Here and there a strip of shingle now divided rock from river, and when presently Okanagan called out, Seaforth felt by the change of motion that he was backing his paddle.

Looking forward he saw the cause of it, for there were boulders in the channel, and a great fir lay jammed across them.

They were almost upon it when the bows reached the shingle.
Okanagan helped him to carry Alton ashore, and then stood still looking at the fir, which was of a girth seldom seen in any other country.
"She's lying right across, and we've got to chop our way through," he said.

"You'll fix the tent and make supper while I take first turn." He came back dripping presently, and Seaforth was waist-deep in icy water when he reached the tree.

The shingle slipped beneath him, the stream frothed about his limbs, and he felt very puny and helpless with that great log before him.