The distance across the river was about three miles.
We shot ahead at a rapid pace for about five minutes, when suddenly, bump went the canoe against something.

To lie flat down was to our guide the work of a second, and the canoe was at once transformed into a floating log.
Well it was so, for it seems we had struck a small boat that was fastened astern of the gun-boat guarding the river.

That the noise of the collision had been heard on board was evident, for a sentry hailed, 'Boat ahoy!' and fired his musket, and one of those detestable bright lights which the American men-of-war have a nasty habit of showing flashed over the water, making everything visible for a hundred yards round.

The current of the river, however, was very strong, and I fancy we had drifted out of the radius covered by the light, as we were fortunately not discovered; or perhaps the diligent watchman on board the man-of-war thought some huge crocodile or other monster had come in contact with their boat.

Be that as it may, we were safe, and twenty minutes more paddling brought us to land on the opposite bank of the river; but unfortunately our little adventure had thrown us out of our line, or as we sailors should have called it, out of our course.