What if these rapids ended in the same way?
This thought had just flashed through his mind, when the raft shot past the rock from which Ulna had fallen, and the next instant it swung round the bend, and the thunder of the waters was heard and the seething white waves came to view.
Every stick of timber in the raft groaned, as if it were a sentient being, trembling at its coming destruction.
Ike and Wah Shin fell flat on the logs and clung to them with all their might, not daring to look at the prospect ahead.
Even Sam dropped on his knees and gazed steadily in front, while the dog crept towards him, and, with a plaintive whine, thrust his nose into his master's breast.
Sam soon discovered that it would not only be useless, but absolutely dangerous to attempt to steer the raft, so he hauled in the pole and with his hands clung to the logs on either side.
The speed at which they went down soon became so frightfully great that the objects along the shore could not be distinguished, but became streaked and confused to their sight.
Now and again the raft would strike against one of the black rocks, that rose like a monster out of the water, and then it would spin and whirl down the torrent as if determined to throw off its occupants.
Bend after bend was passed, and Sam began to think that the rapids extended indefinitely, when to his horror the raft struck against another rock, and with such force that the ropes, fastening one end, snapped and broke like a silken thread in the hands of a giant.
At the same instant the logs parted and spread out like a fan, throwing all the occupants into the water.