“There’s a man just ahead, who seems to be waving to us,” put in Jerry.
“That’s the place!” cried the merchant’s son. “Now we’re all right.”
It was no easy work to get the Dartaway out of the water, and upon the truck, but finally it was accomplished by means of tackle and windlass.
“Are you boys going to walk, or ride on the truck to the canal?” asked the teamster, as he gathered up the reins of the four powerful horses.
“Guess we might as well ride,” decided Ned. “We’ll be there as soon as you are then.”
Accordingly the boys climbed up on the truck, and seated themselves in the cabin of their boat. The professor accompanied them, and the men who were to help unload the boat dispersed themselves about the big vehicle.
It was about a two hours’ ride to the canal, with so heavy a load, as part of the distance was up hill. When about half of the journey had been accomplished one of the men discovered that the boat was slipping down toward the end of the truck, and a halt had to be called to shift it forward.
“We don’t want it sliding off, and trying to navigate in the dust!” exclaimed the truckman with a laugh.
Professor Snodgrass grew restless at the delay and finally climbed down off the vehicle, with an insect net.