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All that first day on the river and all through the night, The Woodland Rover floated gently down river, the current taking her past snags and sandbars with little intervention from the rudders. Considering the level of expertise on board, this was just as well.
During the long peaceful night down the river, Autumn Leave and Waterstone alternated with Rainstorm and Lapping Water at the tiller. From time to time they passed moored riverboats, huddled shapes nestled against the banks or almost concealed beneath trailing foliage, sometimes lit by a dim lantern, but no one was stirring so they could remain undiscovered in full view of the boats they passed.
The sky was greying, and the stars were beginning to dim when Stefan trod softly up the companionway onto the deck. A moment later,
