Deborah, to my dismay, said that if she got safely over we
would go too, as these natives were very skilful. I asked if she
thought her husband would let her cross, and she said "No." I asked
her if she were frightened, and she said "Yes;" but she wished so to
get home, and her face was as pale as a brown face can be. I only
hope the man will prove worthy of her affectionate devotion.
Here, though people say it is a most perilous gulch, I was not
afraid for her life or mine, with the amphibious natives to help us;
but I was sorely afraid of being bruised, and scarred, and of
breaking the horses' legs, and I said I would not cross, but would
sleep among the trees; but the tumult drowned our voices, though the
Hawaiians by screeching could make themselves understood. The
nearest man then approached the shore, put the lasso round the nose
of the woman's horse, and dragged it into the torrent; and it was
exciting to see a horse creeping from rock to rock in a cataract
with alarming possibilities in every direction. But beasts may well
be bold, as they have not "the foreknowledge of death." When the
nearest native had got the horse as far as he could, he threw the
lasso to the man who was steadying himself with the pole, and urged
the horse on.
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