With the beginning of afternoon Kent felt growing within him something that was not altogether eagerness.

It was, at times, a disturbing emotion, a foreshadowing of evil, a warning for him to be on his guard.

He used the sweep more, to help their progress in the current, and he began to measure time and distance with painstaking care.

He recognized many landmarks.
By four o'clock, or five at the latest, they would strike the head of the Chute.

Ten minutes of its thrilling passage and he would work the scow into the concealment he had in mind ashore, and no longer would he fear the arm of the law that reached out from the Landing.