Oh, how he strained and panted! How the veins stood out on his forehead! Still the great mass of timber seemed immovable.

Again and again he tried, and at length felt a slight yield.

A more desperate effort than before, and he could take a step; then another, and another, until he had walked half the length of the pole.

The head of the raft was swinging off, at first so slowly that the motion was almost imperceptible, then faster, until finally it felt the full force of the current.

Now for one more effort! If he could only work her out from the bank and into the friendly shelter of the fog without discovery, he would feel safe even from pistol-shots.