The moment before Harry Paul seemed to have been exerting his full strength to force the boat through the water, but an accession of strength came to him, and with a few fierce thrusts he drove her bows into the edge of the current, which gave it so quick a snatch that it was whirled round, and its occupant nearly lost his footing; but he was too practised a boatman for that.  Recovering himself directly, he planted a foot on either side, the oar bent in the water, and, getting the boat's head right, he forced her along farther and farther into the current, with which she seemed to race onward towards the drowning man.