For one instant it seemed to him that he was moving and that the Terek with the drifting wood remained stationary.

Again he peered out.

One large black log with a branch particularly attracted his attention.

The tree was floating in a strange way right down the middle of the stream, neither rocking nor whirling.

It even appeared not to be floating altogether with the current, but to be crossing it in the direction of the shallows.