You still retain the pistol ?" She nodded her response and without delaying my departure longer, I lowered myself into the water and swam toward the opposite shore, creeping forth amid a tangle of roots, and immediately disappearing in the underbrush.

Sam had already vanished, as I paused an instant to glance back, but she lingered at the edge of the wood to wave her hand.
I found a rough passage for the first few rods, being obliged to almost tear a way through the close growth and unable to see a yard in advance.

But this ended suddenly at the edge of the sand flat, with the converging waters of the two rivers visible just beyond.

My view from here was narrowed, however, by high ridges on both sides, and, with a desire not to expose myself to any chance eye, I followed the line of forest until able to climb the slope, and thus attain the crest of the bluff.
From this vantage point the view was extensive, both up and down the big river, as well as across to the opposite bank.

For miles nothing could escape my eyes, the mighty stream sweeping majestically past where I lay, liquid silver in the sunshine.