ompelled to disappoint his subscribers last week."

At St. Paul, Boyton began preparations for the longest voyage he had yet
undertaken--down the Yellowstone and Missouri.

CHAPTER XXI.

There being many dangers to encounter on his contemplated voyage down
the Yellowstone and Missouri, every precaution was taken that might
possibly lessen them. General Terry kindly sent information to all the
military posts and Indian agents along the rivers of Boyton's voyage and
requested them to tell the Indians so that they would not shoot him in
mistake for some strange water animal.

On the 15th of September, 1881, Boyton arrived at the terminus of the
railroad at Glendive, Montana, then a little town made up of rough board
houses and tents, which was the highest point on the Yellowstone he
could reach. He went to a hotel and asked if he could be accommodated
with a room. "I reckon you can," said the landlord, "there's only sixty
in there now."

He was not compelled to occupy that general sleeping room, however, as
the superintendent of a construction train provided a place for him in
one of the cars. He remained two days in Glendive, completing
preparations for his journey. Besides his usual equipments in the Baby
Mine, he added an ax, a double barreled gun which could be taken apart
and made to occupy a very small space. This was a necessary weapon, as
he knew he would have to depend largely on his own exertions for
provisions through a greater part of the country he was to traverse.
These with signal lights, rockets, compass, maps, etc., completed the
Baby's cargo. As he knew he had three-thousand five-hundred and eighty
miles of river to haul under him, he determined to put into practice
a theory he had long maintained, that hardship can better be endured
without the use of alcoholic liquors. As a substitute, he reduced two
pounds of strong black tea to liquid form, to be used as a stimulant
when one was necessary, and his subsequent experience proved that his
theory was correct.

General Merritt was in command of the post at Glendive and did
everything in his power to assist Paul in his preparations. During
the last evening spent at the post, the General asked him what time he
would start in the morning.

"At five o'clock," was the answer.

"For goodness sake," facetiously replied the General, "don't start so
early. At that time our sentries sleep the soundest."

The river at