"All aboard, steam's up," cried Jim.
It did not take us a second to wake up to the glad realization that this was the day we started. It beat all the holidays rolled into one for genuine interest and excitement.
Full of life and health and young, with a marvelous and exciting trip just before us.
"Hurrah for 'The Captain'," yelled Jim.
"Hurrah for the Colorado," cheered Tom.
"Hurrah for us," I cried.
A brief breakfast and we were ready to cast off. We had to say good-bye to our ponies. It hurt us more, in a way, than if they had been human beings.
They did not seem to mind and the last we saw of them they were grazing peacefully in the meadow along the smaller stream. Tears were in Jim's eyes as he took a last look at Piute. I did not have such a deep affection for animals as Jim, though I thought a good deal of Coyote.
As the sun came up over the eastern height of the adjacent valley, we were ready to start on our perilous trip.
"Now, shove her off," cried Jim. "Then to your oars."