but in some places it was not easy to
find even this depth.

Fanny found that all her slender knowledge of boating was called into
use, for the bends in the river were so frequent that the boat was
headed towards nearly every point of the compass within a single hour.
Her progress was necessarily very slow, and the Indians on the shore
soon began to manifest their impatience by grunting and growling. As
the bateau proceeded, Fanny became more skilful in its management. She
soon learned where the deepest water might be found, and instead of
attempting to cut across the bends, she followed the current round the
broadest sweep; but, with the best she could do, it was occasionally
necessary for Ethan and Rattleshag to resort to the poles to push her
over the shoal places.

At dark the question came up whether the party should continue the
voyage during the night, or moor the boat, and sail only by daylight.
Of course the Indians on the shore could not continue the journey
without stopping to rest and feed their horses; but a consultation was
had with them, and it was decided that the escort should divide into
two parties, one on each side of the river, and ride forward ten or
fifteen miles, then halt and await the coming of the boat. The river
had received two or three large tributaries above the point they had
reached, and the navigation was less difficult as the stream became
broader and deeper.

"Now, Fanny, I reckon I kin steer this boat," said Ethan, after the
arrangements had been made, and the escort had gone forward. "I will
make up a bed for you for'ad, and you shall go to sleep. One on us kin
sleep jest as well as not, all the time."

"I was thinking of that myself," replied Fanny. "We shall save a great
deal of time if we can go by night as well as day."

"I reckon we shall; and the sooner we git to Mankato, the better we
shall like it. The little Injin's gone to sleep now."

"Do you think you can steer the boat, Ethan?"

"I know I kin. I've been kinder watchin' the thing ever sence we
started, and I reckon I know sunthin' about it," replied Ethan, as he
went forward to prepare a bed for Fanny.

"Are you not tired, Rattleshag?" asked Fanny of the trapper, who sat
forward of her, gazing intently down the river, and seldom speaking a
word.

"No, miss, I'm never tired," he replied.

"Where do you sleep when you are travelling over the broad prairies?"

"Sometimes in an Indian tepee, but generally alle