The boat rolled over at once, throwing its occupants into the water.

Malchus grasped the canoe as it upset, for he would instantly have sunk from the weight of his armour.

Nessus a moment later appeared by his side.
"I will go to the other side, my lord," he said, "that will keep the tree from turning over again." He dived under the canoe, and came up on the opposite side, and giving Malchus his hand across it, there was no longer any fear of the log rolling over.

The other rower did not reappear above the surface.
Malchus shouted in vain to some of the passing boats to pick him up, but all were so absorbed in their efforts to advance and their eagerness to engage the enemy that none paid attention to Malchus or the others in like plight.

Besides, it seemed probable that all, if they stuck to their canoes, would presently gain one bank or other of the river.
Malchus, too, had started rather low down, and he was therefore soon out of the flotilla.
The boat was nearly in midstream when the accident happened.
"The first thing to do," Malchus said when he saw that there was no chance of their being picked up, "is to rid myself of my armour.