CHAPTER IV
THE EARLY ADVENTURERS
“
Well, are you all set, fellows?” demanded Uncle Dick, at last, turning to his young companions and taking a look over the dismantled camp.
“Just about, sir,” answered Rob, who always was accepted as the next officer to Uncle Dick in command.
“Load her down by the head all you can,” said the latter, as the boys began storing the remaining duffle aboard.
“Why?” asked Jesse, who always wanted to know reasons.
“I’ll tell you. This water is so roily you can’t see into it very deep. It has a lot of snags and sweepers and buried stuff. Now, if she rides with bows high, she slips farther up, say, on a sunken log. If her bow is down a little, she either doesn’t slide on, or else she slips on over.”