This man, judging from the height of the river, deemed it practicable to shoot the rapid and determined upon trying it.

He accordingly placed himself in the bow of his canoe, having previously agreed that, if the passage was found easy, he should, on reaching the bottom of the rapid, fire a musket as a signal for the other canoe to follow.

The rapid proved dangerous and called forth all the skill of the guide and the utmost exertion of his crew and they narrowly escaped destruction.

Just as they were landing an unfortunate fellow, seizing the loaded fowling-piece, fired at a duck which rose at the instant.

The guide, anticipating the consequences, ran with the utmost haste to the other end of the portage but he was too late: the other canoe had pushed off and he arrived only to witness the fate of his comrades.