It was now impossible to pull the catamaran out of its course, no matter how hard we might have striven, the current being absolutely irresistible.

The banks narrowed as the rapids were reached, with the result that the water in the middle actually became _convex_, so tremendous was the rush in that narrow gorge.

Yamba cried out to me to lie flat on the catamaran, and hold on as tightly as I could until we reached smooth water again.

This she did herself, seizing hold of the dog also.
Nearer and nearer we were swept to the great seething caldron of boiling and foaming waters, and at last, with a tremendous splash we entered the terrifying commotion.

We went right under, and so great was the force of the water, that had I not been clinging tenaciously to the catamaran I must infallibly have been swept away to certain death.