I followed the horse track which had been cut through the gorge, and in
many places I disliked it extremely, for the river, still in fresh, was
raging furiously; twice, for some few yards, where the gorge was wider
and the stream less rapid, it covered the track, and I had no confidence
that it might not have washed it away; on these occasions Doctor pricked
his ears towards the water, and was evidently thinking exactly what his
rider was. He decided, however, that all would be sound, and took to the
water without any urging on my part. Seeing his opinion, I remembered my
father's advice, and let him do what he liked, but in one place for three
or four yards the water came nearly up to his belly, and I was in great
fear for the watches that were in my saddle-bags. As for the dog, I
feared I had lost him, but after a time he rejoined me, though how he
contrived to do so I cannot say.
Nothing could be grander than the sight of this great river pent into a
narrow compass, and occasionally becoming more like an immense waterfall
than a river, but I was in continual fear of coming to more places where
the water would be over the track, and perhaps of finding myself unable
to get any farther. I therefore failed to enjoy what was really far the
most impressive sight in its way that I had ever seen.
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