The rain had slackened a little, and now the wind was rising. Dale and Owen continued their sight-seeing, and then returned to the schooner, for they had arranged to remain on the craft that night, so that they might be ready for the start early in the morning.
The Elizabeth was a three-master, broad of beam, and with good carrying capacity. She was loaded with dressed lumber, consigned to a lumber yard at Detroit, and carried a crew of twelve, besides the cook. The lumber filled not only the hold, but also a good part of the deck, so moving from one part of the ship to another was not easy.
The young lumbermen slept soundly, and when they arose they found the schooner was already getting under way. Dressing hastily, they went on deck, to receive a bluff "good-morning" from Captain Dacker.
Dale and Owen watched the hoisting of the sails with interest, and lent a hand at coiling up the ropes used for fastening the ship to the dock. Then the Elizabeth moved on down the Saginaw River, and the journey toward the bay and the lake was begun.
The Saginaw River is not a large stream, and the city of that name is situated about twenty miles from its mouth, near which is located Bay City. The run to Bay City and into Saginaw Bay occupied a little over two hours, and then the schooner stood boldly to the northeast, for Burnt Cabin Point, as it is called, where the bay opens into Lake Huron.
"This is a good, stiff breeze," said Owen. "I hope it keeps up all the way to Detroit."
"The trouble of it is, it won't be in our favor after we turn to run southward on the lake," answered Dale. "We'll have to do a lot of tacking."
"Oh, well, if the trip lasts a day or two longer than expected, who cares? I think a week of this would just suit me."
They found the crew of the lumber boat a mixed one, composed of Norwegians, Germans, French, and one or two Americans. But this was not strange, for the majority of the population around the Lakes is composed of foreigners of many nationalities, Germans, Norwegians, Swedes, and French predominating.
"Have you any idea how far it is to Detroit from here?" asked Dale.