Then the two talked over the details of their plot, sitting up until late in the night, while our heroes peacefully slumbered, and dreamed of strange adventures on Snake Island in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.
Bright and early the next morning Bob and Ned, with the professor, assembled at Jerry’s house. The last preparations had been made, good-byes had been said, and the motor boat looked over for the last time. She was pulling uneasily at the mooring lines, which held her fast to the dock, for there had been a heavy rain, and the river was much swollen. It was as if the boat was anxious for the boys to come aboard.
“All ready?” asked Jerry.
“All ready,” replied Ned, and then, waving good-byes to Mrs. Hopkins, they started for the pier. It did not take them long to put their handbags aboard, and, once the professor was comfortably settled aft, in the open cockpit, he began scanning the water for rare insects.
“All aboard!” cried Jerry, as he took his place at the wheel.
“All aboard,” answered Ned.
“Then let her go,” ordered the steersman, and Ned turned over the fly wheel to start the motor.
There was a cheer from the little crowd that had gathered on the dock to see our heroes start. Andy Rush was among them.