CHAPTER XIII
ON THE WAY
"It all comes back to me again, when I see that frozen mud bank overthere, fellows," called out Frank Savage, after they had been pushingtheir way along the rough canal for some time.
"How many times we did get stuck on just such a mud bank," laughedPaul. "I can shut my eyes even now, and imagine I see some of uswading alongside, and helping to get our motor boats out of thepickle. I think Bobolink must dream of it every once in a while, forhe had more than his share of the fun."
"It was bully fun all right, say what you will!" declared the boymentioned, "though like a good many other things that are past andgone, distance lends enchantment to the view."
"That's right," echoed Tom Betts, "you always seem to forget thediscomforts when you look back to that kind of thing, and rememberonly the jolly good times. I've come home from hunting as tired as adog, and vowed it would be a long while before I ever allowed myselfto be tempted to go again. But, fellows, if a chum came along the nextday and asked me I'd fall to the bait."
A chance to do a little sailing interrupted this pleasant exchange ofreminders. But it was for a very short distance only that they wereable to take advantage of a favoring breeze; then the boys found itnecessary to push the boats again.
Some of them strapped on their skates and set out to draw the ladeniceboats as the most logical way of making steady progress.
"What are two measly miles, when such a glorious prospect looms upahead of us?" cried Sandy. "We ought to be at the old Radway bynoon."
"Yes," added Bobolink, quickly. "And I heard Paul saying just now thatas we were in no great hurry he meant to call a halt there for an houror more. We can start a fire and have a bully little warm lunch, justto keep us from starving between now and nightfall, when a regulardinner will be in order."
Of course, this set some of the boys to making fun of Bobolink's wellknown weakness. The accused scout took it all as good natured joking.Besides, who could get angry when engaged in such a glorious outing asthat upon which they were now fully embarked? Certainly not theeven-tempered Bobolink.
From time to time the boys recognized various spots where certainincidents had happened to them when on their never-to-be-forgottenmotor boat cruise of the preceding summer.
It was well on towards noon when they finally reached the place wherethe old connecting canal joined the Radway river. It happened,fortunately for the plans of the scouts, that both streams were ratherhigh at the setting in of winter, which accounted for an abundance ofice along the connecting link.
"Looky there, Paul. Could you find a better place for a fire than inthat cove back of the point?" demanded Bobolink, evidently bent onreminding the commander-in-chief of his promise.
"You're right about that," admitted Paul, "for the trees and bushes onthe point act as a wind break. Head over that way, boys, and let'smake a stop for refreshments."
"Good for you, Paul!" cried Spider Sexton, jubilantly. "I skipped thebest part of my usual feed this morning, I was so excited and afraid Imight get left; and I want to warn you all I'm as empty right now as adrum. So cook enough for an extra man or two when you're about it."
"Huh! you'll take a hand in that job yourself, Spider," assertedBobolink, pretending to look very stern, though he knew there would beno lack of volunteers for preparing that first camp meal. Enthusiasmalways runs high when boys first go into the woods, but later on itgets to be an old story, and some of the campers have to be drummedinto harness.
A fire was soon started, for every one of the scouts knew all aboutthe coaxing of a blaze, no matter how damp the wood might seem. Thescouts had learned their lesson in woodcraft, and took pride inexcelling one another on occasion.
Then a bustling ensued as several cooks busied themselves in fryingham, as well as some potatoes that had already been boiled at home.When several onions had been mixed with these, after being first friedin a separate pan, the odors that arose were exceedingly palatable tothe hungry groups that stood around awaiting the call to lunch.
Coffee had been made in the two capacious tin pots, for on such abracing day as this they felt they needed something to warm theirsystems. Plenty of condensed milk had been brought along, and a can ofthis was opened by puncturing the top in two places. Thus, if notemptied at a sitting, a can can be sealed up again, and kept over foranother occasion.
"As good a feed as I ever want to enjoy!" was the way Bobolink bubbledover as he reached for his second helping, meanwhile keeping a waryeye on the boy who had warned them as to his enormous capacity forfood.
"It is mighty fine," agreed Wallace Carberry, "but somehow, fellows,it seems like a funeral feast to me, because it's the last time I'llbe able to join you. Never felt so bad in my life before. Shed a fewtears for me once in a while, won't you?"
The others laughingly promised to accommodate him. Truth to tell, mostof them did feel very sorry for Wallace and the other boys whoseparents had debarred them from all this pleasure before them.
When the hour was up another start was made. This time they headed upthe erratic Radway. The skaters still clung to them, bent on seeingall they could of those whom they envied so much.
Progress was sometimes very tedious, because the wind persisted inmeeting them head on, and it is not the easiest task in the world toforce an iceboat against a negative breeze. Tacking had to be resortedto many times, and each mile they gained was well won.
The boys enjoyed the exhilarating exercise, however, and while therewere a few minor accidents nothing serious interfered with theirprogress.
It was two o'clock when they sighted Lake Tokala ahead of them.Shouts of joy from those in advance told the glad story to the toilersin the rear. This quickened their pulses, and made them all feel thatthe worst was now over.
When the broad reaches of the lake had been gained they were able tomake speed once more. It was the best part of the entire trip--the runacross the wide lake. And how the sight of Cedar Island brought backmost vividly recollections of the happy and exciting days spent therenot many months before!
Wallace and his three chums still held on. They declared they werebound to stick like "leeches" until they had seen the expeditionsafely across the lake. What if night did overtake them before theygot back to the Bushkill again? There would be a moon, and skatingwould be a pleasure under such favorable conditions.
"Don't see any signs of another wild man on the island, do you, Jack?"asked Tom Betts, as the _Speedaway_ fairly flew past the oasis in thefield of ice that was crowned by a thick growth of cedars, which hadgiven the island its name.
"Nothing doing in that line, Tom," replied the other with a laugh."Such an adventure happens to ordinary fellows only once in alife-time. But then something just as queer may be sprung on us in theplace we're heading for."
The crossing of Tokala Lake did not consume a great deal of time, forthe wind had shifted just enough to make it favor them more or lessmuch of the way over.
"I c'n see smoke creeping up at the point Paul's heading for,"announced Tom Betts. "That must come from the cabin we heard had beenbuilt here since we had our outing on the lake."
"We were told that it stood close to the mouth of the creek which wehave to ascend some miles," remarked Jack. "And this man is the one wethink to leave our boats in charge of while away in the woods."
"I only hope then that he'll be a reliable keeper," observed Tom,seriously, "for it would nearly break my heart if anything happened tothe _Speedaway_ now. I've only tried her out a few times, but shegives promise of beating anything ever built in this section of thecountry. I don't believe I could duplicate her lines again if Itried."
"Don't borrow trouble," Jack told him. "We'll dismantle the boats allwe can before we leave them, and the chances are ten to one we'll findthem O.K. when we come out of the woods two weeks from now. But herewe are at the place, and the boys who mean to return home will have tosay good-bye."