“How far did they go each day?” demanded Jesse, “and how often did they eat?”
They all broke out in a roar of laughter over Jesse’s appetite.
“They ate when they could,” answered Uncle Dick, “for they had their hands full, working that big scow upstream. She was loaded heavy, and they often had to drag her on the line. When the line broke, as it did several times, she’d swing into the current and there’d be trouble to pay.
“How far did they go? Well, that’s really hard to say. They usually set down the courses and distances on the bends. For instance, here is the first record of that sort, May 15th. ‘St’ means starboard, right-hand side going up, and ‘Lbd’ means larboard, to the left.
“‘Course and Distance assending the Missourie Tuesday May 15.
| Course | Mls | |||
| West | 1-0— | To pt | on St Side | |
| N 80°W | 2-0— | “ “ | “ “ “ | |
| N 11°W | 2-½— | “ “ | “ “ “ | |
| N 20°W | 1-½— | “ “ | “ Lbd “ | |
| S 10°W | 1-½— | “ “ | “ St “ | |
| S 22°W | 1-0— | “ “ | “ “ “ | |
| —— | ||||
| 9-½’ |
“We’ll not try to keep our own courses, and we’ll have to guess at our distances except as we can estimate it from average speed, which is what they also did. I suppose it seemed a long way. Patrick Gass says it was three thousand and ninety-six miles to the head of the river. Anyhow, they didn’t make it as soon as we shall.”
They ran on steadily, both motors firing perfectly and the sun bright overhead, while the fresh breeze back of them still held fair for most of the bends. They made St. Charles by noon, as had been predicted, but did not pause, eating their lunch aboard as they traveled.
“Our captains didn’t do this,” said Rob. “As near as I can learn, they camped and cooked on shore. And they certainly got plenty of game.”