Besides the practise there was a lot of planning to do in regard to the trip. By Friday all arrangements were complete, and at last they had agreed on a route. They were to go through to Hipp’s Pond, carry across to Northwest Bay, and so reach Lake Winnipesaukee. Tuesday they would cruise on the lake and on Wednesday they would return as far as The Weirs by train and from there paddle home again. They were to take two canoes, not so much because they were both necessary as because it looked more imposing. A 7 x 9 canoe tent, blankets, an aluminum cooking outfit, a waterproof duffle bag, a few provisions, hatchet, fishing-tackle, camera, and compass made up the bulk of their luggage. Tom was strongly desirous of taking a great many more things, among them a checker-board, a pack of cards, and his wonderful book—but the others refused.
“We may have to carry a good ways,” explained Bob. “If we do you’ll be glad we haven’t any more truck, Tommy.”
Mr. Clinton gave his counsel and help and regretted many times that he wasn’t going along. By Saturday morning all luggage was assembled under Dan’s bed and nothing remained but to await as patiently as possible the hour of embarkment. Naturally, they were much envied by the other boys and many were the applications received for membership in the expedition.
Wickasaw appeared on the field Saturday afternoon minus one of their councilors, who was too ill to play. As he was one of the best of the Wickasaw nine his absence was partly accountable for the result of the contest. But Chicora’s playing had a good deal to do with it. Wells pitched a good game and very few hits were made off his delivery. On the other hand Nelson and Bob and Loom, who played short-stop, were able to find the Wickasaw pitcher for a number of timely hits. At the end of the sixth inning Chicora had a comfortable lead of four runs. In the seventh an epidemic of errors in the Wickasaw infield enabled her rival to pile on three more, and the game ended with a score 9 to 3 in Chicora’s favor.
Dan spent most of the evening manufacturing a flag of victory, while the other three lent him valuable advice. He sacrificed one of his two pillow-slips and on it drew a broom—which he explained was emblematic of victory and a clean sweep—from the upper right-hand to the lower left-hand corner. Above it, in amazing letters and numerals, he inscribed “Chicora 9!”; below it in much smaller characters he traced the inscription: “Wick. 3.” As his exclamation point had much the appearance of a figure 1, the score at first glance was a bit startling. When they went for their dip in the morning they attached the flag to the line under the camp banner.
“They won’t be able to steal it if they want to,” said Dan. “Because, you see, it’ll come down at night and go up to camp.”
The only thing that marred his happiness that morning was the fact that there was no breeze and consequently the flag hung straight downward and failed to flaunt its message to the eyes of the inhabitants of Bear Island.
Sunday passed very slowly for the Four. In the forenoon they wrote their regular weekly letters home and had their “soak.” At noon they ate a great deal of dinner. In the afternoon they secured the motor-dory and with three others went for a trip around the lake. But for the most part their thoughts were set on the morrow. In the middle of the night Nelson awoke in a most unhappy frame of mind. He had dreamed that it was raining so hard that the dormitory was afloat and Dr. Smith was dealing out rowboats so that they could get to breakfast. But one glance through the open window at the foot of the bunk brought relief. The night was still and cool and through the silent leaves the white stars were twinkling merrily.