“Exactly,” said Rob, “and I’m going to keep a journal of my own each day. We haven’t got any sextant to take observations, but I’ve got all the maps, and I’ve got a compass—maybe we’ll get out a Voyage of Discoveries of our own some day!”
“Now, Moise,” said Alex, “you’re to go ahead with the cook-boat. You’d better take Mr. Rob for your bow paddler. I’ll let Mr. John take the bow in my boat, and our youngest friend here will go amidships, sitting flat on the bottom of the canoe, with his back against his bed-roll. The blankets and tent will make the seats. Of course, Moise, you’re not to go too far ahead. It’s always a good plan to keep in sight of the wangan-box and the cook’s chest, when you’re in the woods.”
“All right,” replied Moise, “I’ll go slow with those boy all the time, yes.”
“Well, we’re not any of us scared yet,” said John, stoutly, “and we won’t be.”
“I hope we’ll get some white water to run,” added Rob, his eyes shining. Jesse was the only one who seemed to be not wholly happy. The silence of the great hills about him, situated as they now were far from all human habitation, made him feel rather lonesome. He kept up a stout heart, however, and soon forgot his troubles when the actual bustle of the departure was begun.
“You’d better take the axes, Mr. Rob, and go ahead and cut out the way a little bit on this little creek,” said Alex. “I’m afraid the boats won’t quite clear.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said Rob, and soon he and the other boys were making their way in among the tangled thicket, sometimes in and sometimes out of the water, chopping away the branches so that the little boats could get through.
“Will they float, do you think, Mr. Rob?” called Alex.
“Like a bird!” answered Rob, as the first canoe, which was named the Mary Ann, soon took the water.
“Here comes the Jaybird!” cried Jesse, as they pushed the other canoe over the last foot or so of grass which lay between it and the water.