"Thet's my notion; and we won't think what we're go'n to do till we get to Mankato."
This was a wise resolve, though it would be rather difficult to carry it out. In a short time the bateau arrived at the outlet of the lake, and on the bank of the river the exiles discovered their Indian escort, which had been waiting since the middle of the forenoon for them. At this point the serenity of the voyage was interrupted, for the river was crooked, and the navigation often very difficult. The boat did not draw more than a foot of water, but in some places it was not easy to find even this depth.
Fanny found that all her slender knowledge of boating was called into use, for the bends in the river were so frequent that the boat was headed towards nearly every point of the compass within a single hour. Her progress was necessarily very slow, and the Indians on the shore soon began to manifest their impatience by grunting and growling. As the bateau proceeded, Fanny became more skilful in its management. She soon learned where the deepest water might be found, and instead of attempting to cut across the bends, she followed the current round the broadest sweep; but, with the best she could do, it was occasionally necessary for Ethan and Rattleshag to resort to the poles to push her over the shoal places.
At dark the question came up whether the party should continue the voyage during the night, or moor the boat, and sail only by daylight. Of course the Indians on the shore could not continue the journey without stopping to rest and feed their horses; but a consultation was had with them, and it was decided that the escort should divide into two parties, one on each side of the river, and ride forward ten or fifteen miles, then halt and await the coming of the boat. The river had received two or three large tributaries above the point they had reached, and the navigation was less difficult as the stream became broader and deeper.
"Now, Fanny, I reckon I kin steer this boat," said Ethan, after the arrangements had been made, and the escort had gone forward. "I will make up a bed for you for'ad, and you shall go to sleep. One on us kin sleep jest as well as not, all the time."
"I was thinking of that myself," replied Fanny. "We shall save a great deal of time if we can go by night as well as day."
"I reckon we shall; and the sooner we git to Mankato, the better we shall like it. The little Injin's gone to sleep now."
"Do you think you can steer the boat, Ethan?"
"I know I kin. I've been kinder watchin' the thing ever sence we started, and I reckon I know sunthin' about it," replied Ethan, as he went forward to prepare a bed for Fanny.
"Are you not tired, Rattleshag?" asked Fanny of the trapper, who sat forward of her, gazing intently down the river, and seldom speaking a word.