Fortunately no serious accident occurred to him, though he found that the labor of managing the boat was scarcely less than that of walking.
There was one consolation about it; he was in no danger of missing the road, and he was not bothered by Confederate soldiers or inquisitive civilians.

His light bark rushed on its way down the stream, without attracting the notice of any of the inhabitants, if any were abroad at that unseemly hour of the night.

The difficulties of the navigation were overcome with more or less labor, and when the day dawned, Tom made up his mind that he had done a good night's work; and choosing a secluded nook by the side of the river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the return of darkness.
The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, and he ate his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind.

Though he was not very tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something better to do, he felt compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the previous day, to dispose of the weary hours in this agreeable manner.

His pastime, however, was soon interrupted by loud shouts and the tramp of men, not far from the spot where he lay.