L. 21. P. 37 one other thing last night just as we were going to bed: an enormous tree can down clear first and locked branches with a large snag when it lay teetering for moments, then the butt commenced to swing in towards the bank where we were all anchored. We fended it off with poles but it kept coming back. At length by tying two poles together we succeeded in getting it to swing out into the current. Even then it being into the snag was still there in the morning. Friday, Aug 7. Three enormous eddies are double-edged tools. We couldn't get our guns until the second try and a single whirl took twenty minutes. Even then it was a devilish hard pull. I had boys alternating guard last night & I set my alarm clock for every three. Was afraid the river might fall & trees down onto a snag where we might have stayed till dark day (or the next big flood). Heard Healy shout over the signal that he was starting out. Due to the eddy I didn't get away till nearly 7 o'clock. Heard Rand just around the corner on the island alone out of Palmer Camp, & Brass, Healy and the sergeant had apparently stayed there all night. Thousands of fruit trees across the river - the same I went in search of back in May & couldn't find. Don't quite understand that as I'm sure I want that far up river. Got down the long E-W stretch (9,05) two freshmen in a canoe called "Saco, Saco" (? friend) 10.15 Reached upper end McCrossan Island; turned 10.35 11.15 Saw half a dozen natives with 2 canoes on left bank. One of them called out in Italian & it developed that he and Aremusa (our policeman) are somehow acquainted. Anyhow the usual invitation was started to the freshmen to bring food to the Griville place which we shall undoubtedly reach today. 3.15 Passed large river or left, The Elevado... And by is now at least a quarter of a mile wide and its meanders are relatively enormous. Moreover as the water is fairly high there is little danger of running onto snags. This evening the first time I have seen the stars for weeks we are all tied up in a row alongs