It was awful to be thus blindly drifting, right in the track of steamboats.

The fog hung so low over the water that their pilots were lifted well above it, and could see the landmarks by which they were guided.

They could also see other steamboats; but such things as scows and rafts had no business to be moving at such a time.

They were supposed to be snugly tied up, and consequently no pilot would be on the lookout for them.

Winn knew this as well as any one, and the knowledge did not tend to reassure him.
If he only had some one with him to help work the heavy sweeps by which the raft's course might be directed, or even to advise him what to do.
It was dreadful to be alone.