The night was now so far advanced that the women took the advice of
their friends and withdrew to the cabin for slumber. Their quarters
were cramped, but they made themselves fairly comfortable. The night
was cooler than the day, but only sufficiently so to be pleasant. It
was not deemed probable that anything would be seen of their enemies
before the morrow, and perhaps not even then.

Dr. Marlowe insisted upon taking his turn in poling, but since there
were four vigorous men without him, they would not consent. When two
had toiled for an hour or more, they gave way to the other couple, and
the progress thus continued without interruption, while the time slowly
dragged along. The resting spells gave each the opportunity for sleep,
thus husbanding their vigor for the morrow. Finding that there was
nothing to which he could turn his hand, the physician reclined at the
bow and soon joined the others in dreamland.

It was probably one o'clock when Jack Everson, who had been sleeping
for nearly an hour, was awakened by a gentle shaking of his shoulder.
Opening his eyes and looking up he saw Wharton bending over him.

"All right," remarked the American; "I'm ready for my turn," and he
rose, yawning, to his feet.

"I think we had better rest until morning."

"Why?"

"The current has become so rapid that it is hard to make progress; this
stream can't be of much further use to us."