Page:A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.djvu/249

Rh Late in the afternoon, for we had lingered long on the island, we raised our sail for the first time, and for a short hour the south-west wind was our ally; but it did not please Heaven to abet us long. With one sail raised we swept slowly up the eastern side of the stream, steering clear of the rocks, while from the top of a hill which formed the opposite bank, some lumberers were rolling down timber to be rafted down the stream. We could see their axes and levers gleaming in the sun, and the logs came down with a dust and a rumbling sound, which was reverberated through the woods beyond us on our side, like the roar of artillery. But Zephyr soon took us out of sight and hearing of this commerce. Having passed Read's Ferry, and another island called McGaw's Island, we reached some rapids called Moore's Falls, and entered on "that section of the river, nine miles in extent, converted, by law, into the Union Canal, comprehending in that space six distinct falls; at each of which, and at several intermediate places, work has been done." After passing Moore's Falls by means of locks, we again had recourse to our oars, and went merrily on our way, driving the small sand-piper from rock to rock before us, and sometimes rowing near enough to a cottage on the bank, though they were few and far between, to see the sun-flowers, and the seed vessels of the poppy, like small goblets filled with the water of Lethe, before the door, but without disturbing the sluggish household behind. Thus we held on, sailing or dipping our way along with the paddle up this broad river,—smooth and placid, flowing over concealed rocks, where we could see the pickerel lying low in the transparent water,—eager to double some distant cape, to make some great bend as in the life of man, and see what new perspective would open;