have
for the next meal; always a matter of more or less consideration among
campers.

CHAPTER XIX.

IN THE LAND OF COTTON.

"Another day to be spent in idleness," remarked George the next
morning, after the four campers had passed a comfortable night.

"Well, that was a part of the figuring when we started on this race,"
observed Jack. "We knew Herb and his jolly old _Comfort_ would always
be tagging behind. Besides, there's no particular hurry, since I only
have to be in New Orleans by the beginning of December. To tell the
truth, I'll be sorry that the long cruise must soon come to an end."

"Yes, that's a fact," admitted the other. "It has been a great thing
for us all. I'm learning new things every day; and as for you fellows
it's been a picnic. Perhaps there may be something stirring for Nick
and myself before the end comes."

There was, plenty of it, as will be presently mentioned.

At ten o'clock the cry arose that the _Comfort_ was in sight.

"What's that?" cried George, who was fishing around a corner, and had
no opportunity to look up-stream. "You must be mistaken, Jimmie; or
else Herb has taken to running out of hours. Why, that would throw him
only a couple of hours behind our run of the two days."

"Well," laughed Jack, "if you could see how the big boat is booming
along out there near the middle of the river on the swift current,
you'd understand it all. Why, he's got on to it that he can add many
miles a day to his run by avoiding the slower water near the shore."

"I remember they tell us that fools and babes venture where even angels
fear to tread," remarked George.

"I wouldn't apply that remark to Herb and Josh," said Jack, seriously.
"On the contrary I think it shows wisdom. Their big and safe boat can
run out there in perfect safety; but for you to do much of it, would be
inviting trouble and a spill. But we must attract them in here, or
they may go whirling past on the other side of the island."

So Jack fired his gun twice, while Jimmie and Nick set up a most
dreadful squawking with the several horns possessed by the campers.

"They see us," announced Jack, immediately. "I caught something
waving. And listen to Josh almost bursting his lungs to blow that
battered old horn."

"And they've headed in, too," declared George, who by this time had his
own marine glasses in use.

The skipper and crew of the _Comfort_ arrived in fairly good humor.

"We're already pi