CHAPTER XX.

THE START FOR THE RAPIDS.

There was a moment of intense excitement on the yacht and then came a shrill scream as the brave little craft righted itself and came out into the still waters once more. As soon as it was perceived that no one was injured, the reaction came, and shouts of laughter succeeded the cries of alarm.

It was speedily found that no one had entirely escaped the sweep of the great wave, but Ben had fared worst of all. Seated high in the bow as he had been, he had received the full force of the water and was drenched from head to foot. Some of the others had not fared so badly, but now that all danger was past, they were disposed to make light of the mishap and to look at it in the light of a joke.

"The next time we'd better leave Ben at the camp," suggested Bob. "He's a regular Jonah. If he can't fall into the river, he manages to have the river fall on us. The only safe plan will be to leave him out."

"I don't think you need complain," replied Ben, as he ruefully surveyed his dripping garments. "I was a regular breakwater for you all. I got the most of the water myself."

"We shan't complain," said Mr. Clarke, quickly. "It was a foolish venture at best. The waves were coming too swiftly for the boat to adjust herself. She took the first two of the breakers all right, but before she could rise for the third it was upon us and there was no escape."

The engineer and pilot had not spoken during the conversation, but the broad smiles upon their faces were indicative of their quiet enjoyment of the mishap, and soon they brought the little yacht alongside the dock in front of the camp. The good nights were then spoken, the boys leaped ashore, and as their visitors departed, they discharged the little brass cannon as a parting salute. The shrill whistle of the yacht responded, and soon the fleet boat had disappeared in the darkness, and all was quiet in the camp on Pine Tree Island.

The days which followed were filled with their own experiences, interesting, if not novel. Every morning Ben rose before his friends, and when they came forth from the tent for breakfast they would usually see him returning from the river in his canoe. His mishaps had only served to increase his determination to succeed, and though he was careful not to boast of his success in the presence of his friends, nevertheless his own progress was satisfactory, to himself at least.

Nor was he the only one to use the canoes. Sometimes with the bat-wing sails, and at other times with only a paddle, the boys set forth from the camp, and perhaps their lack of skill in no wise detracted from the zest of their enjoyment.

There were trips among the islands on the excursion steamers, visits made to Kingston, Gananoque, and various other points on the Canadian shore, and occasionally the boys donned their evening dress and repaired to the parlors of the hotels at Alexandria Bay. On Sunday Mr. Clarke had stopped for them with his yacht and they had gone up to Thousand Island Park to attend service there in the huge tabernacle. Indeed, the days were all filled with their own interesting experiences, and not one of the boys had found a moment of the time dragging or uneventful.

The nearest approach to that experience had occurred when one rainy day had come and compelled them to remain most of the time within their tents. Bob had improved the opportunity by perusing a book which he refused to let his companions examine, and thereby greatly increased their curiosity as to its contents; but he had declared they would know what he was doing in due time, and must rest content until he should be willing to explain it all.

A decided break in the camp life came one day when Ethan said: "I've been makin' arrangements for you boys to go down the Longue Seaut. I shan't go with ye; but you won't need me, for I've got word from two o' the boatmen down there, and they can do more for ye than I could, 'cause they know every foot o' the ground."

"Down the Longue Seaut?" exclaimed Jock. "I'd like to go, but I don't know what my father would say to it. I promised him when we came away we wouldn't take any chances."

"I wrote him," replied Ethan, quietly, "an' he says it's all right."

"Right it is, then," exclaimed Jock, delightedly. "I've been through the rapids there on a steamer when I went to Montreal, and it's a great experience, I can tell you, fellows. The water is tossing and boiling all around you, and the boat just shuts off all steam and lets her go it. You feel the boat go bump! bump! and all the time it seems as if the water was just dropping out from under you all. Do we really go through the rapids in skiffs, Ethan?"

"Yes, that's jest what ye do, only ye take what they call the Little Seaut instead o' the Big Seaut. All the difference the' is, is that one is on one side o' the island an' the other the other. An' the Little Seaut isn't quite so big as the Big Seaut, though there isn't a sight o' difference between them."

"You think it will be safe for us, do you?" inquired Bob, quietly.

"Safe? Yes, or I wouldn't let ye go. 'Twouldn't be safe for ye to try it alone, but in the hands o' the men I'm goin' to trust ye to, ye'll be all right enough. An' ye'll find some fishin' there what is fishin', I'm tellin' ye."

"I'm sorry you and Tom are not to go," said Jock.

"So be I; but I've got some work to do on my place, an' Tom here is goin' to practise his Hamlick. They're to have the show next week, ain't they, Tom?"

"Yes," replied Tom. "I'd like to go with you, boys, but I can't this trip. Perhaps you'll get a muscallonge or a sturgeon, and that will pay you well."

"Yes," said Ethan, "it's 'bout time for muscallonge to begin to run. If ye git one o' them fellows, you'll never forget it all yer born days. They're fish what is fish! An', besides, everything isn't fished out down there. Up here the lines is so thick that it's like runnin' through the meshes of a seine for a sizable fish to get up the river."

The interest of the boys was keen enough now to satisfy even the old boatman, and in response to Jock's request he explained the plans he had made for them.

"Now yer best way will be to take the steamboat down to Ogdensburgh to-morrow mornin', and there ye change to a little boat that'll take ye down to Masseny, or rather it'll take you to the Landin'. Then ye can drive over to the Springs [Massena Springs, Ethan meant] an' there's some big taverns there. City folks come up to drink the water, though for my part I'd about as soon drink dish-water or pisin' tea."

