INTO THE RAPIDS
It was another ideal day, and the young hunters felt in the best of
spirits. Whopper felt so good that presently he burst out singing
an old school song, and the others joined in.
"That's all right, and very good, but if we want any game we've
got to keep quiet," said the doctor's son after the song was ended.
"Right you are," answered Whopper promptly. "And as I'd rather eat
later than sing now I'll shut up."
They followed the shore line of Lake Cameron, heading for the
rocky watercourse that connected that body of water with Firefly
Lake. The eyes of all were on the alert for game, and toward the
middle of the forenoon Giant called a halt.
"I saw something in the trees yonder," he said, pointing ashore.
"Looked to me as if they might be partridge."
"Partridge would suit me first rate," answered Snap. "Let us land
and try our luck."
"Making as little noise as possible they beached the rowboat and
Giant silenced the dog, not knowing what he might do while on a hunt.
"Perhaps he's a good bird dog and perhaps he isn't," he said. "We'll
take no chances."
Each of the young hunters had his shotgun, and one after another
they followed Shep to the spot where the game had been seen among
the trees. High among the branches of a silver maple tree they
saw some ruffed grouse, commonly known to many sportsmen as partridge.
"There's our chance," said the doctor's son. "Who is to fire?"
"Let us all take a chance," pleaded Giant. "Just to open the
outing, you know."
Shep was willing, and said he would give the word. With great
caution they crept as close as possible to the grouse. The birds
were on three branches of the maple, one over the other.
Silently the four boy hunters raised their firearms. Shep looked
at them and then along the barrel of his piece.
"Fire!" said he, and one shot rang out after another quickly. There
was a mad whirring and fluttering from the ruffed grouse. Two
dropped like lead, while two others flew around in a circle, badly
wounded. Then the boys discharged their guns again, and wounded
two more birds. As the game came down they rushed in and wrung
the necks of those not already dead.
"Six, all told," said Giant proudly. "That's one and a half apiece."
"Not so bad," answered Snap.
"It's dandy!" shouted Whopper, throwing up his cap in his delight.
"Now we can have roast partridge for dinner, and supper, too, if
we want to."
"Right you are," came from Shep. "I believe we all made a hit,"
he added.
"A hit?" repeated Whopper. "We all made home runs!" And at this
reference to baseball all of the boys laughed.
Taking the game to the rowboat, they resumed their journey, and by
noon reached the watercourse connecting the two lakes. Here they
stopped at a spot well known to them and built a camp fire, and
here they roasted all of the game, fearing it might not keep in
such hot weather.
"I'm going to try baking 'em in mud," said Giant, who had learned
the trick from Jed Sanborn. Leaving the feathers on the grouse the
lad plastered each bird thickly with some clayey mud, and then
placed them in the fire to roast, or bake, as he called it. He
watched them with care and tried one frequently to see if it was done.
"Now I guess this will do," he said at last, and cracked the baked
mud from the grouse. With the mud came the feathers of the bird,
leaving the meat clean. The grouse was tender and juicy and done
to a turn.
"Giant, you'll have to get a job as a chef in a big hotel," said
the doctor's son, smacking his lips over the feast. "This game
certainly couldn't be, better."
"Why not leave some of the partridge right in the baked mud?"
suggested Snap. "It ought to keep well that way."
"We can try it," said Whopper.
The collie was given his share of the dinner and appeared to enjoy
it as much as the boys. He acted as if he felt perfectly at home
with the young hunters, and made no offer to leave them.
"If he wasn't such a fine dog I'd put him down as an outcast," said
Shep. "But nobody would abandon such a fine animal---he's worth
too much money."
Once again the boy hunters proceeded on their way. As they entered
the watercourse connecting the two lakes they noticed that the
current was flowing swiftly.
"The heavy rains are responsible for this," said Snap. "We want to
be careful, or the boat will be smashed on some of the rocks."
"We might get out and walk---that is, some of us---if the shore
wasn't so rough and rocky," said Whopper. "It looks wilder than
ever now, doesn't it, boys?"
It certainly did look wilder---or was it only the rushing of the
water that made it appear so? They rowed on with caution, two
at the oars and two doing the steering with poles. Wags sat in
the bow as before, watching proceedings in silence.
About half the distance to Firefly Lake had been covered when they
came to a sharp turn in the watercourse. Here the water boiled and
foamed around several sharp rocks.
"Beware of the rocks!" sang out the doctor's Son.
"To the right! To the right!" yelled Whopper. "It's too shallow
on the other side!"
They tried to turn the craft to the right, but the current seemed
too strong for them. The boat swung around and hit one of the
rocks a sharp blow. There was a little splash as the collie went
overboard. Then came a big souse, that covered those who remained
in the boat with spray.
"Giant is overboard!" cried Whopper. "And so is the dog!"
"Let the dog take care of himself," cried Snap. "Grab Giant!"
