The others recoiled for an instant, and no more javelins were thrown, which was some slight gain for the pursued.
It seemed, however, that the contest could have only a single ending.
The soldiers were running parallel and apace with the barge, which was now as close to the northern bank as was safe in view of the missiles.
The Pons Sublicius was getting minute by minute nearer, and upon it could be seen a considerable body of troops ready with darts and grapnels to cut off the last hope of escape.
But Antonius never withdrew his eye from the line of dark weatherbeaten warehouses that stretched down to the river's edge on the north bank just above the Pons Sublicius.
"Row," he exhorted his companions, "row! as life is dear! Row as never before!" And under the combined impulse of the three desperate men, even the heavy barge leaped forward and a little eddy of foaming waves began to trail behind her stern.

Drusus had no time to ask of himself or Antonius the special object of this last burst of speed.

He only knew that he was flinging every pound of strength into the heavy handle of his oar, and that his life depended on making the broad blade push back the water as rapidly as possible.

Antonius, however, had had good cause for his command.

A searching scrutiny had revealed to him that a single very long warehouse ran clear down to the river's edge, and so made it impossible to continue running along the bank.