plunged into the
shallows of the broad channel. Working from rock to sandbar, and bar to
boulder, they followed the deepest pools in a tortuous path that
corkscrewed nearly from one shore to another, and in an hour's time were
able to report to Swiftwater that they could find passageway sufficiently
wide for the boats with a minimum depth of fourteen inches.

When they made their report to Swiftwater, a look of intense satisfaction
crossed his face, and he remarked:

"Wa-al, I guess that cuts out one big engineerin' problem that might o'
kept us here a week. Hustle that freight off; smallest pieces first." The
channel figures were reported to Gerald and Pepper, and they were
instructed to measure frequently the draught of the boats as the stuff was
moved ashore, and to report to the miner when the draught was reduced to
eleven inches.

"Better be on the safe side," he remarked. "Poor place to move freight if
we should get stuck out there through any mistake of our survey men."

So fast had the Indians worked while the leadsmen were in the channel that
it required but a few minutes more to reduce the draught of the batteaus
to the scale.

"S-s-say," said Pepper with an anxious look, "isn't it a long time since
breakfast? I can hardly remember it."

Swiftwater grinned.

"It surely is, Pepper," he said, "and I guess we'll camp right now and do
a little business with the inner man before we go any further. I'm apt to
become int'rested at times, and forget all about that other feller."

At his orders the Indians constructed a small fireplace, and the voyagers
were soon sitting about on the bank and boats enjoying with eight hour
appetites, strong black tea, ship's biscuits and canned baked beans, to
which they did full justice.

As soon as the meal was over, Swiftwater ordered all six Indians to
harness themselves to a single boat, and placed Rand in it to handle the
steering oar while he himself waded along with the Indians over the
shallows to direct their movements, Dick accompanying him to point out the
channel. The current was very sluggish, and rapid progress was made over
the half mile that intervened before reaching deep water again. Arrived at
the desired point the boat was tied to the bank and the remaining cargo
quickly removed. Then with all hands aboard, and poles in hand the crew
floated the scow back to their former landing place. Here two of the
Indians were left to work with Gerald, Jack, Pepper a