After dinner Bart and Fenn went to Mr. Armstrong's house, while Ned and Frank busied themselves over the canoe. They patched it up, strengthened it in weak places, and made it ready for the journey. It was decided that Frank had better make the trip in the boat to the foot of the cliff, as he knew the stream better than the other three.
"There, I guess that will do," observed Ned, as he daubed a bit of pine gum on a small crack. "I'll wager it doesn't leak a drop. The paddle is better than when you first made the trip, Frank."
"I'm glad of it. It was so rough before it blistered my hands."
In the meanwhile Bart and Fenn had reached Mr. Armstrong's house. They found the farmer had a long, light ladder, and was willing to let them take it.
"Hope you aren't going t' rob an apple orchard or raid a hen roost," he said with a laugh.
"Nothing like that," Bart assured their friend. "Now if you'll lend us your donkey we'll be much obliged."
"My donkey! Good land! Are you going t' start a circus and have the donkey do tricks?"
"Not exactly," Bart replied, and then, thinking it was only fair to explain why they wanted the ladder and the animal, the boys told Mr. Armstrong something of Frank's story. The farmer was in sympathy with them at once.
"I wish I could help you," he said eagerly. "Can't I go 'long?"
"We're much obliged," replied Bart, "but I guess we can do better alone. We're thankful for the ladder and the donkey."