up a towing collar, which he attached to the line. It became apparent
that the plan was for him and the younger breed to double on the
tracking line, the old man remaining astern to do the steering.

"That's the way we get up a river in this country," said Alex to Rob,
who was watching all this with interest. "I would bet they would do
twenty-five miles a day with that rig they've got there--they go
almost at a trot whenever there's an open bit of beach. When there is
none, they pole or paddle."

"I don't see how they do it," said Rob. "None of them have got
anything on their feet but moccasins, and those men there have only
pieces of moccasins at that. I should think the rocks would cut their
feet in bits!"

"Well, you know, Moise and his 'cousins' are all 'same like dog,' as
he would say," smiled Alex. "Your feet get used to it in time. These
men have never known anything better, so they have got adjusted to the
way they have to make their living. I doubt if they would wear
hard-soled shoes if they had them, because they would say the soles
would slip on the rocks. They're in the water about as much as they
are out of it when they are tracking a boat up-stream. That's the way
this country was conquered for the white men--by the paddle, pole, and
tracking line."

"You forget Uncle Dick's way," chimed in John.

"How do you mean?"

"Railroads."

"Yes," said Alex, sighing, "they're coming some day, that's sure. But
even the surveyors and engineers had to travel this way, and I think
you will find even in the country where the wagons are it's quite a
way from here to home."

"Well, here we go," said Rob, after a time. "We mustn't waste
daylight, you know."

By this time Jesse was looking very serious. Naturally he relied very
much upon Moise, but he disliked to leave his friends, and especially
to say good-by to Alex, on whom they all seemed to depend very much.

"It's the right thing to do, Jess," said John, after a time. "So far
as that is concerned, you'll have it just as safe and a good deal
easier than we will, in all probability. We'll meet you in a week or
so at most."

"So long, then!" said Jesse, bravely waving his hand.

"So long!" said Rob and John. They waved their caps to one another, as
each boat now began its way, the _Jaybird_ carrying three passengers,
and the long dugout, under the tracking line, taking what remained of
the expedition of our _voyageurs_, who now separated for the time to