A large quantity of timber had been cut on the island, for the use of
the mill and dam. The workmen had piled the tops and limbs of these
trees in large heaps, which now floated above the surface of the
island. To one of these I immediately swam, and succeeded in getting
upon it. I then perceived that Walsh had been swept from the tree to
which he had clung, by the force of the current, into the middle of the
river, and close to the edge of the falls. I saw at a glance, that his
only chance was to swim for the opposite side, which I called on him to
do, but he appeared to have lost all self-possession; for he neither
swam for one shore nor the other, but kept his head facing up the
stream, uttering wild cries, which, in a few seconds, were silenced for
ever.

In the meantime, John Fontaine, the French boy, had succeeded in
getting partly across the canoe, which was floating past the heap on
which I had taken refuge, and only a few yards from where I was
standing. I immediately plucked a long stick from the brush-heap, and
swam near enough to the lad for him to grasp one end of the pole,
bidding him leave the canoe, which I told him would be carried over the
dam to a certainty, and him with it, if he did not abandon his hold.
He, with apparent reluctance, followed my directions, but I had a hard
struggle to regain my former place of refuge, with the boy's additional
weight. I had some trouble to persuade him to trust himself again in
the water. And no wonder; for darkness was fast approaching, and both
the island and a narrow channel of the river had still to be crossed.
However, trusting to the mercy of God, we again committed ourselves to
those wild, swollen waters, which, by the providence of the Almighty,
we successfully accomplished. I was obliged to hold the stick between
my teeth whilst crossing the channel, drawing along with me my
terrified companion, it being necessary for our preservation, that I