DOWN THE SOO RAPIDS
"Alabama! here we rest!" cried George, as they kept booming along up the
strong current of the river, until a spot was reached just below the
foot of the rapids.
Not many steamers stop at the Soo, save those which run in connection
with the tourist travel, between Mackinac and the rapids city. But there
is a constant procession of steamers, and whaleback grain barges going
in both directions, day and night, all during some seven months of the
year. The tonnage of the government canal through which these boats pass
around the rapids far exceeds that of the Suez Canal for the entire
twelve months.
After finding a responsible party in whose charge the three brave little
boats could be left, the cruisers proceeded to take in the sights.
Of course the rapids came first, and they viewed these from every angle.
Jack was also deeply interested in the government fish hatchery on the
little island; and watched with an envious eye the various pools in
which scores of enormous speckled trout, weighing upward of seven
pounds, were kept.
"Wait till we get to the Agawa," he said, shaking his head with
determination. "I want to find out how some of those whoppers feel at
the end of a line."
Nick had made for a clothing emporium, where he fitted himself out in
some new clothes. Of course he did not explain just why this was
necessary; but judging from the suspicious looks cast upon him every
time he came near the clerk, the latter could give a shrewd guess
concerning the truth.
Jack was still watching some of those giant trout jump out of the water
in the pool when he dangled a long blade of blue grass so as to make the
feathery end touch the surface like a fly, when George joined him; for
they had settled upon the hatchery as a sort of rendezvous where they
could come together, so as to take the thrilling ride down the rapids in
a big Indian canoe.
"All off, Jack!" said George, trying to look sober; though there was a
merry twinkle in his black eyes that belied the solemn cast of his face.
"What do you mean?" asked the other. "Anything more happened to that
fellow Buster? Or perhaps it's Josh who's bent on halting our expedition
now, with some caper. Go on, tell me."
"Oh! you're away off," grinned George. "I only meant to inform you that
they're gone on ahead of us."
"I suppose you mean the _Mermaid_," Jack remarked.
"That's right," George responded, promptly. "Left here this very
morning for a cruise through the Big Lake. Went through the canal about
breakfast time. Seems as if we're just bound to keep tagging at their
heels, don't it, Jack? I suppose we'll hear a howl from Buster now,
because he is cheated out of seeing that fat Miss Sallie again."
"Buster has enough to think of in other directions, I suspect," smiled
Jack.
"Well, I should guess so," added the other. "Imagine, if you please,
Nick trying to call on any young lady at present. She'd be apt to have a
swooning spell. For a time Buster will have to cut out all thoughts of
girls' society. He can thank his lucky stars that his chums allow him to
hang around."
"Have you had any lunch?" asked Jack.
"I think there's the rest of the bunch coming along the stone walk by
the canal, right now. Perhaps we'd better postpone our little ride down
the rapids until we get a bite. Buster will be starved."
"There he is dogging the footsteps of the rest," remarked Jack. "Herb
is being cruel to the poor old chap. He won't let him join them. I guess
he's suffered about enough by now, and we'll have to let up on it."
"Sure we will," agreed impulsive George. "Anyhow, we wouldn't have the
nerve to make Buster take a canoe by himself, and shoot the rapids.
Let's start out and join them. Perhaps Buster had discovered a good feed
place, in his wanderings about the town."
"Ten to one he's noticed a dozen; and perhaps had a few bites before
now," and Jack led the way across the little bridge connecting the
island where the hatchery was situated, with the main shore.
Nick gladly admitted that he had marked a promising restaurant during
his foraging expedition in search of the suit of clothes, which he had
taken to the boat and donned.
"It ain't a tony place, fellows," he argued; "but considering the
circumstances, er--I thought we wouldn't care for style."
"Why, no, not just at present, Buster;" George said. "You've got a level
head for once. We're going to forgive you now, and restore you to good
standing, on condition that you never, never again try to stock the camp
with a menagerie of strange animals."
Nick promptly held up his right hand.
"I give you my word, boys, and thank you. Please overlook any slight
association between myself and our recent invasion of Canada. And
now come along. I tell you I feel as if I could clean out all the
restaurants in the Soo. I only took a light breakfast you know, because
of low spirits."
Josh held up both hands in despair, though he said not a word. There are
times when silence is much more suggestive than any flow of language;
and every one understood.
An hour or so later, before half-past two, they were on the little
beach, talking with a couple of wiry-looking men, who claimed to be sons
of the famous old guide of the rapids, John Boucher, who died a few
years ago, after having carried thousands and thousands of summer
tourists in his canoe through those swirling rapids, without ever a
disaster.
Then the entire bunch of six boys took their places in the big and
staunch canoe, with a wielder of the paddle at either end. Jack happened
to occupy a position near the man in the stern, whose post is always the
more important, since he guides the destinies of the swiftly running
craft, while the one in the bow fends off from impending rocks.
Jack had taken this position more to observe how the experience affected
his chums than for any other reason. He certainly never once dreamed
that there might be a Providence in such a small thing as his choice of
position.
