The bottom of the canal that had been cut through the dam was perfectly firm, composed of sand, mud, and interwoven decaying vegetation.

The river arrived with great force at the abrupt edge of the obstruction, bringing with it all kinds of trash and large floating islands.

None of these objects hitched against the edge, but the instant they struck they dived under and disappeared.

It was in this manner that a vessel had recently been lost.

Having missed the narrow entrance to the canal, she had struck the dam stem on; the force of the current immediately turned her broadside against the obstruction, the floating islands and masses of vegetation brought down by the river were heaped against her and, heeling over on her side, she was sucked bodily under and carried beneath the dam.