About noon
The night waned and day dawned , and still the current carried them forward . They breakfasted in the boat , first stripping to the waist and sluicing their heads , necks , arms and chests with water . Breakfast was scarcely over when the boat shot out of the Nepalgah into the Connecuh river , whereat the boys gave a cheer . About noon they entered the Escambia river , and their speed slackened . Here they had met the influence of the tide which checked the force of the current , and their progress grew steadily slower , until Sam directed the use of the paddles . They had long since left the drift wood behind , lodged along the banks , and they had now a broader and straighter stream than before , although it was still not very broad nor very straight . Two boys paddled at a time , one upon each side , while a third steered , and by relieving each other occasionally they maintained a very good rate of speed .