Canada and Its Provinces Volume 15; A History of the Canadian People and Their Institutions (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...his utter dismay that ' ice two inches thick had formed for some distance from either bank.' Nevertheless he broke the nearer ice with his setting-pole and launched the raft and embarked with sack and ax. He relates: But a new and unthought-of difliculty now appeared, as on approaching the other bank I found it impossible to break the ice so as to effect a landing, for such was the strength and rapidity of the current, that both settingpole and my utmost strength were in constant requisition to keep the raft from being carried down the stream; so that after repeated and vain attempts to gain the shore, I found myself going down the deep, open channel without power to land on either side. When passing at the mercy of the current around a bend in the river, I found the water less deep and rapid than in any place I had seen; and with this discovery came the instant resolution of abandoning the raft, and throwing myself into the water; so, dropping the pole, with concentrated strength I threw the axe ashore, and, grasping the sack, leaped into the river, which at that point was nearly up to my chin. So strong was the current that a struggle was necessary to gain a footing; but life and death were before me; and, with a strength bor n of desperation, I seized the sack with both hands and commenced breaking the ice with it. In the emergency, the heavy contents were of good use;... After leaving the water my first effort was to find the axe I had thrown ashore, and then to regain the road. I had gone but a short distance before my clothes were frozen stiff; and being wet to the skin, it was apparent that life depended upon exertion, as I must walk ten miles before reaching human habitation.... After regaining the road, ... I slipped, and fell in such a ...