The Winkyminky was to start early the next morning from Salt Lake, about seven miles away, and the head of the party considered it wise for them to go on that night to a house some three miles nearer the lake, so that they could the more easily reach the steamboat in the morning. “All right,” said the colonel. “Take the wagon and go along. I don’t want anybody here that don’t want to stop.” After supper, the colonel called Adam and the boys to him. “Look here,” he said. “You fellows have got to be sharp, or you won’t get off in the Winkyminky to-morrow. She’s a little tub, and don’t hold many people, and there’s a party down at the lake now, camping out, waiting for her. If this caravan, with their baskets, and bundles, and boxes of shells, get aboard first, there’ll be no room for you, and you’ll have to wait over a week. They hadn’t any right to come back before they said they were going to. I know Captain Root like a book, and if you get there first with a note from me, he’ll take you in, no matter who comes after you.” “We can’t stay here another week!” cried the boys, in consternation. “All right,” said the colonel. “You be up early, and I’ll put you through.” [Illustration] CHAPTER XXVII. THE RACE THROUGH THE WOODS. The boys and Adam were awakened very early on Wednesday morning by Bob, and the colonel gave them scarcely time enough to eat their breakfast. A wagon and two mules were at the back entrance to the hotel, and the colonel, bidding them a hasty good-by, told them to tumble in and be off. “You’ve got to go lively,” he cried, “to get ahead of those caravaners. And now, you Pete,” he shouted to the negro driver, “you make them mules git!” Pete whipped up, and away went our party along the sandy road that led out of Titusville. For a great part of the way the road lay through vast pine woods, where but few signs of life of any kind could be seen. Before very long, they came in sight of the lonely house where the “caravaners” had stopped, and Pete whipped up his mules, hoping to pass the house before the party started; but this hope was vain; for, before they got to the gate, two carts, each drawn by one horse, came hurrying out, and immediately took the narrow road, on which there was but room enough for a single vehicle. The two carts were piled high with people and baggage; but the horses were put to a gallop, and away they went, jogging and jolting over the rough road. Pete whipped up and galloped after them. “If we’d started three minutes sooner,” said Adam, “we’d been ahead of ’em, and been aboard long afore they got there. Them horses can’t keep up that runnin’; but they can block the road for us, and that’s just as bad. A lot o’ people like that, just cruisin’ round for pleasure, ain’t got no right to swoop down without givin’ any notice, and swamp other folks that’s got no time to lose.”