"Great!" exclaimed Fred enthusiastically. "How far can we go with the boats?"
"Ten or twelve miles," answered Zeke. "And when we stop we'll be more than half way to Thorn's Gulch. It's so much quicker to go by the river than over land."
"That will be fine," repeated Fred. "Let's get started."
"It's going to be hot in the middle of the day," suggested Zeke warningly.
"All the more reason then for starting right away," said Grant.
"All right," assented Zeke. "We'll put things to rights here in the camp and then we'll go down to start on our voyage."
The light tent was folded and concealed under the projecting rock nearby. Most of the cooking utensils also were hidden or at least placed where they would not attract the attention of any chance visitor. It was extremely unlikely that any one would come to the place, although among the parties visiting the Grand Canyon there might be some who would be attracted by the safe landing place, just as the Go Ahead Boys and their guides already had been.
"We had better plan to be gone about four days!" spoke up Pete who up to this time had taken no part in the morning conversation.
"I should think we ought to have supplies for more than that," said Fred.
Pete, however, insisted that the time he had named would be ample for their first attempt. "If we don't strike anything," he explained, "we shan't need to stay any longer and if we do we can mark the spot or leave someone there on guard and the rest can come back for more supplies."