The Rival Campers Ashore

en quite steep banks, and there was little perceptible current. So that now, the water being unruffle

; but the Ellison brothers were evidently of a mind to hold their lead as long as possible, and conti

ainst them; now and then it came down over shoals of quite an incline, so that they made

quite swiftly and boiling here and there around sunken rocks. The Ellison brothers had avoided this

with great care, as a false step would mean a bad fall and perhaps the smashing of the canoe. The only othe

he Ellison boys had done. The Warren brothers followed, and Jack Harvey was turning his

the rapids. What do you say? If we win out, we

entitled to call back any of the other canoes that were still carrying around the place, and make them do likewise. If, how

ere about half way up

to the other's suggestion. "We could get part of the w

ding over from the higher level of the stream abruptly, like a sheet of rounded, polished ebony; flowing smoothly but with gre

igher when we came through in the rain; but we ran these rapids, and don't you remember, half way down that

, gazing ahead. "But I didn't care much what

t. The ledge doesn't show above water, but it's there. What's the matter with working up

game. You seem to guess things

Bob cast a glance back, and also continued along the carry; but George and Arthur Warren, having seen Henry Burns's schemes work successfully before, turned and came out t

he set his end of their canoe down on a shelf of ledge. But Henry

urbance. Then the stronger current caught them, and they barely forged ahead. By the appearance of the water, looking down upon it as they struggled, they seemed to be flying; but it was the water, and not they, that was moving rapid

edge, at a point only a rod from the upper incline. This ledge did not show above water, but the boiling

he water there prove deeper than he had hoped, they would not ground, and m

llowed. A hard thrust with the pad

enry Burns. "She's hi

trength into the swift-running water. At a depth of about three feet it caught the rocky bottom and held. Harvey braced with the pol

. "Take it easy now. She'll

enry Burns, dropping his own paddle and likewise taking up his setting-pole, got a grip in the rocks and aided his companion. They

ore the current should catch them, to shove out into it quickly, turn the bow of the canoe to meet the rush of the rapids, and pus

and Bob some way behind these, hurrying as fast as they dared over the treacherous footing. But now, as they gathered their strength, and gently shoved their canoe b

the poles. Then it shot ahead, as they pushed its nose diagonally out into the sharp slope of the rapids. Henry Burns thrust hi

new that the pole did not catch, but instead, struck the slippery face of a smooth bit of the ro

t broadside. A moment more, they were running with it and being borne down to where

nhappy turn of affairs, when a shout of derision and triumph came down to them from the Ellisons

mfiture of their rivals, quickly picked up their canoe and proceeded along the ca

d Harvey, "

winkle in his eyes, "we might as well do it, now we've star

e on, if you're ready. We've got time

worked hard and the current seemed, therefore, even swifter now than before. There, holding their c

me," said Henry Burns. "Those whirls mean shallo

ptible breaks in the ebony surfac

arms that were certainly eloquent of strength; "that is, if you can keep her head straight. Don't try to do much o

replied Henry Burns

d again they caught and held it and shoved out into the

rtain whether it would turn its bow upstream or be swerved broadside. The moment it hung there seemed minutes in duration. They saw Henry Burns

though upon a sheet of glass. They saw Harvey in the stern set his pole and shove mightily, his muscles k

THE CANOE SLOWLY TURN AND

ly again and again to wrest their craft from the clutch of the current. Then, almost with a leap, freed from the fie

p. The canoe shot swiftly ahead, propelled by triumphant arms. The ra

To their chagrin and dismay, the sound of a horn blown three times with a vigour announced to them the triumph of their comrades. Sadly they shoulde

icult feat which they had seen accomplished. At all events, they were, by reason of their positio

s paddle leisurely, and recovering his breath. "Say, look at p

smiled. Then, gazing up stream aga

a half mile ahead, the first

oo," he exclaimed, "if we hadn't made that s

en another achieving the incline. They could not discern which was in the lead, but it proved later to be the canoe handled by Tom and Bob, the Warr

drawn out on shore and luncheon was eaten. They built no fires, but ate what they had brought, cold. With an hour to rest in, the leaders strolled back to where Harvey and Henry Burns were, and chaffed them good-naturedly on

ed where they were, and at