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butthentheycouldnotswim，andwouldnothavetosavethemselves。
TheLaChine’stocomeyet，“theyexulted，“andthat’stheawfullestofall！“
TheypassedtheLakeSt。Louis；theLaChin；rapidsflashedintosight。
Thecaptainroseupfromhisseat，tookhispipefromhismouth，andwavedasilencewithit。“Ladiesandgentlemen，“saidhe，“it’sveryimportantinpassingtheserapidstokeeptheboatperfectlytrim。
Pleasetoremainjustasyouare。“
Itwastwilight，fortheboatwaslate。FromtheIndianvillageontheshoretheysignaledtoknowifhewantedthelocalpilot；thecaptainrefused；andthenthesteamerplungedintotheleapingwaves。Fromrocktorocksheswervedandsank；onthelastledgeshescrapedwithadeadlytouchthatwenttotheheart。
Thenthedangerwaspassed，andthenoblecityofMontrealwasinfullsight，lyingatthefootofherdarkgreenmountain，andliftinghermanyspiresintotherosytwilightair:massiveandgrandshowedthesistertowersoftheFrenchcathedral。
Basilhadhopedtoapproachthisfamouscitywithjustassociations。HehadmeanttoconjureupforIsabel’ssakesomereflex，howeverfaint，ofthatbeautifulpictureMr。ParkmanhaspaintedofMaisonneuvefoundingandconsecratingMontreal。Heflushedwiththerecollectionofthehistorian’sphrase；butinthatmomenttherecameforthfromthecabinaprettyyoungpersonwhogaveeverytokenofbeingaprettyyoungactress，eventotheduenna-like，elderlyfemalecompanion，tobedetectedintheremotebackgroundofeveryyoungactress。ShehadflirtedaudaciouslyduringthedaywithsomeyoungEnglishmenandCanadiansofheracquaintance，andafterpassingtheLaChineRapidsshehadtakentheheartsofallthemenbyspringingsuddenlytoherfeet，apostrophizingthetumultwithacharmingattitude，andwarblingadeliciousbitofsong。NowastheydrewnearthecitytheVictoriaBridgestretcheditslongtubeathwarttheriver，andlookedsolowbecauseofitsgreatlengththatitseemedtobarthesteamer’spassage。
“Iwonder，“saidoneoftheactress’sadorers，aCanadian，whosefacewasexactlythatofthebeaverontheescutcheonofhisnativeprovince，andwhoseheavygallantriesshehadconstantlyreceivedwithagay，impertinentnonchalance，——“Iwonderifwecanbegoingrightunderthatbridge？“
“No，sir！“answeredtheprettyyoungactresswithshockingpromptness，“we’regoingrightoverit！“
“’Threegroansandaguggle，Andanawfulstruggle，Andoverwego！’“
Atthiswitless，sweetimpudencetheCanadianlookedverysheepish——forabeaver；andalltheotherpeoplelaughed；butthenoblehistoricalshadesofBasil’sthoughtvanishedinwoundeddignitybeyondrecall，andlefthimfeelingratherashamed，——forhehadlaughedtoo。
Thefeelingofforeigntravelforwhichourtouristshadstriventhroughouttheirjourney，andwhichtheyhadknowninsomedegreeatKingstonandallthewaydowntheriver，wasintensifiedfromthefirstmomentinMontreal；anditwassowelcomethattheywerealmostgladtolosemoneyontheirgreenbacks，whichtheconductoroftheomnibuswouldtakeonlyatadiscountoftwentycents。Atbreakfastnextmorningtheycouldhardlytellonwhatcountrytheyhadfallen。ThewaitershadbutathinvarnishofEnglishspeechupontheirnativeFrench，andtheyspoketheirowntonguewitheachother；butmostofthemeatswerecookedtotheEnglishtaste，andthewholewasapoorimitationofanAmericanhotel。Duringtheirstaythesamecommi
