"I never used any other canoes," said Bob. "Now that I am used to these canoes, I do not mind them very much."
"You must also remember that you boys are getting into the finest kind of physical shape," said Mr. Waterman.
"We ought to up here," said Pud. "I've done more real work here the past two weeks than I would do at home in six months. It certainly puts the muscle on a fellow."
Shortly after breakfast they had all their duffle packed and they were off. They went along from one lake to another without incident and in due time they arrived at the Escoumains River. By this time it was nearly two o'clock, so they had a hurried lunch and then started up the river. Then the boys had a taste of river canoe work that they had never seen before. It was well that for each of the four canoes there was an experienced man, for otherwise there would have been plenty of trouble. Before they started the boys were surprised to see the guides come out of the woods with several long poles nicely trimmed up. These they laid in the canoes.
"What's the idea?" asked Pud.
"Of what?" asked Joe.
"We use the pole getting up the rapids. One can go better that way," said Joe.
"I didn't know that one ever used anything but paddles in canoes," said Bill.
"You'll very soon find how much more power you can get out of the pole than out of a paddle when going up a stream," said Mr. Anderson.