rocks that stick up
like horns all over!" Frank went on to say.

"Still, there are few rapids that don't have a safe channel through the
worst places," Ned told them; "anyway, I've never seen one that didn't.
How about that, Francois; you've been through here, you say, and in a
canoe?"

"Twice, sare," came the answer.

"And didn't meet with an accident either time, I warrant," Jack avowed,
confidently.

"Nevaire!" replied the guide, positively.

"And like as not, when you took the first plunge you had never seen the
rapids before, Francois?" continued Ned, striving to reach a point he
wanted to make.

"It was the first time I haf ever set eyes on ze same, as you say,
sare."

"You just used your gumption, and tackled the job as you would any other
rapids, depending on your quick eye, a firm wrist with the paddle, and
general good sense, wasn't that it, Francois?" Ned asked him.

"I get through easy, but zere was a warm time of it," the other
answered, shaking his head at the remembrance of difficulties overcome.

"Well, if you could pass through safely without ever having seen the
rapids before it was much easier the second time, eh?" ventured the
patrol leader.

"Oh! mooch easier, that time," the guide assured him.

"And now it's likely to become a habit with you," Ned remarked,
smilingly. "Guess we needn't bother any great shakes, boys. Francois
will take the lead, and Jack and myself bring up the rear."

"That leaves me in the middle, don't it?" asked Jimmy.

"Just what it does," Ned told him.

"You wouldn't think for a minute we'd allow you to lead, or much less
come trailing along as the wind-up of the crowd," jeered Jack. "Chances
are you'll be up to your old tricks again, and tumbling overboard. I've
got the boathook ready to lay hold of you if that happens."

"For goodness sake, Jimmy, make up your mind to sit still and get
through one of these husky rapids with a dry jacket," pleaded Teddy.

"Yes," added Frank, who, it may be remembered, was in the same boat with
Jimmy; "you might upset us all if you get to wiggling around, or trying
any of your silly pranks while we're in the middle of the push. And
think of what we'd lose if an accident like that happened."

"You've got all the self-raising flour in your tub, Jimmy," Teddy
continued, as a clinching argument; "and if that goes, good-bye to any
more flapjacks while we're up around the Hudson Bay country."

"Hadn't you better transfer that