"I had come down the Ottawa with several rafts, some two hundred miles or more.  My own raft was manned by Canadians,--steady boys, who stuck to our laws, whatever they do to those of other people, and kept sober till they brought their raft safe into dock.  Another raft was manned chiefly by Irishmen,--who, although I warned them, would indulge in strong drink.  We were nearing the Chaudiere Falls, and I had brought my raft safe to shore, where it was taken to pieces, so that the logs might be sent down the slide.  I had gone on to a point where I could watch this being done, when I heard loud cries; and on looking up the river I saw that part of another raft, with four men on it, had got adrift, and, to my horror, was hurrying towards the most dangerous part of the rapids.  I saw at once that in a few moments it must be dashed to pieces, and, as I thought, the fate of the four unfortunates on it was surely sealed.