Comrades on River and Lake

  CHAPTER II--THE FIRST NIGHT OUT

  Pod had never paddled a canoe, but took to it naturally, his greatestfault being that he paddled too swiftly, and soon found his arms achingfrom the severe strain. Pod's canoe, like those of Chot and Tom, was ofthe Canadian open pattern, about sixteen feet in length and perhapsthirty inches wide. Cushions, filled with cork shavings, served as seatsfor the young canoeists, with their feet resting on a stretcher to givethem a good brace. Then there was a cushioned back-rest against whicheach boy leaned with a sense of comfort and security. In this easyposition, the work of paddling was done, and Pod began to taste thedelights of canoeing, though the muscles across his abdomen, which werebrought into play with every stroke, soon grew sore, and a realizationforced itself upon him that they would be still sorer by morning.

  The boys proceeded up the river at a very leisurely pace. There was nohurry, and Pod could not paddle rapidly anyway. The little fellow foundgreat difficulty in keeping his canoe on a straight course with a singleblade paddle, but after a little the knack of turning his blade at theend of the stroke, so as to keep in one direction came to him as itcomes naturally to all who practice. He found that this turn of thepaddle was done by the wrist, and that when once acquired it was a verysimple matter to keep the bow headed the right way.

  Fleet was the only boy in the party using a double-bladed paddle, butFleet's canoe was twenty feet long, rather broad of beam, and capable ofholding three persons. It was a much more formidable looking craft thanthose owned by the other boys. Fleet, however, had paddled the big canoeall his life, and the handling of the double blade was as easy for himas "rolling off a log."

  Chot and Tom, too, were experts, but neither liked the double blade,preferring the lighter one, as well as a lighter craft.

  In Fleet's canoe was stored most of the provisions, some cookingutensils and a small tent, intended to afford shelter during a storm,when the boys were in camp and sleep was necessary. Each boy carried ashis individual luggage a suit case containing a dark business suit, acouple of extra shirts, collars, a pair of patent leather shoes, andother articles necessary to make a natty appearance if the occasionarose. Ordinarily they would need only their rowing clothes, whichconsisted of a soft shirt, a pair of old trousers and light-soled tanshoes. Each boy carried a sweater for use when the nights were cool, orwhen he became overheated before landing.

  The breeze had entirely died away by the time the canoes were a mile upthe river, and the boys paddled easily along, keeping abreast of Pod, sothat if by chance, his canoe "turned turtle," they would be on hand torender assistance.

  The little fellow evidently suspected their purpose, for he said:

  "Don't worry about me. I can swim, can't I?"

  "Guess you can," said Chot, "and a ducking won't hurt you, but we'regoing to stay right with you anyway."

  "I'm not going to upset. This is easy."

  "Don't brag," said Fleet, as he pushed his paddle deep into the riverand sent his big cruiser flying a length ahead, then slowed down tillthe other boys caught up with him. "Nobody ever went canoeing thatdidn't get upset, and you'll get yours sooner or later. Better in theold Hudson, too, than in the rapids of the St. Lawrence."

  "And that's no gentle dream," said Tom, reverting to slang--a thing heseldom did.

  "By the way, how long is it going to take us to reach the St Lawrence?"asked Pod.

  "Don't know," said Chot. "We've no way of calculating. In the firstplace, we don't know how long we'll be at the Creighton's; in the secondplace, we're not going to hurry. This is a vacation and we're going totake things easy--or at least, I am."

  "An easy time and plenty to eat--that's my motto," said Fleet, andimmediately relapsed into verse:

  There was a young fellow from Winton Whose stomach he never was stintin'; He'd eat day or night When dark or when light, Oh, he was a regular spinton.

  "A regular what?" cried Tom, as he stopped paddling for an instant andlooked up in surprise.

  "A 'spinton'," repeated Fleet, with a chuckle.

  "What the dickens is that?"

  "Don't you know what a spinton is?" asked Fleet.

  "No; never heard of it."

  "I'm surprised at your ignorance."

  "Well, suppose you enlighten us," said Chot.

  "Can't," replied Fleet. "Don't know what it is myself."

  "Then why did you use it?"

  "Because it rhymed with Winton," replied the fleshy lad, with a grin.

  "By the way," said Pod, "speaking of jokes."

  "Now, who said anything about jokes?" Fleet demanded.

  "Well, you had your little fling, didn't you? Give me a chance. Speakingof jokes, what is the best time by the clock to tell a joke?"

  "Oh, give it up," cried the other boys in unison.

  "A joke is best appreciated when it strikes one," said the littlefellow. He laughed so loudly that his paddle slipped and he came nearcapsizing. Then it was the turn of the others to laugh, and they madethe water ring with their shouts.

  "Wish he'd gone over on that one," said Fleet. "A little water mightdampen his enthusiasm for making bad puns."

  "The question now is, where are we going to spend the night?" said Tom.

  The sun had long since disappeared behind the highlands, and evening wasnearly upon them.

