Much wreckage from storms or the suction of flood water often floated on the surface of these wild rivers, and his keen eyes searched for trunk or bough or snag.

They also scanned at intervals the green walls speeding by on either side, lest they might pass some camp fire and not notice it, but finding no lighter note in the darkness he felt sure that no hostile bands were near.
About midnight the force of the current began to abate and Robert and Willet used the paddles.

The darkness also thinned.

The rainless clouds drifted away and disclosed a full moon, which turned the dusk of the water to silver.

The stars came out in cluster after cluster and the skies became a shining blue.