It grew in his ears.
Over his head the black sky opened again, and a deluge of rain fell straight down.

But above the sound of it the rush of the river drew nearer, and still nearer.

He felt the first eddying swirl of it against the scow head, and powerful hands seemed to reach in out of the darkness.

He knew that the nose of the current had caught him and was carrying him out on the breast of the stream.

He shipped the sweep and straightened himself, facing the utter chaos of blackness ahead.