The boys, whose appetites had been sharpened by their exertions in the portage of the boat round the falls, and in rowing, did not cease to eat until the provisions were entirely exhausted, and then they carried the empty basket back to the boat.  Soon after this, Forester summoned what he called a council of war, to consider the question whether they had better go down the river.  He said he wanted their true and deliberate judgment in the case.  He did not wish them to say what they would like, merely, but what they thought, on the whole, was best.  He told them that he should not be governed by their advice, but, after hearing all that they had to say, he should act according to his own judgment.

“Then what’s the use of asking us at all?” said Marco.

“Why, what you will say may modify my judgment.  I did not say that I shall decide according to my judgment as it is now, but as it will be after I have heard what you will have to say.  I shall be influenced perhaps by your reasons, but I shall decide myself.  That is the theory of a council of war.  The commander may be influenced by the arguments of his subalterns, but he is not governed by their votes.”

Forester then called upon each of the boys, in succession, to give his opinion on the point.  Marco was in favor of going down the river, but all the rest, though they said that they should like to go very much, thought it would not answer, as it would be almost impossible to get the boat up again over the rips.  After the consultation was concluded, Forester said, “Well, boys, you have all given wise opinions except Marco, and his is not wise.  Now we’ll go aboard the boat.”

“Crew aboard!” said Forester.  The other orders followed in rapid succession:  Attention!  Toss!  Let fall!  Backwater!  Oars!  Give way! The boys considered it settled, on hearing what Forester had said of the wisdom of their several opinions, that they were now going back toward the mill; but how they were going to get the boat back above the dam they did not know, though they did not doubt that Forester had some good plan which he had not explained to them.  Instead, however, of turning the head of the boat up the stream, Forester pointed it toward the river.  They supposed that he was going out to the edge of the river, and that then he would turn and come back; but, to their utter amazement, he pushed boldly on directly into the current, and then, putting his helm hard up and calling out to the crew to give way strong, the boat swept round into the very center of the stream and shot down the river over the rips like an arrow.

[Illustration:  THE EXPEDITION.]

“Give way, boys, hearty,” said Forester.  “Give way strong.”

The boys pulled with all their strength, and the boat went swifter and swifter.  Forester kept it in the middle of the current, where the water was deepest, though even here it was very shallow.  Marco, in the mean time, who was stationed at the bows, kept a sharp lookout forward, and gave Forester notice of any impending danger.  They soon got through the rips and came to the deep and still water below, where the current was gentle and the surface smooth.  Here Forester ordered the oars apeak, and the crew at ease.