XVII
THE UNBRILLIANT VIRTUES
DAWN’S fingers were exploring the horizon when Harry opened his eyes. Already ribbons of mist were lifting from the river. Hope was high. A new day! A new start! New experiences! At 10 a.m. they pushed off. Dip, scrape, splash! The paddles were in rhythmic harmony. The little fleet cut rapidly through the water, then - there it was! Another great obstacle ahead! A giant forest tree had fallen across the river. The men hacked and chopped through to give passage. On they went, only to find the same thing a little way beyond. And yet a third! They had conquered these when suddenly leaping spray flashed in the sunlight ahead. Charges of water crashed against rocks and were thrown into the air. The rapid was a treacherous one and was crossed with the utmost of care - men leaping from rock to rock, securing the canoes with ropes. After three hours of struggling, they passed the rapid and were on their way, when they spied two more trees stretching
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