"Oh, I was only getting poetic, Bob."
"All right then, Eldorado it is, and if I'm to be captain you'll have to be first mate and the whole crew," came from Bob, merrily.
The scow was provided with a mast and a sail, and, the wind being favorable, they put up the sheet, Bob showing Mark how to fasten it in true nautical style. There was a long sweep at the stern for a rudder, and the sailor boy sat by it, to keep the scow to her course down the river.
"We'll have to go ashore when we want to cook food," said Mark. "We won't dare to make a fire on board."
"Well, what's the odds? Our time is our own."
"That's true, too."
"I shouldn't mind making the whole trip in this scow."
Two days went by and they made rapid progress down the Ohio. They had some trouble at the rapids, but nothing serious. Then came a day of mist and rain.
"This isn't so pleasant," observed the sailor boy. "We ought to hang out a danger signal, or we may run into something."
It soon began to thunder and lighten, and fearing the craft might be struck, they ran up to the river bank and tied fast. Scarcely had this been accomplished than the water came down in a perfect flood.