The main thing will be to keep out of the way of the rocks." "I wish those chaps would run on the rocks and smash their boat to bits," grumbled Tom, who had gotten a stone in his loose shoe and was consequently limping.
The boys shoved the rowboat from the creek to the river and leaped in.
Dick, being the largest and strongest, took the board and using it as a sweep, sent the craft well out where the current could catch it.
Down the stream went the boat, with Sam in the middle and Tom in the stern.

There was no rudder, so they had to depend entirely upon Dick, who stood up near the bow, peering ahead for rocks, of which the river boasted a great number.
"Those fellows must know this river," remarked Sam, as he started to lace his shoes, there being nothing else just then to do.
"They ought to--if they are the fellows who visited our henhouse before," answered Tom.

"Dick, can you see them ?" "No, but I know they must be ahead." "Perhaps they went ashore--just to fool us." "They couldn't get ashore here very well--it is too rocky, you know that as well as I do.

Listen!" They listened, but the only sound that broke the stillness was the distant roar of Humpback Falls, where Sam had once had such a thrilling adventure, as related in "The Rover Boys at School." Even now, so long afterward, it made the youngest Rover shiver to think of that happening.
A minute later the boat came clear of the tree shadows and the boys saw a long stretch ahead of them, shimmering like silver in the moonbeams.

Sam, looking in the direction of the opposite shore, made out a rowboat moving thither.
"There they are!" he cried.
At once Dick essayed to turn their own craft in that direction.