The paddles lay idly across the gunwales and the Nyoda floated in to the landing.
“Disembark!”
The girl behind the bow paddler stepped out on 44 the dock, followed, one by one, by those behind her, while the bow paddler sat still and held the canoe fast to the pier. As the girls and boys stepped out they stood in a row with their paddles resting on the dock before them. When all the rest were out the bow paddler stepped up onto the deck. Uncle Teddy stood at attention, facing the crew.
“Salute!”
“Yea!” Up went the paddles.
“Dismiss!”
Crew practice was over. The crew dove off the sides of the dock like water rats and began to play tag around the war canoe, swimming around it, and under it and diving off the bow, until a far-echoing blast on the horn warned them it was time to come and play another sort of game.
At breakfast Aunt Clara told about seeing the big moose break through the woods on the opposite shore, and immediately there rose a great clamor.
“Oh, Uncle Teddy, can’t we go over there and see if we can see it?” cried Sahwah.
“Can’t we have a big hunting party and kill it and bring home the antlers to hang in the House of the Open Door?” asked the Captain.