A little way up the river the current was broken by a long point projecting from the bank, and forming an eddy easily crossed by the boat.

The two boatmen propelled their barge with long poles, which they handled cleverly; but as they gained the middle of the stream it grew deeper and deeper, until at last they could only just reach the bottom.

The ends of the poles were only a foot above the water, which rendered their use difficult.

Michael and Nadia, seated in the stern of the boat, and always in dread of a delay, watched the boatmen with some uneasiness.
"Look out!" cried one of them to his comrade.
The shout was occasioned by the new direction the boat was rapidly taking.

It had got into the direct current and was being swept down the river.