Our explorers, having finished their survey of the lake, now disembarked and prepared to hold suitable and becoming ceremonies to celebrate their momentous discovery. First they drank of the clear, cool water to the health of Captain Glazier, who had led them on to making this grand achievement. The Captain then thanked them in a few eloquent and appropriate remarks for their good wishes and also for their faith in him, and the determination they had shown to stand by him until he had reached the goal he sought. He spoke, too, of the magnitude and importance of their discovery, of the knowledge it would add to the geographical lore of the country, and of the strangeness of the fact that the source of their mightiest river had so long been a disputed question. The cause of this he attributed to the peculiarities of the region in which it rose, the many lakes and swamps making much traveling impracticable; and recalling the hardships which they themselves had encountered, expressed his belief that it was not to be wondered at that earlier explorers had been deterred from making the venture at a time when civilization was even further remote than it was at present. He then recounted some of the exploits of the heroic old explorers, and, reminding his companions that three hundred years had passed away since white men first beheld the mighty stream by whose cradle they were now standing, he congratulated them on completing the work begun by De Soto, Marquette, La Salle, Hennepin and Joliet. When he had finished Captain Glazier, true to his soldierly instincts, proposed firing six volleys over the lake, one in honor of each member of the party. This was accordingly done, and Mr. Paine closed the ceremonies by leading off with three hearty American cheers for "the discoverer and the discovery." The Indians chimed in with a Chippewa yell, and then, while the air was still reverberating with the sound of their voices, they all paused to take in once more the scene of their explorations. CHAPTER XL. DOWN THE GREAT RIVER. Voyage from Source to Sea.--Three thousand miles in an open canoe.--"Pioneers of the Mississippi."--A thrilling lecture.--The long voyage begun.--Mosquitoes.--Hunger and exhaustion.--The Captain kills an otter.--Lakes Bemidji and Winnibegoshish.--An Indian missionary.--Wind-bound.--Chenowagesic bids farewell to the Captain.--Pokegama Falls.--Grand Rapids.--Meeting the first steamboat.--Aitkin.--Great enthusiasm.--The new canoes.--Leaving Aitkin.--Arrival at Little Falls.--Escorted in triumph to the town.--"Captain Glazier! A speech! A speech!"--Lake Pepin.--An appalling storm.--St. Louis.--Southern hospitality.--New Orleans.--Arrival at the Gulf of Mexico.--End of voyage.