  "Well, it's moonlight," said Chot. "I thought we'd keep on at a slowpace until Pod feels tired. Then we can go ashore, make a little camp,and snooze till morning in the open."

  "Ah! that sounds good to me," said Fleet. "We'll also eat in the open."

  "You'll have to open the 'eat' before you can eat in the open," saidPod.

  "That'll do for you, youngster," said Fleet. "Jokes are barred untilto-morrow."

  "I'm down."

  "And you'll be out too, if you don't watch how you're paddling," saidChot.

  Pod was evidently about "all in," for his strokes were often wobbly, atwhich times he failed to control his canoe, and came near ramming one ofthe other boys.

  "I'm good for another mile or so," said Pod. "I know every muscle in mybody will ache to-morrow, so I want to keep limber as long as I can."

  Finally the moon came out from behind a cloud and shed its radiance overthe water, which appeared beautiful indeed in the soft yellow light. Theboys were loath to leave the river, but Pod finally admitted that hisarms were stiff and that he could not paddle much farther. As near asthey could calculate they had covered eight miles, when Chot gave theorder to swing in toward the shore.

  A fine shady nook lay before them, where the green grass tempted them.All were hungry, so after pulling the canoes up on to the shore, theboys picked them up and carried them up on the grassy knoll, where, withtrees all around them, they made preparations to camp for the night.

  What boy has not thrilled with pride when he slept in the open, oftenwith no covering save the blue canopy, studded with stars, and a moonthrowing its soft rays in his face? American boys love this life, andlose no opportunity to go camping, hunting and fishing. The Comradeswere no exception to the rule--in fact, were never quite satisfied whenforced to stay indoors.

  As soon as the canoes were pulled high and dry on the knoll, Chot beganto give orders, showing what an expert camper he was. Indeed hisexperience was considerable as the reader may learn from the previousbooks of this series which commenced with "Comrades in Camp" and "In NewYork." Then followed the stories of the South West "Ranch," "New Mexico"and "Great Divide." Later "School," "Winton Hall" and "Oval."

  It had been decided that Chot should be the guiding spirit of thisvacation; that all disputes were to be settled by him, and that he wasto map out the route, say how long they should stay in a certainplace--in fact, take the entire responsibility for creating the best ofgood times on the trip.

  "Tom, you and Fleet throw out that tent, and while Pod and I are puttingit up, get out a couple of cans of those cold beans, slice some coldham, cut some bread, and put the water bottles where we can get hold
ofthem. If any of you fellows feel like coffee we will build a fire andI'll make it for you."

  "Yum, yum, coffee!" said Fleet. "That certainly listens well."

  "I think so too," said Tom.

  "Well, I believe I could drink a cup or so myself," Chot admitted.

  Chot and Pod unrolled the tent, which was "V" shaped, with no sides,being intended merely for a roof. They stretched it between the trees,spread four blankets on the soft grass, took the cushions out of thecanoes, and the sleeping quarters of the party were ready for occupancy.

  Then each boy turned his attention to the preparing of the meal. Thecoffee was soon steaming in a kettle over the fire, kindled by Pod withsome dry leaves and branches. Tom cut slices of rye bread, and spreadtempting pieces of boiled ham between them. Fleet opened two cans ofbeans, and a jar of raspberry jam, and all was ready.

  To say that the boys enjoyed their first meal would be but halfexpressing it. Fleet ate everything that was put before him and criedfor more.

  "These beans are the finest I've ever had," said he, though his mouthwas so full that his words were hardly intelligible to his chums.

  "Don't forget your table manners," said Tom. "Remember your mothertaught you not to talk with your mouth full."

  "He's not talking," said Pod. "He's only trying."

  "Blub--blub--blub--I'll--I'll--gug--gug--gug--get--you--fuh--fuh--blub--blub----"spluttered Fleet.

  "Swallow it!" cried Chot, "and don't do it again. We're running arespectable boarding house--not a pig pen."

  Fleet swallowed as Chot told him, coughed violently, then seized one ofthe water bottles and drank long and hard.

  "Leave the bottle, and we'll fill it again," said Tom.

  With tears in his eyes Fleet waved his hand for them to desist. Podjumped up and patted him on the back with no gentle force, whichstraightened the fleshy one out in a hurry.

  "What do you think you're doing, anyway?" he demanded, glaring at hislittle comrade. "I'm no punching bag!"

  "That so? Thought you were."

  "Fleet has eaten enough to last him three days," said Chot. "Remember,fellows, he gets nothing but water during that time. There must besomething left for the rest of us."

  "Humph! I'd like to see you fellows keep me from eating!" snorted Fleet.

  "Oh, you'd like to? Well, then, watch us."

  It was ten o'clock when the boys had finished telling stories anddiscussing their trip. By that time all were sleepy, and Pod wasbeginning to feel lame all over.

  "Gee! I hate to lie down, fellows," he said. "I know I won't be able tomove in the morning."

  Then the boys rolled up in their blankets, and fifteen minutes laterwere so deep in Slumberland that not even Fleet's snoring created animpression.