They found that the ropes that held the logs together had been cut and frayed by the keen edges of the rocks, with which they were brought into contact.
They took the whole raft to pieces; first having tied the rope till it was as strong, though shorter, than it was before, and then they refastened the whole structure, making it as secure as possible with the material at hand.
They had but just completed their work, and made the raft fast by anchoring it to a stone, when it suddenly grew so dark that they could hardly see each other.
They next put on their clothes, which were far from being dry, and their discomfort was increased by a keen, cold wind, that came driving down the cañon.
"Wat's to be did de nex'?" asked Ike, his teeth chattering and his voice tremulous with the cold.
"We must move about till our clothes get dry. It will never do to have rheumatism added to our other troubles," said Sam.
"Wa'al, I dunno dat we'd be much de wuss off, if we had rheumatiz, an' measles, an' toothaches, an' dem tings. Fac' is, Mistah Sam, we couldn't well be in a badder fix, no matter wat happened to us."
"Oh, yes," drawled Wah Shin, "'spose we hab no clothes, no laftee, no gun, no can gettee way, den wat?"
"Keep moving, boys, till you get warm," called out Sam, and he set the example by walking about on the flat top of the rock, taking care that neither himself nor companions went too close to the perilous edge.
The exertion and the heat of their bodies warmed them up and dried their clothes, but by this time it was near midnight.