Then began the first stage of the run, with the two Indians pushing the
laden craft upstream by means of stout poles. They kept close to the
shore, finding a way around the numerous rocks, and other obstacles,
where the water boiled madly; and by slow degrees approached the railway
bridge, under which the start is generally made.
"Ain't this simply glorious?" demanded Herb, as they found themselves
surrounded by the churning waters, and gradually leaving the shore
farther away.
"Wait!" said George, "if you think this is fine, what will you have to
say when we get to running the rapids in fact? I've been through some
smaller than these, and can guess how it feels."
"My! I'd like to keep doing it all day!" remarked Nick, feeling
something like himself again, since he had been restored to favor once
more.
"Well, at the rate of fifty per, your bank account would soon collapse.
Besides, they say that the excitement is bad on fat people, so that they
lose weight right along," George observed.
"You're joshing me, I know, George," declared the other. "If I believed
you, I'd be tempted to stay over here while you fellows went on, and
keep going all day, so I could cut off, say about thirty pounds or so.
No, I wouldn't either; I forgot!"
"Yes, I should think you did forget Sallie," jeered Herb. "If you got
out of her class she'd never forgive you, Buster. Besides, perhaps she
wouldn't even _see_ you if you wasted away to a shadow. Better leave
well enough alone, and enjoy the good things of life."
"Here we go now; they're heading straight out on to the river!" cried
Josh, as he nervously clutched the side of the big canoe near him; for
they were seated two and two, with Jack just behind and George in front,
as the boat narrowed.
The Indian guides were indeed pushing strenuously now, and when the
water deepened both of them dropped their poles in the bottom of the
canoe, to seize upon stout paddles and wield them furiously.
It was intended to reach a certain point in the river before turning the
prow of the craft down toward the head of the rapids.
Long familiarity, every day in the week during the season, and many
times a day, had made every rock and swirl known to these men. But
although they knew the main channel like a book, seldom did any crew
dare venture as close to the terrible jaws of the whirlpool as the
veteran guide of the rapids, Old John Boucher, had always made it a
practice of taking his parties.
Jack had looked several times at the man in the stern. Somehow, he did
not wholly like his appearance. There was something about him to signify
that he must have recently arisen from a sick bed. Perhaps, tempted by
an influx of tourists, and the demand for experienced guides to take
them through the rapids, he had come back to work a bit too soon!
"He doesn't seem as strong as the others," Jack was thinking, even as he
turned his head from time to time as if to see what lay behind, while
they were pushing up the sturdy current. "I can hear him pant as if
short of breath. Goodness! I hope now nothing is going to happen to him
while we're spinning along down through these old rapids. They say that
whirlpool would swallow up anything; and that Old John was the only man
whoever went into it, and came out alive. Whew!"
But Jack did not whisper these fears to his comrades. It was too late to
change steersman now; and why spoil all their pleasure?
After all, no doubt there was not so much strength needed once they
began to move swiftly along with the current, going half a mile in a
couple of minutes, they had been told, though Jack doubted the accuracy
of that statement at first.
Apparently the guides had overshot the mark at which they aimed; for as
the canoe was turned, in the shadow of the bridge, Jack saw that the man
in the bow glanced apprehensively over his shoulder while he knelt
there, and immediately began to paddle furiously, as though trying to
bring the boat back a little toward the American shore.
Had they gone too far, and were they speeding down in the track taken by
the one daring prince of guides--a course that would actually skirt the
verge of that whirlpool, of which such terrible things were said?
Jack shut his teeth hard at the thought. Then he gave himself up to the
keen enjoyment of that glorious ride, when the canoe was seized upon as
by invisible hands, and borne along at lightning speed.
Looking at the water alongside, foam-specked as it was, one could not
believe the boat was moving at all, because both kept company. But all
that was needed was for the voyager to raise his eyes, and send a look
toward the shore, when he must realize the tremendous rapidity with
which his frail craft was being carried along.
Things just seemed to fairly flit past, as though they were aboard
a fast railway train. The boys were evidently enjoying the novel
experience to the full, for their heads were constantly turning from
side to side, and all seemed to be talking at once.
Jack was nervously looking ahead and on the left, for he knew they
must now be approaching the whirlpool, where the eddying waters went
furiously round and round and the center seemed to be a deep hole, like
the dent a gigantic top would make in the mud.
Yes, there it was beyond, and they were speeding down at a pace that
made one dizzy to notice it. He could feel that both Indian guides were
paddling desperately _away from the left_, as though fearing that they
were too close to the verge of that death chasm!
What if a paddle chanced to break right then and there? They carried
spare ones fortunately--Jack had noted that; but all the same he hoped
nothing of the sort would come about.
Hardly had this chilly idea flashed into Jack's mind than he heard what
seemed to be a groan close to his ear. At the same time he felt the boat
quiver in a suspicious manner. Turning instantly the boy was horrified
to see that the Indian guide in the rear had crumpled in his place, with
his head fallen forward, and seemed to be gasping for breath.
He had collapsed just at the most dreadful moment, when the canoe was
swooping down close to the edge of the whirlpool!