I set the paddle so as to turn the canoe as far from it as possible, and held on grimly.
My eyes seemed to be bursting from my head, and through my closed lids I could see the fierce light.

We were nearly opposite now; it roared like all the fires of hell, and the water boiled furiously around it.

Five seconds more.

We were past; I heard the roar behind me.
Then I too fell senseless.

The next thing that I recollect is feeling a breath of air upon my face.