The whole width of the river dropped away before us, falling some twenty-five or thirty feet, at least, in a short space.

We now saw that the rapid was of a particularly difficult nature, and the order was given to attempt a landing on some rocks at its head, on the left.

At the same instant this was seen to be impossible.

Our only safety lay in taking the plunge in the main channel.

We backwatered on our oars to check our speed a trifle, and the next moment with a wild leap we went over, charging into the roaring, seething, beating waves below.