"The Professor will be glad to know this," said George. "Look at this part of the yoke, where it has been broken. I have no doubt that this is where they struck the tree where the wagon caught."
Fig. 1. The Broken Yoke
"Let us take it with us, by all means," said Harry. An examination of the yoke plainly showed where it had come in contact with bark with considerable force. "What do you suppose caused them to be so frightened as to run away?"
They quickened their steps, and soon reached the river. There, on the shore, was the lifeboat, as they had left it, and it was the work of minutes only to set it adrift, and after depositing the yoke in the bottom, the first task was to supply themselves with a pair of oars.
The first article turned out in the way of tools was a bolo, a heavy cleaver-like blade, used by many primitive tribes. This article was duplicated by them, and always carried on all their expeditions. With this several small trees were cut down, and a pair of oars fashioned for each, and within an hour they were on their way down the stream, and in two hours more had rounded the point of projecting land east of the river mouth.
"Don't let us take any more chances of losing this boat. I am in favor of taking it around, and am willing to risk the tide, whatever it may be."