, "it won't do no harm. Now then,
if you're rested, I think we'd better start on, only I think I'll chain
your long legs to the boat so that if you decide to leave us the way you
did before, we can haul you in the same as we would an anchor."

"You won't have to haul me in," retorted John. "I'm going to stay by you
this time."

"See that you do," said Pete sharply.

In a brief time the boat had been pushed out once more into the stream and
again the three passengers with their poles had taken their stations and
were prepared to do their utmost to guide the course down the river.

For a considerable distance the waters were not so turbulent as they had
been farther up the stream. Occasional rocks were passed and several times
the points rising almost to the surface of the river were discovered.
However, the current was so strong that it carried the boat safely around
the threatening danger, and almost with the speed of a race horse the
little party again turned down the stream.

It was not long before the spot which Pete had declared was to be their
landing-place was seen before them. Here there was no great difficulty in
gaining the shore and in a brief time the three passengers and the skiff
were safely on the bank.

"What shall we do with the skiff?" inquired John after the cargo had been
unloaded.

"We'll leave it here and let some one else take it up the stream or use it
if he goes down. I think it will carry clear to the Gulf of California if
he wants to try it."

"How about that map, String?" demanded Fred as he turned again to his tall
companion.

"Right in my pocket," declared John promptly, "and dry too. I told you I
was not going overboard this time, and I kept my promise, didn't I?"

"You certainly did," laughed Fred. "Now, then, what are we to do next?" he
added, turning to the guide as he spoke.

Pete, however, did not reply. He had advanced several yards up the shore
and was drawing from the loose soil several pieces that evidently were
parts of a boat that had been wrecked.

"Do you see those?" he inquired, holding up some of the parts he had
found.

"Yes," answered Fred. "It looks as if a boat had been wrecked down here,
doesn't it?"

"It was 'wrecked' all right," answered Pete, "but I'm wondering if either
of you boys knows what boat it was?"

"What boat was it?" inquired John, advancing to the place where the guide
was standing.

"It's our lost skiff," replied Pete.

"What!"

"