. Are you sure you can't line down on this side?”

”No can walk,” said Leo, ”no can ron this side. Other side only place for to go through. She's pretty bad, but maybe-so make 'um.”

”Well, I'm not going to let the boys try it,” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”Now see here, young men, I'll tell you what you have got to do. You see that point below there about two miles, where the forest comes out?

Very well; you'll have to get around there somehow. Go back of that shelving rock face the best you can, and come out on that point, and wait for us.”

The boys looked at him rather soberly. ”Why can't we go with you,”

asked John, presently, who did not in the least fancy the look of these dark woods and the heavy, frowning mountains that lay back of them. Indeed, they all reflected that here they were many a day's march from Revelstoke, over a country practically impa.s.sable.

”You couldn't go in the boats, boys, even if it were safe,” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”We want them light as we can have them. Go on now, and do as you are told. This is a place where we all of us will have to take a chance, and now your time has come to take your chances, for it's the best that we can do. Each of you take a little pack--one rifle will do for you, but each of you must have his ax and matches and compa.s.s and a little something to eat--here, take all the bannocks we have cooked, and this little bit of flour. When you get to the point make a smoke to let us know you're there. If we don't get through you'll have to get on the best way you can.”

”Why can't one of you go with us?” inquired John, still anxiously.

”It wouldn't be right for the men left in the boat--it takes two men to run a boat through water like that, my boy. Go on, now. I am sorry to send you off, but this is the best that we can do, so you must undertake it like men.”

”It's all right, fellows,” said Rob; ”come on. We can get around there, I'm sure, and I'm pretty sure too that these men, good boatmen that they are, will run that chute. You're not afraid, are you, Leo?”

But if Leo heard him he said nothing in answer, although he made ready by stripping off his coat and tightening his belt, in which Moise and all the others followed him.

The boys turned for some time, looking back before they were lost to view in the forest. The men were still sitting on the beach, calmly smoking and giving them time to make their detour before they themselves attempted the dangerous run of the rapids.

It was perhaps an hour before the three young adventurers were able to climb the rugged slope which lay before them, and finally to descend a bad rock wall which allowed them access to the long point which Uncle d.i.c.k had pointed out to them, far below and at one side of the dreaded Priest Rapids. Here they built their little fire of driftwood, as they had been instructed; and, climbing up on another pile of driftwood which was ma.s.sed on the beach, they began eagerly to look up-stream.

”The worst waves are over on the other side,” said Rob, after a time.

”Look, I can see them now--they look mighty little--that's the boats angling across from where we left them! It'll soon be over now, one way or the other.”

They all stood looking anxiously. ”They're out of sight!” exclaimed Rob. And so, indeed, they were.

”That's only the dip they've taken,” said Rob, after a time. ”I see them coming now. Look! _Look_ at them come! I believe they're through.”

They stood looking for a little time, and then all took off their hats and waved them with a yell. They could see the boats now plunging on down, rising and falling, but growing larger and blacker every instant. At last they could see them outlined against the distant white, rolling waves, and knew that they were through the end of the chute and practically safe.

In a few moments more the two boats came on, racing by their point, all the men so busy that they had not time to catch the excited greetings which the boys shouted to them. But once around the point the boats swung in sharply, and soon, bow up-stream, made a landing but a few hundred yards below where they stood. Soon they were all united once more, shaking hands warmly with one another.

”That's great!” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”I'll warrant there was one swell there over fifteen feet high--maybe twenty, for all we could tell. I know it reared up clear above us, so that you had to lean your head to see the top of it. If we'd hit it would have been all over with us.”

”She's bad tam, young men,” said Moise. ”From where we see him she don't look so bad, but once you get in there--poom! Well, anyway, here we are. That's more better'n getting drowned, and more better'n walk, too.” And Moise, the light-hearted, used to taking chances, dismissed the danger once it was past.

”Well, that's what I call good planning and good work,” said Rob, quietly, after a while. ”To find the best thing to do and then to do it--that seems to be the way for an engineer to work, isn't it, Uncle d.i.c.k?”

”Yes, it is, and all's well that ends well,” commented the other. ”And mighty glad I am to think that we are safe together again, and that you don't have to try to make your way alone and on foot from this part of the country. I wasn't happy at all when I thought of that.”