They were huddled together in the prow; Molly was in the midsection manning the pump doggedly, trying to pretend her aching muscles away. The boat shuddered under a new impact, and Ben nodded.

"Can't stay here. Not going to be a picnic getting back downriver."

"Let's get at it," Lewis said, and stood up.

They were all wet and cold, and afraid. They were within sight of the swirling waters of the Shenandoah where it joined the Potomac, and the eddies that had nearly swamped them on the first leg of their trip now threatened to break the boat apart. They could get no closer to the Shenandoah until the flood subsided.

"Thomas, relieve Molly at the pump. And, Thomas, remember, you don't think of anything but that pump! And you keep it going!"

Molly got up, continuing to pump until Thomas was in place, ready to take over without interruption. As she started for the rear oar, Lewis said, "You take the prow." They put the oars back in the locks. The rain pounded them, and Thomas pumped harder. The water was sloshing about their feet, and when the lines to shore were untied the boat swung sharply into the river. The water inside the boat surged back and forth.

"Log! Coming fast! Eight o'clock!" Molly yelled.

They turned the boat, and it shot forward and they were flashing down the river, keeping abreast of the log that was off to their left.

"Stump! Twelve o'clock! Twenty yards!" Molly hardly had time to get the words out. They jerked the boat to the left and flew past the stump. The flood had changed everything. The stump had been ashore when they passed it before. The current became swifter, and they fought to get closer in. "Tree! One o'clock! Twenty yards!" They veered out again and now the log that was pacing them tumbled and came dangerously close. "Log! Nine o'clock! Three yards!"

And on they went in the blinding rain, flying past a newly created shoreline, staying even with the massive log that turned and tumbled alongside them. Suddenly Molly saw the low spot and cried, "Land! Two o'clock, twenty yards!" They drove in sharply to shore. The boat dragged on something hidden in the muddy water and the front half swung out toward the river. It rocked violently and water sloshed in over the side. Lewis and Ben quickly jumped out and, with the brown water swirling about their chests, waded toward shore, dragging the boat in after them. The boat grated over mud and stones, and now the others jumped into the water and dragged the boat higher until it was beached, tilted, but for the moment safe. Molly lay in the mud panting until Lewis said, "We've got to get it higher. The river's rising fast."

It rained throughout the night and they had to move the boat a second time; then the rain stopped and the sun shone, and that night there was a frost.