“Tony has passed the rapids.  You know steamboats go down the rapids on the St. Lawrence River.”

“Ah, there is Oaklawn,” said Frank, pointing to the spire of a church in the distance.  “We cannot go much farther, I know.”

“We have made nearly four miles.”

What the commodore had styled “rapids” were not a very formidable difficulty.  Near one bank was a ledge of rocks, over which the waters dashed with considerable energy; but though there was the same descent on the other side, no obstruction appeared to check them from attempting the passage.  Tony had accomplished it, and had left no warning to deter them.

“Shall we go through, Frank?”

“Ay; bend on sharp, and she will leap up like a fawn.  Now for it!”

The Zephyrs applied all their strength to the oars, and the boat darted up the rapids with no other detriment than taking in two or three pailfuls of water.

The rest of the fleet followed, with the exception of the Lily, without accident; and she, not having sufficient headway, was carried down again.  By the skill of her coxswain, however, she was saved from damage, and her second attempt was successful.

The navigation was again tolerably safe, and for half a mile they proceeded on their way without interruption.

“There’s a bridge,” said Charles, pointing ahead.

“And there is the Dip, with the red hoisted.  Tony seems to have given it up.  He has made fast to the bridge.”

On the shore was a crowd of men and boys, who were holding a parley with the pilot of the expedition; but when they saw the squadron approaching they seemed petrified with astonishment.  The boys thrust their hands deep in their trousers’ pockets, and with mouths wide open stared in speechless wonder.  The arrival of Columbus on the shores of the new world could not have been more astounding to the natives than was the coming of the Wood Lake squadron to the boys of Oaklawn.

“Sheer off, Charley, to the port side of the river, and we will come into line.  The river is wide enough here, I believe.  Up with the green!”

On dashed the boats in the rear till they came into the line.  The river widened into a kind of pond; but the line stretched clear across it—­making a very imposing appearance.

“Slowly; cease—­rowing!” continued Frank.  “Ready—­up!” and the sixty-eight oars of the fleet glittered in the sunshine before the astonished Oaklawners, who were gathered in great numbers on the shore and bridge.

“Well, Tony, the cruise is up,” said Frank, when the Dip came into line.

“Yes,” replied the pilot, pointing under the bridge, where the river dashed its foaming waters down a long reach of half-exposed rocks.  “We can’t get over those.”

“No; and we may as well land and take a look at Oaklawn.  Hoist the orange.  Ready—­down!”