Page 77 (1/1)

After brief respite Madame steered as closely beside the bank as possible, thus avoiding the swift current, yet it was no s hours More and more frequently tired muscles drove us to the shore for intervals of relaxation Still, in spite of ress, so beforedawned I was confident h the low shore we skirted remained so sie our passage

De Noyan grew ay semblance of reckless abandon Toin snatches of ribald song, and careless speech, freely interspersed with French oaths and much complaint at unwonted toll, than in his former moody silence; yet his cheerfulness had effect upon Madame, who contrived to rally fro in turn a veritable sunburst in the gloo to her , sounding sweetly enough as it echoed back from off the black water

In spite of such efforts to appear light-hearted, the nature of our work, coupled with the soht, rested heavily upon the spirits, and long beforesilence, holding grih sheer force of will With wearied eyes Iof dawn above that desolation; the faint gray light creeping like sohastly than before the iht, yet beca forth over the wide river, reddening the heaving surface, until the waters blazed like burnished aze upon it

We were at this ti to the eye as if it ht prove the mouth of some important tributary stream Beyond, perhaps a hundred feet out in the main river, appeared a low island, a mere rock as it fronted us, yet thickly covered by se No sign of life was apparent anywhere The mainland, so far as the sweep of vision extended, bore the same marshy and inhospitable look, and I immediately deter spot

"Turn the prow of the canoe toward the upper end of that rock, Madaplace hereabout, and should afford us excellent vantage of view both up and down the river"