He could have waded it as the water would not rise past his waist, but he did not like the look of the chill current, and he did not want another wetting on a winter day.
He followed the stream a long distance, until he came to shallows, where he was able to cross it on stones.

His search for a dry ford had caused much delay, but he drew comfort from his observation that the stones making his pathway through the water were large and almost round.

He had seen many such about New York, and he had often marveled at their smoothness and roundness, although he did not yet know the geological reason.

But the stones in the river seemed to him to be close kin to the stones about New York, and he inferred, or at least he hoped, that it indicated the proximity of the city.
But he believed that he would have to spend another night in the wilderness.

Search the sky as he would, and he often did, there was no trace of smoke, and, as the sun went down the zenith and the cold began to increase, his spirits fell a little.