rom that on, nothing else was thought of or talked of. Each night the
four boys got together at Mr. Jennings's house, each one bringing
things that he thought he needed. They had never looked upon a sheet of
water larger than the mill-pond on the Cedar River, and the cool face
of that beautiful lake, of which they had heard so much, allured them.

The boat was carefully mended, and Rance, who was a good deal of a
sailor, naturally talked about making a sail for it.

Lists of articles were carefully drawn up thus:

4 tin cups 4 knives and forks
1 spider 1 kettle, etc.

At Sunday School the campers became the center of attraction for the
other small boys, and quite a number of them went home with Lincoln to
look over the vehicle--a common lumber wagon with a boat for the box,
projecting dangerously near the horses' tails and trailing far astern.
From the edges of the boat arose a few hoops, making a kind of cover,
like a prairie schooner.[100-1] In the box were "traps" innumerable in
charge of Bert, who was "chief cook and bottlewasher."

Each man's duty had been assigned. Lincoln was to take care of the
horses, Milton was to look after the tent and places to sleep, Rance
was treasurer, and Bert was the cook, with the treasurer to assist. All
these preparations amused an old soldier like Captain Knapp.

"Are you going to get back this fall?" he asked slyly, as he stood
about, enjoying the talk.

"We'll try to," replied Milton.

Yes, there the craft stood, all ready to sail at day-break, with no
wind or tide to prevent, and every boy who saw it said, "I wish I could
go." And the campers, not selfish in their fun, felt a pang of pity, as
they answered, "We wish you could, boys."

It was arranged that they were all to sleep in the ship that night, and
so as night fell and the visitors drew off, the four navigators went
into the kitchen, where Mrs. Jennings set out some bread and milk for
them.

"Now, boys, d'ye suppose you got bread enough?"

"We've got twelve loaves."

"Well, of course you can buy bread and milk, so I guess you won't
starve."

"I guess not--not with fish plenty," they assured her.

"Well, now, don't set up too late, _talkin'_ about gettin' off."

"We're goin' to turn right in, ain't we, boys?"

"You bet. We're goin' to get out of here before sun-up to-morrow
mornin'," replied Bert.

"Well, see't you do," said Mr. Jennings, who liked boys to have a good
time. "I'