The boat was carefully mended, and Rance, who was a good deal of a sailor, naturally talked about making a sail for it.
Lists of articles were carefully drawn up thus:
| 4 tin cups | 4 knives and forks |
| 1 spider | 1 kettle, etc. |
At Sunday School the campers became the center of attraction for the other small boys, and quite a number of them went home with Lincoln to look over the vehicle—a common lumber wagon with a boat for the box, projecting dangerously near the horses' tails and trailing far astern. From the edges of the boat arose a few hoops, making a kind of cover, like a prairie schooner.[100-1] ] In the box were "traps" innumerable in charge of Bert, who was "chief cook and bottlewasher."
Each man's duty had been assigned. Lincoln was to take care of the horses, Milton was to look after the tent and places to sleep, Rance was treasurer, and Bert was the cook, with the treasurer to assist. All these preparations amused an old soldier like Captain Knapp.
"Are you going to get back this fall?" he asked slyly, as he stood about, enjoying the talk.
"We'll try to," replied Milton.
Yes, there the craft stood, all ready to sail at day-break, with no wind or tide to prevent, and every boy who saw it said, "I wish I could go." And the campers, not selfish in their fun, felt a pang of pity, as they answered, "We wish you could, boys."
It was arranged that they were all to sleep in the ship that night, and so as night fell and the visitors drew off, the four navigators went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Jennings set out some bread and milk for them.
"Now, boys, d'ye suppose you got bread enough?"