Thus at last they were really going on an “Indian trip”—­to explore the great unknown, with every probability of adventure.

At dawn Yan tapped the tom-tom.  It sang a high and vibrant note, in guarantee of a sunny day.

They left camp at seven in the morning, and after three hours’ tramp they got to the first part of the wilderness, a great tract of rocky land, disfigured with blackened trees and stumps, but green in places with groves of young Poplars or quaking Aspen.

The Indians were very ready to camp now, but the Medicine Man said, “No; better keep on till we find water.”  In another mile they reached the first stretch of level Tamarack bog and a welcome halt for lunch was called.  “Camp!” shouted the leader, and the Indians ran each to do his part.  Sam got wood for the fire and Blackhawk went to seek water, and with him was Blue jay, conspicuous in a high linen collar and broad cuffs, for Caleb unfortunately had admitted that he once saw an Indian Chief in high hat and stand-up collar.

Beaver was just a little disappointed to see the Medicine Man light the fire with a match.  He wanted it all in truly Indian style, but the Trapper remarked, “Jest as well to have some tinder and a thong along when you’re in the woods, but matches is handier than rubbing-sticks.”

Blackhawk and Bluejay returned with two pails of dirty, tepid, swampy water.

“Why, that’s all there is!” was their defense.

“Yan, you go and show them how to get good water,” said Caleb, so the Second Sanger Chief, remembering his training, took the axe and quickly made a wooden digger, then went to the edge of the swamp, and on the land twenty feet from the bog he began to dig a hole in the sandy loam.  He made it two feet across and sunk it down three feet.  The roily water kept oozing in all around, and Bluejay was scornful.  “Well, I’d rather have what we got.”  Beaver dug on till there was a foot of dirty water in the hole.  Then he took a pail and bailed it all out as fast as possible, left it to fill, bailed it out a second time, and ten minutes later cautiously dipped out with a cup a full pail of crystal-clear cold water, and thus the Boilers learned how to make an Indian well and get clear water out of a dirty puddle.

After their simple meal of tea, bread and meat Caleb told his plan.  “You never get the same good of a trip if you jest wander off; better have a plan—­something to do; and do it without a guide if ye want adventures.  Now eight is too many to travel together; you’d scare everything with racket and never see a livin’ thing.  Better divide in parties.  I’ll stay in camp and get things ready for the night.”

Thus the leaders, Sam and Yan, soon found themselves paired with Guy and Peetweet.  Wes felt bound to take care of his little cousin Char-less.

Bluejay, finding himself the odd man, decided to stay with Caleb, especially as the swamp evidently was without proper footpaths.