“More than we ought to take,” he said; “but we’ll risk it, and hope for fine weather. Now, gentlemen, as we’ve made our fortunes, let’s have the good dinner Dan has got ready for us, and then I say: all traps aboard and down stream for the brig.”
“Ready to come up again for another load,” said Briscoe.
“Well,” said the captain slowly, “if we can.”
The dinner was eaten, and various cooking-articles were replaced in the boat.
“Now then,” said the captain; “all aboard!”
“Three cheers first, lads,” cried one of the men; “for we shall have our gold now without washing for it.”
They gave three hearty cheers, and as the last was echoing from the opposite side of the cañon every man stood as if petrified, for it was answered by a savage yell which seemed to come from a couple of thousand throats; and as there was a rush to where, from the water steps, they could gaze up stream it was to see quite a fleet of small canoes, each of which held four or five Indians, bearing steadily down for where the boats were moored.