The nondescript craft hampered their movements, could not be controlled, and if once it got loose everything was sure to be lost.

It would have been better to throw these boxes away at once and take what the boats could carry and no more, but this was apparently not thought of.

All things considered, it is a wonder this party ever got through Cataract Canyon alive.

At some little rapid, after leaving the railway crossing, the first boat stove a hole in her side, but this was readily repaired and the party ran without further accident over the smooth stretches of river preceding the Junction, arriving at this latter point in four days.

They were now on the threshold of Cataract Canyon.