The campers found their canoe on high land where Barker had turned it over, but the flood had almost crept up to it.
In a very short time the travelers were off.
“Keep your eyes peeled for snags and driftwood,” the trapper cautioned Bill. “We have only one canoe and cannot afford a wreck and a spill.”
“You can depend on me,” Bill replied. “The water is much too cold for swimming. I want to stay in the canoe.”
Tatanka and Barker plied their paddles vigorously and Tim did his share, with a short light paddle.
At noon they made only a short stop for a cup of hot tea and a very light lunch, wishing to go as far as possible before camping.
About three in the afternoon, the trapper told the boys to look out for a good camping-place.
“We want to stop at a good spring,” he said; “this river water isn’t so bad, but good spring water is much better.”
“How can we find a spring!” the boys wanted to know. “We don’t know the country.”
“If you are wise campers you can always find a spring,” the old man instructed them. “Look for places where the high bluffs come down close to the water edge.”