This was also accomplished, and the two pieces of armour laid on the tree.  They were now free to look round.  The rapid stream had already taken them half a mile below the point where the army were crossing, and they were now entering a spot where the river was broken up by islands, and raced along its pent up channel with greater velocity than before, its surface broken with short angry waves, which rendered it difficult for them to retain their hold of the tree.

For a time they strove by swimming to give the canoe an impetus towards one bank or the other; but their efforts were vain.  Sometimes they thought they were about to succeed, and then an eddy would take the boat and carry it into the middle of the stream again.

“It is useless, Nessus,” Malchus said at last.  “We are only wearing ourselves out, and our efforts are of no avail whatever.  We must be content to drift down the river until our good luck throws us into some eddy which may carry us near one bank or the other.”

It was a long time, indeed, before that stroke of fortune befell them, and they were many miles down the river before the current took them near the eastern bank at a point where a sharp curve of the river threw the force of the current over in that direction; but although they were carried to within a few yards of the shore, so numbed and exhausted were they by their long immersion in the cold water that it was with the greatest difficulty that they could give the canoe a sufficient impulsion to carry it to the bank.

At last, however, their feet touched the bottom, and they struggled to shore, carrying with them the arms and armour; then, letting the canoe drift away again, they crawled up the bank, and threw themselves down, utterly exhausted.  It was some time before either of them spoke.  Then Malchus said: 

“We had best strip off our clothes and wring them as well as we can; after that they will soon dry on us.  We have no means of drying them here, so we must lie down among some bushes to shelter us from this bitter wind which blows from the mountains.”

The clothes were wrung until the last drop was extracted from them and then put on again.  They were still damp and cold, but Malchus and his companion had been accustomed to be drenched to the skin, and thought nothing of this.  They were still too exhausted, however, to walk briskly, and therefore lay down among some thick bushes until they should feel equal to setting out on the long tramp to rejoin their companions.  After lying for a couple of hours Malchus rose to his feet, and issuing from the bushes looked round.  He had resumed his armour and sword.  As he stepped out a sudden shout arose, and he saw within a hundred yards of him a body of natives some hundred strong approaching.  They had already caught sight of him.

“Nessus,” he exclaimed, without looking round, “lie still.  I am seen, and shall be taken in a minute.  It is hopeless for me to try to escape.  You will do me more good by remaining hid and trying to free me from their hands afterwards.”