“I think we’ve got about all we need now,” said Snap, after looking at the collection.  “Now all we want is those rubber blankets and the flannel ones, and then we shall be about ready to start.”

“Will the rowboat hold the load?” questioned Whopper.  “It seems to me there is about two thousand times too much stuff.”

“The boat has got to hold it,” came from Giant.  “But what I am thinking of is, what a job we’ll have carrying the load after we leave the boat.”

“Well, if it’s too heavy we can make two trips instead of one,” said Shep, and so it was agreed.

CHAPTER III

DOWN THE RIVER

When Snap awoke on Sunday morning, he was very much discouraged, for the sky was overcast, and by church-time it was raining steadily.

“This will make it beastly for a start,” he grumbled, while on his way to church in the family carriage.

“Never mind,” answered his father.  “You can start Tuesday as well as Monday.”

“I’d rather start on time,” answered the impatient boy.  His mind was so taken up by the proposed outing he could scarcely bring himself to listen to the sermon; and what was true of Snap was also largely true of the others.

By nightfall the rain cleared away, and when Snap went to bed the moon was shining brightly.  The boy could hardly go to sleep, and when he slumbered, dreamed of being in camp, with wolves and bears and deer on all sides of him.  Then he dreamed that it began to hail, louder and louder, and he awoke to hear some pebbles being thrown against the window-pane.  He sprang up, rushed to the window and saw Giant standing in the yard, fully ready for a start.

“Hullo, you!  How long are you going to snooze?” demanded the small youth.  “I’ve been ready for an hour.  Don’t you know that this is the all-important day?”

“I do!” cried Snap.  “What time is it?”

“Half-past six.  I wanted to start by six.”

“We’re to start at eight o’clock,” answered Snap, and hurried into his clothing with all possible speed.

By seven o’clock all of the boys had had a good breakfast and then they bid their folks good-by and hurried down to the river.  It was a glorious morning, as clear as crystal after the rain, and with just the faintest breeze blowing.

The stores had been packed away on Saturday in a boathouse nearby, and it was an easy matter to transfer them to the rowboat.  The craft was rather crowded with goods and boys, but the lads made the best of it.  Only two could use the oars, so they took turns at rowing, Snap and Whopper taking the blades at first, with Giant in the bow and Shep in the stern, steering.

Nearly everybody in the town had heard about the outing, and many came to see them off.

“They’ll be back in a week,” said one big boy, with a laugh.  “Just wait till they catch a rainy spell.”