"Fine idea," agreed Tom Clifton. "Then we can send a few postal cards home, telling the folks that the Rambler Club hasn't furnished food for bears or wildcats."
Half an hour later, a church spire was seen rising high above the surrounding houses, while straight ahead a long iron bridge crossed the river.
The arrival of a strange boat naturally attracted a great deal of attention from the idlers lounging around the wharves, and numerous questions were hurled at them.
A party of small boys in a clumsy rowboat obligingly pointed out the best place for them to land. It was an old, tumble-down wharf, with an incline leading down to the water.
Bob swung the "Rambler" in at moderate speed, making a landing in excellent style. Then the boys drew lots to decide who should be the first to go on shore. Perhaps there was no actual necessity for this, but their recent experience had made them careful.
Bob Somers, Dave Brandon and Tom Clifton presently sprang upon the landing and made their way up to a narrow street fronting the river. It was lined with small warehouses, stores, and a few manufacturing establishments. The clash and rattle of machinery assailed their ears as they walked along, smoke from numerous chimneys obscured the air, while now and then the odor of tar and hemp was perceptible.
River boats, barges and sailing craft were drawn up at the wharves, and the street was crowded with drays and trucks.
A short walk brought them to the iron bridge, which crossed overhead. They saw that it was used by a railroad; in fact, a train approached just at this time and they could tell by the sound that it soon stopped at a station.
The boys found a store where provisions and gasoline were sold. Accordingly Bob made a bargain to have a supply of both delivered to the "Rambler."
They had now reached a wide street running directly back from the river, and turning into this, a very few minutes sufficed to bring them to the principal business section of the town. It was a larger and much more important place than Kingswood, possessing an opera house, several large hotels and many handsome stores. The streets were crowded with vehicles and pedestrians, making them lively and interesting.