Chapter IV.
MAKING A START.
Katy, meanwhile, had been looking after clothing and provisions. OnTuesday evening, when Tug came in after tea, she was ready to read tohim a full list, as follows:
BOAT OUTFIT.--Sailing and rowing gear complete; one piece of sparecanvas three yards square; one oil lantern and a gallon of oil; onecompass; a locker under the stroke-thwart, containing calking-iron,oakum, putty, copper nails, gimlet, screw-driver, screws, sail needle,thread, wax, etc.
CAMP OUTFIT.--Tent (_made out of the sails_), pegs, poles, etc.; oneaxe; one hatchet; one small handsaw; one shovel; one clothes-line; onemess chest, containing the fewest possible dishes, tin cups, knives,forks, etc., also a skillet, a coffee-pot, etc.; one iron kettle; onecovered copper pail.
PERSONAL BAGGAGE.--One trunk for Aleck's and Jim's clothing; one trunkfor Katy's clothing; Tug's box (_clothing, and what he says are"contraptions"_); small valise for Katy's toilet necessaries and othersmall articles.
BEDDING (_tied up in close rolls_).--For Aleck, three blankets and athick quilt.
For Jim, the same.
For Tug, three blankets and a piece of old sail-cloth.
For Katy, a buffalo-robe trimmed square, two flannel sheets, threeblankets, and a heavy shawl.
Thick woollen nightcaps or hoods for all.
FOOD (_enough to last two weeks, it is supposed, and consistingchiefly of the first seven articles named_).--Corn-meal, coffee,sugar, crackers, dried beef, bacon, and ham; also small quantities ofpotatoes, beans, dried corn, tea, chocolate, maple sugar, buckwheatflour, and condiments. (Katy did not count the luxuries of the firstday's evening meal.)
All these supplies, as far as possible, were put into bags made ofstrong cloth or of heavy paper, or into wooden boxes, and then werestowed under the forward deck. To carry them and the rest of theluggage down to the wharf, a box was fastened upon Jim's hand-sled,and several trips were made.
At last Wednesday afternoon came, and the preparations for theadventurous journey were complete. All the morning had been spent byTug and Jim in packing away goods in the boat, while Aleck and Katefinished the home-leaving, bringing down a final sled-load with themabout two o'clock. Besides this, Katy's arms were full of"suspicious-looking" bundles, as Tug noticed, the contents of whichshe refused to let any one know before night.
The boat lay hidden underneath the warehouse wharf, and of the few whoknew of their intentions nobody seemed to have let out the secret;moreover, the day was unusually cold and somewhat windy, so that fewskaters were out, at least, so far down the river. Thus they were notannoyed by inquisitive visitors. Ten minutes after Aleck and Katearrived the final package had been stowed, the mantle of canvas spreadover, the oars and rolled-up tent laid on top, and Tug announcedeverything ready.
"Then let's be off," said Aleck, as he buckled the last strap of hisleft skate, and stood up.
"Not till you give the word of command, Captain."
"Captain!" echoed Jim, standing very straight.
"Captain!" Kate caught up the word, and made a funny girlish imitationof an officer's salute. "Not till you give the order, sir!"
"Oho!" laughed Aleck. "That's election by acclamation, I should say!All right; only, if I'm to be Captain, remember you must do as I sayat once, and save any arguing about it until afterwards. When you gettired you can vote me out as you voted me in. Will you agree?"
"Yes--agreed!" cried all three.
"Then my first order is 'Forward!'" and so saying he seized adrag-rope and sent the sledge-boat spinning out upon the smooth icefar from under the shadow of the wharf, showing how easily it could berun in spite of its weight, which was not less than five hundredpounds.
"A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF."]
A moment later they were off on the first strokes of a trip thatproved far more eventful than any of them anticipated--Aleck with thedrag-rope, Tug by his side, Jim pulling his sled, Rex leaping andbarking, and Kate bringing up the rear with her hands on thestern-rail of the boat. Two or three boys and men called after them,and one followed a little way, but he was sent back with shortanswers, and in a few moments the church spires, the big, bell-crownedcupola of the High School, and the lofty spans of the railway bridgehad been left far behind. Not much was said, for even heedless Jimfelt that this was a serious undertaking, and the pleasant scenes theyhad known so long might never be revisited.