"Couldn't you go with us?" interposed Harry, "and let us make a day of it?"
"I should like to do so," he replied. "But I have good reason for declining at this time, on account of some special work which is attracting my attention, particularly in preparing the instruments we shall need on our voyage."
"That is true," answered George. "But we shall certainly start early enough in the morning to enable us to visit that section, and go far enough to get some idea of what it looks like near the mountain."
"It would be a good idea," suggested Harry, "to take the team along, as far as the river, at any rate, and that will give us an opportunity to ride going and coming. In that way it will help us."
"Yes; and to carry the game," said George, with a laugh.
"If you bag as big game as you did on the last trip, you will need the wagon," replied the Professor.
They were on the way early in the morning, with the guns and plenty of ammunition, and before nine o'clock reached the river. Scarcity of rains had considerably lowered the stream, and they discussed the advisability of fording the team across.
"I am in favor of the idea, if the stream isn't too deep. It seems to be shallow enough."
"Suppose, George, we take out the raft, and try the depth. If we find the animals will have to swim, we had better leave them on this side."
The raft was launched, and it was pushed out with the poles, but before going very far it was seen that the idea was impracticable, and it might be a hazardous operation.