Before an answer could be given, the boat had swerved to the right and was sliding past the hidden rocks. One soldier in the water made a frantic clutch for the passing craft, and caught hold of a but of tarpaulin which covered the ammunition.
“Hold tight, I’ll pull you in!” sang out Dave, and with the assistance of another soldier he pulled the suffering one on board of the boat. Then the craft swept onward toward another soldier, and he was likewise assisted. But the rest had to be left behind, to shift for themselves. All but two were picked up by other boats in the rear. Of the two one managed to reach shore, and became a prisoner of the French, and the other was never seen or heard of again.
It was now seen that more than one boat in front and to the rear were in difficulty, and ever and anon a sickening crash could be heard above the roaring of the rapids. The nerves of all the soldiers were strained to the utmost, and many sat rigid, fearing that the next moment would be their last.
“We should have portaged our boats around the rapids,” growled one old hunter. “I’d ruther walk fifty miles than ride one in sech water as this,” and more than one hearer agreed with him.
Some dangerous rapids had been passed, but one still more dangerous was ahead. The lieutenant had been warned of this, and was watching closely.
“To the left! To the left!” he sang out suddenly. “To the left! Swing her over!”
“She won’t swing!” came stubbornly from one of the men at the sweeps. “The current’s stronger nor a mill-race.”
“We must bring her over,” said the officer. “Now then, pull for all you are worth. We—ha!”
The last cry was echoed by half a dozen in the boat, and several sprang to their feet regardless of the first order given to them, to sit still. A boat ahead of them had bumped into another craft, and both had dashed headlong on a hidden rock. Splintered wood, soldiers, army stores, and foaming water seemed hopelessly mixed, and from out of the mass came shrieks of pain and piteous calls for help.
“To the left!” yelled the lieutenant once more, but the cry did no good. The boat swept onward with increased speed, directly into the midst of the wreckage. A shock and a crash followed, and the next instant Dave found himself in the water, surrounded by a score of other soldiers, all fighting madly to save themselves from drowning.