“Yes.”
And the whole party, led on by the captain and Mr. Allison, set out on their excursion.
They went first to the Lady’s Leap, a lofty rock overlooking the Falls, where a lovesick girl was reputed to have taken a fatal leap into the river below.
Next they visited the Devil’s Dripping Pan, a great basin of rock nearly circular in form.
Finally they took a look at the Eagle’s Eyrie, the highest point of land within many miles of the place.
And then, fatigued with their long ramble, they returned to their boat to rest.
Now, had the programme of the excursion been carried out to the letter, a great mischance might have been averted. But it was not.
Elfie, at least, seemed possessed by the evil one, who inspired her with a love of adventure. She would not hear of terminating the excursion at the Great Falls. It was a glorious afternoon, and having visited the most striking scenes around the Falls, she wished to go farther up the river.
The captain, who had returned with them on the boat, sided with Elfie.
“It would be a pity,” he said, “to turn back without having seen the fine scenery above. Why, you might even run up as high as the Point of Rocks—a magnificent view.”