Part 12 (1/2)

One day, however, Chot gave notice that the journey was to be resumed the following morning, and the other boys with a sigh of regret, packed their belongings into the canoes and made ready to shove off into the lake at daybreak.

Greatly to their satisfaction Bert, after a short talk with his parents, announced his intention of going with them.

”That's fine,” said Chot. ”I've been hating to ask you because I was sure you were going to say you could not go.”

So Bert's canoe was packed with a few things he most desired to carry, and placed in the water at the edge of the lake with the others before the boys went to bed that night.

When they arose, the sun was just peeping over the hill-top. They found that Mrs. Creighton had prepared one of her fine breakfasts of wheat cakes and maple syrup, with coffee and pure cream on the side, and the way they ate and the comments they made were very gratifying to her. She would miss their smiling faces and good appet.i.tes, she told them, as they were leaving.

”There is nothing so inspiring to the woman who prepares a meal as to have people eat it and know they enjoy it,” said she.

The boys a.s.sured her that they had never had better things to eat in their lives, and after a hearty handshake all around, with Mr. and Mrs.

Creighton standing on the little wharf, waving their hands, the five canoes pushed off and went skimming over the water to the northward.

”We'll keep along the east sh.o.r.e for a while,” said Bert, ”until we see how much of a breeze is coming up to-day. It gets pretty rough out in the middle there sometimes-rough for canoes, I mean.”

They accepted his advice, knowing that he was familiar with every corner of the lake, and paddled easily for nothing was to be gained by hurrying.

Bert showed himself to be a fine canoeist. They all admired his long, graceful stroke with the single blade. His canoe was of the Canadian pattern, much like those owned by Chot, Tom and Pod, and of about the same size.

”Reminds me of the Spanish Armada, going into battle,” said Fleet, as he cast his eye over the little squadron. ”Eh, how about it, Admiral Duncan?”

”Ay, ay, Christopher Columbus. s.h.i.+ft your lee bow until you sight Hurricane Island, then hold a straight course for Cape Cod light. Don't give up the s.h.i.+p until we have met the enemy and they are ours. Reply by wireless if you receive my message distinctly.”

”Message received distinctly,” said Fleet ”England expects every man to do his duty.”

”Speaking of England,” said Bert, ”when we are going up Lake Champlain I'll show you where McDonough fought his famous battle in 1814.”

”That will be interesting,” said Tom. ”I have always admired the way he riddled the English fleet. I don't believe there has ever been a naval battle in which greater wisdom was displayed by the commanding officers than in the battle of Plattsburg Bay.”

”As far as battles go,” said Chot, ”this is a famous locality. All during the colonial days and even in the War of the Revolution, this was a familiar stamping ground for the soldiers of America, England and France, to say nothing of the Indians.”

”That's so. Fort Ticonderoga must be around here somewhere,” said Pod.

”I doubt if we shall see old Ticonderoga,” said Bert. ”It will be some miles below us when we enter Lake Champlain, and we can not visit it without losing considerable time.”

”And we don't want to do that,” said Fleet. ”I'm anxious to get into the old St Lawrence.”

”You won't be so anxious by the time you're shooting some of the rapids,” said Tom. ”I'm not so sure but I shall be in favor of a portage around several spots in that stream.”

”Humph! I'm not afraid,” said Fleet.

”Nor am I,” Tom replied. ”But I don't see any use in risking our necks, and maybe turning our trip into a funeral, when we can be happy by being careful.”

”Well, that's a matter we can decide when we come to it,” said Chot.

In the early afternoon the boys pulled in to the sh.o.r.e and ate lunch in a shady nook. Many good things had been placed in the canoes by Mrs.

Creighton, and the boys felt especially grateful for them now that they were leaving the Creighton farm behind, and would soon have only the memory of the things they had eaten there.