I felt that they had all been washed
down years ago. And again I looked at the Family.
Because I knew what would happen. The Family would insist on going
along. It was not going to let mother take this risk alone; it was
going to drown with her if necessary.
The Family jaws were set. _They were going._
The entire outfit lowered the wagon by roping it down. There was one
delicious moment when I thought boats and all were going over the edge.
But the ropes held. Nothing happened.
_They put the boats in the water._
I had one last rather pitiful thought as I took my seat in the stern of
one of them.
"This is my birthday," I said wistfully. "It's rather a queer way to
spend a birthday, I think."
But this was met with stern silence. I was to have my story whether I
wanted it or not.
Yet once in the river, the excitement got me. I had run brief spells of
rapids before. There had been a gasp or two and it was over. But this
was to be a prolonged four days' gasp, with intervals only to sleep at
night.
Fortunately for all of us, it began rather quietly.
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