I looked at it a moment to consider what to do.

One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go any where, or to do anything, not to turn back, or stop until the thing intended was accomplished.

I have frequently started to go to places where I had never been and to which I did not know the way, depending upon making inquiries on the road, and if I got past the place without knowing it, instead of turning back, I would go on until a road was found turning in the right direction, take that, and come in by the other side.

So I struck into the stream, and in an instant the horse was swimming and I being carried down by the current.

I headed the horse towards the other bank and soon reached it, wet through and without other clothes on that side of the stream.