Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Chapter 22 -- Boys' Life
"Anyway," Jimmie went on, "I'm going out in there to see how deep that water is. If it isn't too
deep, I can drop down to the boulder above where the water disappears, and get a peek into
the chute it follows. I might be able to see if there really is anything except a waterfall below."
This plan gained the consent of the boys, and in a short time Jimmie dropped off the ledge and
started to swim toward the boulder at the head of the drop. To his amazement, however, he
found the water was only up to his waist, so he waded along quite comfortably, although the
current was very strong.
Once or twice be slipped on the treacherous bottom and plunged head first into the water, but
the rope always assisted him to his feet, and he went on until he came to the boulder which
split the stream at the point of its disappearance. Perching himself upon the rock, he called out
to Frank:
"There's a water-wheel down there, all right, and the water-wheel runs the dynamo."
For Scouts who demonstrate knowledge of underground rivers and carry
out an appropriate conservation project, we suggest an Underground River
merit badge, a combination of the Canoeing and Geology badges.
DRAFT 1122//66//22001122
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