o make an announcement, the patrol leader
appeared to do some mental calculating before giving his opinion.

"If you can keep going for about ten or fifteen minutes longer, Jimmy,"
he finally remarked, cheerily, "I think, you'll find that we've arrived.
Once or twice, I noticed something in the lay of things ahead, when an
opening came, that seemed to tell of the river. The trees always grow
higher along the course of such a stream, you know, and often you can
follow the direction of the river, without ever glimpsing the water
itself once."

"That's good news, Ned, and I'm going to get a new hustle on for the
last lap," Jimmy announced, heaving a sigh of relief that swelled from
the very depths of his heart.

Their progress after that was not quite so rapid. This in itself was
convincing proof to Ned that his prediction was going to be fulfilled,
because, as they gradually reached the lowlands, vegetation increased,
making it more difficult to push through.

"The ten minutes are up, Ned," announced Teddy, who had been taking sly
peeps at his little nickel watch from time to time.

"Well, what would you call that over there through the break in the
trees?" asked Jack, triumphantly, just as though it was his prediction
that was being fulfilled.

"The river, as sure as anything!" admitted Teddy.

"Thank goodness!" sighed Jimmy. "The only thing that's been helping me
keep up is the picture I've been drawing of a feller about my heft,
squattin' amidships in that bully canoe, and bucking up against the
current of the old Harricanaw. How far do you think we ought to go,
before making our first camp, Ned; and will we be able to cook any
supper, before turning in under our warm blankets?"

"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched!" said Frank.

"Now, what makes you try to throw cold water on a feller all the time?"
complained Jimmy. "I like to see the silver linin' of the cloud, and
think of things going good. Besides, we've got to eat, haven't we; and
we left a pile of good grub along with the boats? If Ned says the word,
I'm meanin' to dish up a supper that'll make us forget we're tired to
death. We c'n hide the fire, like Injuns do when in a hostile country,
by makin' the same in a hole, so the light won't show any distance.
How's that, Ned; am I on?"

"Wait and see," was the only comfort the other would give the
enthusiastic one, and with this, Jimmy had to rest content.

With the river in plain sight,