“No,” said the other, languidly, taking a seat; “I ain’t in no hurry. I reckon I’ll start after awhile, some time. You fellers have got to wait here for the Winkyminky.” “What’s that?” asked Phil. “That’s the boat you’re goin’ in on Wednesday,” said Brewer’s brother. “She’s a good little boat--Cap’n Root’s boat.” “I suppose that’s the one,” said Chap; “and we were just talking about what we should do while we were waiting for her. Can’t you give us an idea? Would it pay to get a boat, and go out after ducks?” “No,” said the other; “that ain’t much fun, and they ain’t good eatin’. If I was you fellers, I’d go up to Lowper’s Creek, and shoot ’gators.” “Shoot alligators!” cried Chap. “That’s splendid! Where is that creek?” “It’s about ten or twelve miles above here,” said Brewer’s brother, “and it’s jist chock full o’ ’gators. You never see so many in all your born days. You kin hire a rifle at the hotel, and you kin git all the teeth and hides you want.” The boys considered this a glorious idea. “But how will we get there?” asked Phil. “We might hire a boat, but Adam is busy, and couldn’t sail us.” “I’ll take you up in that boat,” said Brewer, “and I kin sail you jist as well as Adam Guy. I won’t charge you nothin’, and I’ll borrow a little dinky, and tow it behind. We have to go up the creek in a row-boat when we begin to hunt ’em.” All this promised great sport for the boys, and no time was lost in making the necessary arrangements. It was planned that they should start as soon as possible, take some provisions along, stay up at the creek all night, and come back the next day. When Adam heard of the scheme he at first looked a little doubtful, but then he smiled and said he reckoned the thing might work. “But you’ll have a gay time,” he added, “goin’ after ’gators with Coot Brewer.” “Coot?” asked Chap. “Yes,” said Adam; “that’s the name he goes by along this river. I reckon he got it because he isn’t good for much. But he ought to know how to sail a boat, and if you keep a sharp eye on him I guess he won’t hender you much. I’d go along, but I can’t back out of this job now.” [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIV. COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM. The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected. They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off. The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel. He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready. He also furnished them with a little oil-stove, on which to boil their coffee on board the boat.