BLAKELY CALLED ABOVE THE ROAR of the approaching falls. He gave one final pull on the engine’s starter cord. It sputtered and died. He watched as the current dragged the boat toward the precipice. It was impossible to determine from here how high the waterfall dropped. But the noise! The crescendo of rumbling water and rock suggested a deadly fall. He grabbed his paddle and scrambled to the side of the boat. He noticed Jason digging with his paddle on the other side. “Harder, Jason, harder!” he called to the boy as he added his strength to fight the current, his shoulders burning with exertion. “I’m trying! It’s not working! We’re not slowing down!” Blakely darted a look behind them. The stern of the boat was at the edge of the falls. He watched as the current pushed the boat over the edge. “Grab on! Tight!” he hollered, and grabbed the strap handles on the pontoons while Jason did the same. The boat seemed to hover at the edge of the waterfall, teetering. Blakely held his breath as the boat flipped over the edge.