Whopper turned to catch the lad who had gone overboard, but the
current was too quick for him, and the small youth was sent whirling
out of his reach.
For the moment it looked as if the rowboat would either go over
or be stove in on the rocks, and those left on board had to turn
their attention to the craft. They saw Giant floundering in the
boiling water, but could do nothing to aid him.
"Swing her around and pull for shore; it's our only chance!" cried
Snap. "Quick, now---or we'll all go to the bottom!"
Fighting desperately, the three lads swung the craft around slowly.
It scraped on more of the rocks, and one of the oars was caught and
snapped off like a pipe-stem. But then the boat struck water that
was a little more calm, and soon they reached a cove and felt
themselves safe for the time being.
"Where is Giant?" was Shep's question as soon as they knew the
outfit was secure.
"There he is, on one of the rocks," answered Whopper. "And here
comes the dog," he added as the collie came battling bravely toward
them.
Soon Wags was on shore and shaking himself vigorously, acting as if
such a bath was a daily occurrence.
"Hello, you fellows!" came in Giant's voice. He was sprawled
out on a rock in midstream, sixty feet away.
"Are you hurt?" questioned Shep anxiously.
"No; the water was pretty soft," answered the small youth. "But
I say, how am I going to get ashore?"
"Can't you wade it?" asked Whopper.
"No; don't try that---the current is too swift," cried Snap.
"Well, we can't take the boat to him," said Whopper.
"I know that."
"We might throw him a line," suggested the doctor's son.
"Yes, that's an idea."
A light but strong line was brought forth and Shep curled it up as
a cowboy does a lasso. Then he made a cast, but the line fell short.
"Let me try it," said Snap.
One after another the boys on shore tried to reach Giant with the
line but failed. After Whopper had made his cast Wags, who had
been sitting on a rock watching proceedings with interest, gave
a bark and caught the end of the line in his teeth.
"There's an idea!" cried Snap. "Let the dog carry the line."
"Will he do it?" questioned Whopper.
"We can try him and see."
The end of the line was made fast to the collie's collar, and Giant
was told to call him.
"Come, Wags! That's a good dog! Come!" called the small youth,
and whistled and snapped his fingers.
At first Wags appeared to be doubtful, but finally he ventured into
the water. Then he began to swim steadily toward the rock, dragging
the line behind him.
"What a shame if the current carries him away!" murmured Whopper.
"We'll not allow that," answered the doctor's son. "If he loses
ground we can haul him in."
Slowly but surely the dog drew closer to the rock. At last he got
within Giant's reach, and the youth caught him and pulled him up.
"Tie the rope about your waist and we'll haul you to shore!" sang
out Shep. "Bring the dog on your shoulder if you can."
"I'll try it," answered Giant.
It was no easy matter for him, on the wet and slippery rock, to
adjust the rope and get the collie on his shoulder. But presently
he announced that he was ready, and the boys on shore commenced
to haul in. Down in the madly rushing water went Giant, and it
was all he could do to keep his feet. But luck was with him, and
in a very few minutes he and the dog were safe.
"That was quite an adventure," he said when he had recovered his
breath.
"You went overboard in a great hurry," remarked Whopper. "And
so did Wags."
"The shock to the boat did it. It made me lose my balance before
I was aware."
"Let us be thankful Giant is safe, and Wags," said the doctor's son.
"And thankful, too, that the boat didn't go over. If it had our
outing would have been spoiled."
"We've got to be mighty careful how we travel through the rest of
this river," remarked Snap. "The heavy rains have made a fierce
torrent of it."
It must be confessed that the boys did not know exactly what to do.
Should they venture on the river again, or carry the outfit to the
beginning of Firefly Lake?
"I've got an idea," said Shep at last. "You can follow it or
not, as you think best. My idea is to have two of the crowd take
the boat down and the two others walk to Firefly Lake, carrying
the most precious of the outfit."
"That suits me," said Snap.
"Who will walk and who take the boat?" questioned Whopper.
"I might as well go in the boat---I'm wet already," said Giant,
smiling grimly.
"The three of us can draw lots as to who shall go with Giant," said
the doctor's son.
The drawing was at once made, and it fell to Snap to go with the
small youth. The cameras and guns were taken from the rowboat and
also a few other things. Then the doctor's son and Whopper aided
the others in getting the boat into the rushing river once more.
"Take care of yourselves!" cried Shep. "If all goes right you'll
get to the lake long before we do."
In a moment the boat was caught by the current and whirled onward.
Giant and Snap had all they could do to steer it. But, fortunately,
they found no more such bad places as those already encountered,
and in less than an hour found themselves floating on Firefly Lake,
safe and sound.
"The others might have come with us after all," declared Giant.
"Wonder how long it will take them to reach here?"
"I don't know; it depends on how rough they find the way. Maybe a
couple of hours," answered Snap. "We may as well go ashore, start
up a camp and wait for them."