I struck her with
my spurs, the men screeched and shouted, the hinder man jumped in,
they both tugged at the lasso, and slipping and struggling, the
animal gained the rock, and plunged through deep water to shore, the
water covering that rock with a rush of foam, being fully two feet
deep.
Kaluna came up just after we had crossed, undressed, made his
clothes into a bundle, and got over amphibiously, leaping, swimming,
and diving, looking like a water-god, with the horse and mule after
him. His dexterity was a beautiful sight; but on looking back I
wondered how human beings ever devised to cross such a flood. We
got over just in time. Some travellers who reached Laupahoehoe
shortly after we left, more experienced than we were, suffered a two
days' detention rather than incur a similar risk. Several mules and
horses, they say, have had their legs broken in crossing this gulch
by getting them fast between the rocks.
Shortly after this, Deborah uttered a delighted exclamation, and her
pretty face lighted up, and I saw her husband spurring along the top
of the next pali, and he presently joined us, and I exchanged my
tired mare for his fresh, powerful horse. He knew that a freshet
was imminent, and believing that we should never leave Laupahoehoe,
he was setting off, provided with tackle for getting himself across,
intending to join us, and remain with us till the rivers fell.
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