The mule selected by Solon, and guaranteed by that expert in mules to be "a turrible wukker, 'kase I sees hit in he eye," was purchased that very afternoon, and immediately introduced to the scene of his future labors. [Illustration: "The mule was purchased that afternoon."] Sheriff Riley named him "Reward." Then bidding these strangely found friends good-bye, and taking his recovered property with him, he boarded an up-bound steamboat and started for home. As there was no reason why the others should not also begin their journey at once, the _Whatnot_ was got under way at the same time, and headed down the stream. Cap'n Cod proudly occupied the pilot-house; Solon attended to the four-legged engine; Sabella was making preparations for supper; while the two who would be raftmates, provided they only had a raft, paced slowly back and forth on the upper deck, enjoying the scenery and discussing their plans. "If we only knew how those fellows had disguised the raft, and what she looked like now!" remarked Billy Brackett. "I'm certain that I should recognize it under any disguise," asserted Winn, positively. "That may be, but it would simplify matters if we could have some definite description of the craft. Now we shall have to board every raft we overhaul, on some pretence or other, and make inquiries. And that reminds me that the _Whatnot_ does not seem to be provided with a skiff." "Yes, Solon said there was one on this deck, covered with canvas. That must be it there," replied Winn. As he spoke he lifted an edge of the bit of old sail that protected some bulky object from the weather, and looked beneath it. Then he uttered a cry of amazement, and tore the canvas completely off. "It's my canoe, as sure as I'm standing here!" he shouted. "The very one that was carried off on the raft!" CHAPTER XXIII. REWARD RUNS AWAY WITH THE PANORAMA. There was not the slightest doubt that the canoe, covered by a bit of canvas, which had rested all this time on the upper deck of the _Whatnot_, was the very one whose loss had grieved Winn almost as much as that of the raft itself. If he had needed proof other than his certain knowledge of the little craft, it was at hand; for, as he pointed out to Billy Brackett, there were his initials, rudely cut with a jack-knife, just inside the gunwale. How well he remembered carving them, one sunny afternoon, when he and Elta were drifting down the creek! Yes, indeed, it was his canoe fast enough, but how came it there? There was but one way to obtain an answer, and in another minute Cap'n Cod was being plied with eager questions as to when, where, and how he came into possession of the dugout.