David, surprised by the sudden jolt, lost for a moment his equilibrium, but had time to cry:
Frederick obeyed more by instinct than by reflection. The little boat turned again, presented its breadth, and, half raised by the eddy around the spheroid mass which had already touched the prow, swung on the single oar as if it had been a pivot, thus describing a half circle around the floating obstruction, and escaping from it in such a way as to receive only a slight shock.
While all this was taking place with the rapidity of thought, David, seizing a spare oar from the bottom of the boat, fixed it in the thole, saying to Frederick, who was excited by the frightful danger he had just escaped:
"Take this new oar and go forward; the canoe is gaining on us."
Frederick seized the oar, at the same time throwing a glance on the craft of the young marquis.
It was going directly toward the farmhouse, standing in the current, while the little boat was cutting it crosswise.
So, supposing they were of equal speed, the two craft, whose course formed a right angle, would meet at the farmhouse.
But, as we have said, the canoe, although it ascended the current, being managed by six vigorous oarsmen, was considerably in advance, thanks to the accident to which the little boat had nearly fallen a victim.
Frederick, seeing the marquis precede him, reached such a degree of excitement that for a given time his natural strength was raised to an irresistible power, and enabled him to accomplish wonders.
One would have said that the son of Madame Bastien had communicated his feverish ardour to inanimate objects, and that the little craft trembled with impatience in its entire frame, while the oars seemed to receive not only motion, but life, with such precision and harmony did they obey Frederick's every movement.
David himself, surprised at this incredible energy, continued to watch in front of the little boat, casting a radiant look on his pupil, whose heroic emulation he understood so well.
Suddenly Frederick uttered an exclamation of profound joy.
The little boat was only twenty-five steps from the farmhouse, while the yawl was still distant about a hundred steps.
Suddenly, prolonged cries of distress, accompanied by a terrible crash, rose above the sound of the roaring waters.