The first rapid was not a bad one; we ran it without halting and ran three more in quick succession, one of which was rather ugly.
[Illustration: The Head of the Canyon of Lodore.
Just inside the Gate.
Photograph by E.O.Beaman, 1871.] This success caused some of us prematurely to conclude that perhaps "the way the water comes down at Lodore," was not so terrific as had been anticipated.

The Major said nothing.

He kept his eyes directed ahead.
The river ran about 300 feet wide, with a current of 10 to 15 miles an hour in the rapids.

At every bend new vistas of beauty were exhibited, and the cliffs impressed us more and more by their increasing height and sublimity.

Landing places were numerous.