22 rifle--no more. It'll make
a load, but Jesse's river ship will carry it. Nasty and noisy, but nice,
eh?"

"It'll be fine!" said Jesse. "Of course, we take our maps and books and
papers, in a valise?"

"Yes. I'll have a copy of the original _Journal_."

"And we'll always know where we are?" said John. "That is," he added,
"where they were?"

"Yes," said Uncle Dick, reverently enough. "As near as we can figure on
the face of a country so changed. And we'll try to put in all the things
they saw, try to understand what the country must have been at that
time? Is that agreed?"

Each boy came up and stood at attention. Each gave the Boy Scout's
salute. Uncle Dick noted with a grim smile the full, snappy, military
salute of the American Army which Rob now gave him. He returned it
gravely and courteously, as an officer does.

CHAPTER III

"ADVENTURER, OF AMERICA"

It was on a morning in early spring that our four adventurers found
themselves at the side of their boat, which rested on the bank of the
great Missouri River, not far above its mouth. Their little tent stood,
ready for striking, and all their preparations for the start now were
made. Rob stood with a paint pot and brush in hand, at the bow of the
boat.

"She's dry, all right, by now, I think," said he. "If we put a name on
the stern board the paint could dry without being touched. What shall we
christen her?"

"Call her 'Liberty,'" suggested Jesse, "or, say, 'America.'"

"Fine, but too usual. Give us a name, John."

"Well, I say, 'Columbia,' because we are headed for the Columbia, the
same as Lewis and Clark."

"Too matter-of-fact! Give us a jollier name."

"Well, give us one yourself, Rob," said Uncle Dick, "since you're so
particular."

"All right! How'd 'Adventurer, of St. Louis,' do?"

"Not so bad--not so bad. But to Lewis and Clark, St. Louis was only one
point of their journey, important as it was."

"I'll tell you," broke in Jesse, the youngest. "Call her '_Adventurer,
of America_.' You can paint it all on, if you use small letters for
part, like the steamboats."

"That's the name!" said Rob. "Because that was a great adventure that
Lewis and Clark were taking on; and it was all for America--then and
now. Hard to live up to. But, you see, we're only following."

"What do you say, Uncle Dick?" asked John.

"I like it," replied the latter. "It will do, so paint it on, Rob; and
all of you be careful not to smudge it. It'll b