Many of the men waded neck deep into the water and strove at the wheels.

But the stream went completely over the cannon, which also sank deeper and deeper in the oozy bottom.

It then became an effort to save the gun.

The Panther put all his strength at the wheel, and, a dozen others helping, they at last got it back to the bank from which they had started.
Fannin, not a man of great decision, looked deeply discouraged, but the Panther and others urged him on to new attempts.

The Panther, himself, as he talked, bore the aspect of a huge river god.