The partly sunken log crashed into the side of the canoe with such suddenness that the craft was overturned and ruined, and the occupants struggling in the water, before either had time to utter more than a single .  
But they were powerful swimmers, and, but for the nearness of the rapids, they could have afforded to laugh at their . As it was, Terry Clark shouted, as he blew the muddy water from his mouth:
 
"What a sinsible young gintleman I was to lave me gun on the other side."
 
"We both would have been much more sensible had we left ourselves there," rejoined Fred, who was struggling with might and main for the land in front; "there's no time, Terry, to waste in talk; we've got to swim as never before, for nothing else will save us."
 
The other seemed to rouse to his , for he made the only wise response he could—which was putting every atom of strength and skill that he in the effort to breast the furious .
 
It is singular how often the slightest advantage turns the scale for life or death. At the moment the canoe was smashed and capsized Terry Clark was seated some six or eight feet nearer the shore toward which they were paddling than was Fred Linden, and this difference remained when the two went into the water and began swimming. The Irish lad was as skillful as the other, and he did not lose an inch of the gain thus given him.
 
They were near the middle of the stream when the took place. Of course they would have done better had they been without any clothing, but there was no time to remove any of that, and beyond question the two made the most kind of a fight for life.
 
Fully aroused to his peril, Terry swam with amazing power, his lips compressed and his eyes on the land in front, which seemed quite near, and yet was never so hard to reach. The lad had proven by repeated tests that he could swim faster on his left side then in any other position. He quickly flung himself over and used his arms and legs like one who knew fully the stake for which he was contending.
 
By this recourse he actually gained on Fred, who continued to breast the water with all the strength at his command. Terry was hopeful, and now that he was fully roused, he did not waste his strength in shouting to his companion. As he advanced in his crab-like fashion, he frequently his face around so as to look in front, and thus to keep aware of his progress.
 
"I'm doing well, and will make it," was his thought; "I hope Fred will be as fortynate as mesilf."
 
An important point was gained by swimming on his left side; his face was turned up stream, and he caught sight of the floating timber quicker than when advancing with his face toward the land. Thus it came about that he97 saw a tree, or log, similar to that which had destroyed the canoe, and when it was fully as close to him.
 
Like a flash, Terry dove, intending to pass clean under it. He could not know any thing about the portion beneath the surface, and was a little startled when he found himself among leaves and a lot of small branches; but he swam with the same and skill when below as when above the surface, and quickly fought his way through, rising on the other side a considerable distance nearer land.
 
But he with terror, for during the brief period he lost a great deal more than he gained. A glance to the left showed him the mist and spray flying high in air, as the muddy waters were tossed to and fro by the rocks below: he was fearfully close to them.
 
But he was also close to land, and he saw his chance; indeed, his only one. A tree growing out toward the curved downward so that the lower part of the trunk was within a few inches of the water. A short time before the current had washed against it, but was now falling away from it.
 
The portion which inclined downward like a bow was several feet from shore, and some distance below him. It will be seen, therefore, that the thing for him to do was to bend all his efforts toward reaching that. If he could advance far enough to allow the current to sweep him beneath, or quite close to the tree, he could grasp it and save himself.
 
"That's what's got to be done," was his conclusion the instant he saw the tree; "or it's good-by to Terry Clark and his rifle."
 
He would succeed; he saw it the next moment. The curving tree seemed to be up stream with swiftness, but at the right second Terry, by a effort, threw himself partly out of the water, and flinging both arms around the trunk, which was no more than six inches in diameter, he held fast.
 
The strain was great, and he felt his fingers slipping over the shaggy bark, but he held ............