With our friends it was no sooner said than done.
The next moment they were leading their horses upon the logs, and Van and Jack got ready to sever the vines that held the raft to the shore.
There were several long poles, as well as some short pieces of timber, lying upon it, and seizing a couple of the poles, they pushed off toward the center of the stream.
Ten minutes later they were drifting rapidly along with the current in the wake of Doc Clancy, who was now over half a mile ahead of them.
Van and Jack proceeded to steer the huge craft, while their companions undertook the task of rolling the loose logs into a pile on either side, to serve as a cover against the possible attack from any persons on either shore.
They knew there must be human beings in the vicinity, or they would never have found the rafts as they were.
"I wonder what river this is?" remarked Jack Howard. "With the exception of ourselves and the two ahead of us, I believe we are the only civilized people who have ever floated upon its waters."
"I am perfectly satisfied on that point," returned Prof. Drearland. "Suppose we name it after you, Jack?"
"That's it," echoed Van. "Call it Howard River."
The rest of the party agreed to this, so the stream was named, as far as our friends were concerned.