The Washington times., 1936-09-03

estimate, this stream measured
about six miles from the lake to
Slough Bay, and, as they could
only cover two miles during the
rising tide, it would require sew
eral tides to arrive at their des-
tination.
AS a matter of fact. about
eleven o'clock, the receding tide
began to turn the current down
the river and they quickly moored
the raft.
They could have started again
towards the end of the day when
the night tide would begin but it
would have been a matter of ad-
venturing in the dark.
"It wouldn't be wise" observed
Gordon. 1.-THE raft would be ex-
posed to shocks, capable of wreck
ing 1t. My advice is to wait until
tomorrow"
Everyone agreed. Even if it
were necessary to take Cwentyfour
hours longer, this delay was pre-
ferable to risking the precious
cargo.
That meant spending half a
day and a whole night here.
Therefore, Doniphan, and his
hunting companions, followed by
Phann, went ashore. They
brought back four fat plovers
and a string of cartridges. Moko
advised that this game be kept
for the first meal in the French
Den.
The day ended, Baxter, Webb
and Cross went on watch for the
hight. Nothing happened. The
next day, about GAS, when the
tide began to rise, navigation
was resumed.
The night had been cold and
the day was equally cold. 1t was
indeed time to arrive at their
winter quarters. What would hap
pen if the river began to freeze?
Or if ice drifted out of the lake
down ards Slough Bay?
These questions worried the boys.
However, since it was impos-
Sible to go quicker than the tide,
it was impossible to go more than
a mile in an hour and a half.
That again was the average of
this day. About half past one a
halt was made at the quagmire,
around which Briant went when
returning to Slough Bay. The
boys explored the river side of
1t. Moko, Doniphan and Wilcox
took the yawl and went a mile
and half towards the north
and only stopped when there was
not sufficient water to navigate.
This quagmire was like a con-
tinuation of the marshes on the
left bank of the river, and ap-
peared to be rich in aquatic
game. Doniphan shot a few
Snipe and these were put in the
larder of the raft.
The night was quiet, but icy
cold, a sharp wind blowing across
the valley of the river. Ice formed
on the water but was easily
broken at the least touch. There
was not much comfort on the
raft, although everyone nestled
under the sails. Bad temper got
the best of some of the children,
particularly Jenkins and Iverson,
who grumbled at having had to
abandon the encampment of the
Slough. Many times Briant spoke
encouraging words to comfort
them.
At last, in the afternoon of the
next day, when the tide lasted
until $3.50, the raft came to rest at
the foot of the bank in front of
the door of French Den.
The debarkation was made with
the joyful cries of the youngsters,
for whom any change in the ordi-
nary routine of life was as well
come as good games. Dole was
gamboling about on the bank like
a young kid, and Iverson, CoStar
and jenkins were running to-
wards the glade.
Briant told them not to 60 too
far, so they could keep Their eyes
on them.
"Are you going with them?" he
asked his brother.
mo, I prefer to stay here" an
Swered Jack.
ut would do you more good to
take little exercise" said Briant.
"There is something wrong with
you, Jack! You're either hiding
something from me or you're not
we'll"
There's nothing wrong with
me-" answered Jack.
Always the same answer, which
did not satisfy Briant, who had re-
solved to find out the truth, even
at the price of scene with the
obstinate boy.
However, there wasn't a mo-
mani IN 1osa ~ fheyy uyootaS e.