We may have a long night's work before us, and I want to be able to get to the place where we fished before morning." The men bent to their oars, and the boat sped swiftly along.

The current was very slight, and after two hours' rowing, the lieutenant judged that they must be but a short distance from the village Hassan's messenger spoke of.

Accordingly, he told the coxswain to steer across to the other bank, and warned the men that the slightest splash of their oars might attract attention, and that they were to row easier for the present.
In a quarter of an hour the wall of forest ceased, and a hundred yards farther they saw houses.

Two or three dim lights were visible, and the sound of voices could be heard.

The boat's head was now turned out somewhat farther into the stream, so as to be out of sight of anyone who might by chance come down late to draw water.