"Do they have 'pi's 'n things' there too?" inquired Bert, soberly.

"You'll find eout all 'bout that," responded Ethan. "Then the next mornin', afore it's fairly light, ye'll have to be drove back to the river,--it isn't more'n three or four mile,--an' yer boatman will be there by the Landin', all ready and waitin' for ye. Then they'll take ye in their boats down through the rapids, and send the team along the shore, so't ye can ride back; an' they'll have a rig to bring back the boats too."

"Why don't they sail or row back?" inquired Ben.

"Why don't they row back? Well, I guess ye won't be askin' no sech question as that after ye git there. Ye'll know more'n ye do now. Oh, there's another thing," he added; "ye don't want to take yer fish-poles along."

"Why not?" inquired Jock, quickly. "I thought you said there was fine fishing there. I should think we'd want to take our rods with us."

"No, ye don't want yer _rods_," said Ethan, sharply. "Ye might jist as well have pipestems as them poles o' yours. They'll have all the rods ye want. I've got that all fixed for ye."

Ethan soon afterward departed from the camp, and left the boys to themselves. For a time they talked over the exciting prospect, and at last Bob said: "It grieves me, fellows, to see you wasting your time like this. Now I feel it my duty to enlighten you as to the third expedition which Cartier made--"

But Bob got no further. With a shout his companions rose from the ground, and ran swiftly to the tent, where they at once prepared to retire. Bob soon followed, first piling the logs high upon the camp-fire, and then he too forgot all about Cartier's third voyage of exploration.

The camp was astir early on the following morning, and as the boys were to go to Alexandria Bay to take a steamer at an hour which was early even for the early-rising Ethan, they hastily ate the breakfast of "pi's 'n things" which the boatman had prepared before his departure on the preceding night.

As soon as this had been eaten they closed the tents, which Ethan and Tom had promised to visit daily in the absence of the boys, and ran down to the dock, where the skiff was in readiness.

"That's too big a load," said Ben, as he stopped before the boat in which his companions were already seated. "I'll not go in that craft."

"Oh, come on, Ben!" shouted Bert. "You won't have to do any of the rowing."

"I'm not afraid of that."

"Well, what are you afraid of, then? Come along."

"I'm afraid of you. I'll go over to the bay in my 'light canoe.'"

As he still refused to listen to the boys, Jock said: "Let him come in the canoe, fellows. He'd only tip us over if we took him in the skiff."

"I'm learning to paddle my own canoe," called Ben, as his friends started. "I'm like the little busy bee, which improves each shining hour--"

"Come on, Ben," called Bob. "You'll be late, and we'll lose the steamer."

Ben smiled as he took his place in the canoe, and, grasping his paddle, sent his craft swiftly over the water. Soon he had overtaken his companions, and despite the efforts of Jock, who was rowing, to keep up with him, speedily passed the skiff, and arrived at the bay long before they did. The boys discovered him seated on the edge of the dock, swinging his long legs over the water, and gazing with an air of abstraction about him.

"Why, hello, fellows! Where'd you come from?" he exclaimed, as the skiff approached.

"That's what you've been doing mornings, when you were up so long before us, was it?" said Jock, as the boys landed. "I must say you have improved, Ben, in your 'canoemanship.' What are you thinking of?"

Whatever the thoughts in Ben's mind may have been he did not give them utterance, and after the boys had left the boat in charge of a man at the bay, they all returned and joined him on the dock.

It was not long afterward when the steamer arrived, and they were received on board. Taking their seats together on the deck beneath the canopy, they gazed with interest about them as the boat passed down the river. The camps and cottages were stirring now, and again our boys felt the exhilaration of a ride in the early morning on the great river. When they approached "The Rocks" they could see the people on the piazza, and waved their handkerchiefs as a morning salute. A returning salute was given, but whether they had been recognized or not they could not determine.

The ride to Ogdensburgh was enjoyed all the way, and when they arrived there they had their dinner, and soon after embarked on the little steamer which was to carry them to Massena.

The increasing novelty of the scene kept them interested in spite of the time which had been consumed since they had departed from their camp. The current was much swifter, they perceived, as they went down the river. In places it seemed to rush with a speed that made the efforts of the little boat almost useless. There were great whirling eddies, too; and as the boys gazed at them they were wondering what the Longue Seaut Rapids must be if the place where they were was thought to be comparatively smooth and safe.

Late in the afternoon they arrived at the "Landing," and although they discovered there that they might have made plans different from those which Ethan had made for them, they were not inclined to complain when they were seated in the wagon which was to convey them to Massena Springs.

The road led through a prosperous farming country, and though evidently it was somewhat new, as far as the abode of the people who dwelt there was concerned, it still left upon the boys the impression of great age. Occasionally, in the distance behind them, they could obtain glimpses of the mighty St. Lawrence rushing onward as if already it had heard the call of the rapids. Dairy farms, orchards, cheese factories, and various other interesting sights were passed, all of interest to the eager lads. There was almost no time for them to tire, for a ride of a few miles brought them into the little village of Massena.

Then up the long street they rode to Massena Springs, distant about a mile from the main village, and there their driver stopped before a modest brick hotel.

This, then, must be the "tavern" of which Ethan had spoken; and glad to have arrived at the end of their journey, the boys leaped out, and at once entered the building.