Watching her gives him information he'll need for later, he thinks. Taller branches on each side for handholds. Rope to secure one side to the other, to keep what just happened to her from happening again. His eyes narrow as he makes a few decisions then and there.

"I will cross first - it would be unfair for you to take such a risk and for me to face nothing. But I can see one thing I can do here and now for the sake of ease." He stepped onto the log and, moving as slowly as she did, he crept while crouched, keeping himself close to the log's surface. But once he was over the water, he drew a knife from his sash. A few quick scores and he'd made a carved ridge in the log. Three paces more and he did it again, and again, until he'd gotten across the water's surface. Places where toes could grasp. Places where the water could run away and leave other surfaces drier. Most importantly, it was a start.

"There. Now we'll face less danger crossing back, and we can shore this end from moving."