“And we don’t want to scamp it,” said thoroughgoing, sober Rob.
“But we don’t want to motor it,” countered John.
“I’ll tell you,” said Jesse Wilcox, the youngest and smallest of the three. “We can go by power boat, most way, anyhow. That’s not scamping it, all things considered, is it?”
“By Jove!” said Uncle Dick, and again: “By Jove! An idea!”
“But about how big a boat do you think this particular family, just after the war, can afford?”
“We could easy buy a riverman’s fishing skiff,” said Jesse, sagely; “twenty feet long and narrow bottomed, but she floats light and runs easy and can carry a load.”
“But that’s not a motor boat, son,” said Uncle Dick. “Do you think we can row to the head of the Missouri and get back by September?”
“Outboard motor,” said Jesse, calmly.
“Hah! As though that could stem the June rise on the Muddy!”