Finding a stout pole, he stepped upon the raft, and to his delight found that it would easily bear his weight.  Pushing it from the shore, it was soon caught by the strong current and borne rapidly down stream.  The steering was an easy matter, so, sitting upon the raft, he gave himself up to the luxury of this new mode of travel.  It was such a great relief from his fearful wandering through the woods and climbing the hills, that but for his pangs of hunger he would have been quite happy.

All through, the night the raft swung on its way, the plaything of the current which kept it clear of bars and rocks.  Reynolds did not dare to sleep, for he could not tell what lay ahead.  It might be a dangerous rapid, or at any minute he might come to some camp along the shore, and it would be necessary to be wide awake and alert.

But nothing happened, and morning found him still floating onward into the great unknown.  He was ravenously hungry, and once he ran the raft ashore and gathered a number of willow twigs.  These he gnawed as he once more continued his voyage.  This, however, was poor food for a starving man, and he was well aware that unless he could obtain something more substantial he must miserably perish.  Game was plentiful along the river, and several times he saw moose and bears, while early that morning he ran close to a flock of wild ducks.  But their presence only mocked him now, weaponless as he was.

This day was a most trying one, for about the middle of the forenoon it began to rain, and Reynolds was wet to the skin as he sat huddled upon the raft.  Anxiously he peered forward, hoping that around every bend something more cheering than the monotonous trees would meet his eyes.  But hour after hour it was just the same, and the rain continued without any cessation.  Would the river never end? he asked himself over and over again.  Whither was it bearing him, anyway?  At times the sinuous water appeared like a demon, carrying him on to destruction.  Its gurgle and ripple sounded in his ears like mocking laughter, and the great brooding forest in its intense silence seemed in league with the stream.  Of what avail were all his mighty efforts?  He had escaped from the tangle of the forest, only to be lured to ruin by the river.

The afternoon waned, and night drew near, and still the raft swept onward.  Reynolds felt that he could endure the strain but little longer.  He was chilled to the bone, and cramped from his huddled position.  He must land, and get some circulation in his body, providing he had any strength left.

He was about to run the raft ashore, when to his great delight it suddenly shot forth from its forest prison into the open expanse of a broad and silent lake.  Reynolds staggered painfully to his feet and looked around.  He could only see a short distance, as a heavy mist lay over the water.  His eyes scanned the shore, but no sign of human habitation could he behold.  There was nothing except the same scene of desolation which had been his companion for weary days.