“All right,” said Chap. “Those rascals are out of sight and reach now, and I’ll be as peaceable as anybody; but if ever I get within three feet of them, things will be different.” And here the conversation on the subject closed. “I think you are right, Adam,” said Phil. “It wouldn’t be safe to let those fellows have their guns till we are off this river. They were very angry when we made them go away without them.” After some further conversation, it was agreed that, although it was very desirable to rid themselves of the companionship of the Maggie and her occupants, it would be wise to keep the guns taken from the boat-thieves until they reached Titusville. They had, perhaps, no legal right to do this; but they felt that, on general principles of justice, they had a right to protect their lives, and that this was the way to do it. [Illustration] CHAPTER XVII. THE CHANNEL-BASS. The stop at Cooper’s store was not a long one. After buying some articles of food that they needed, not forgetting a good supply of condensed milk for the little bears, they set sail again. As this was a post-office, the boys had inquired for letters. They had no reason to expect any, and they got none; but each of them bought a postal-card and mailed a brief message to his family. There was a good camping-ground, with spring water, six or seven miles above, and this they reached about nightfall. The next day they started off early, and as they sailed along with a good wind, they passed a large and comfortable-looking house on the west bank, and saw, now and then, dwellings and clearings, which proved that they would find the country better settled as they sailed northward. They also met a very neatly-appointed yacht, with a good-sized cabin, and among the persons on board were some ladies and children. “I didn’t suppose we’d meet any ladies down in this part of the world,” said Phil. “Oh, yes,” said Adam. “When I was in these parts before, ladies who were travelling in the State, and had pluck enough to get to this river, used to come down this fur, but they never went much further South. From here up to Titusville you can gin’rally find houses, about a day’s sail apart, where people can stay all night. But some of the boats you can hire up to Titusville are good big ones, with comfortable cabins, and little stoves to cook meals on board, and everything convenient. But I wouldn’t want to navigate one of ’em heavy boats,’cept where the river was deep and wide; and ladies and children haven’t no call, anyway, to go much below this. The country’s too wild for ’em.” About noon, Adam said,-- “If we had time to fish, we might have good sport just now. This part of the river is a first-rate place to catch channel-bass.”