Zeke's word carried the day and in a brief time the Go Ahead Boys were busily engaged in packing the few belongings they planned to take with them on their expedition. These were conveniently arranged so that they might be carried upon the backs of the boys, making a burden that did not exceed twenty-five pounds in weight for each boy when the arrangement was at last completed. "Everything all ready now?" inquired Zeke when at last the packages, implements and knapsacks had all been prepared. "How is the river right below us?" asked John. "It's a bit rough and pretty swift for a spell," replied Zeke. "Any danger of capsizing?" asked Fred nervously. "There's always that danger," replied Zeke solemnly. "Nobody knows when the boat may turn squarely over. If you think you would rather walk across country we can try it that way," he added, winking solemnly at Fred's companions as he spoke. Cautiously the party made their way down the canyon and at last after several exciting experiences arrived on the shore of the rushing Colorado. Zeke's statement that the river here was rough was speedily confirmed. The tossing waves seemed to be rushing at break-neck speed past the little point. There was a bend in the channel a half-mile below and a projecting point there was plainly seen. "I don't like the look of that," muttered Fred as he first saw the rushing stream. "There's something I like still less," said Grant. "What do you mean?" demanded Fred. "Why there's only one boat there." "What!" exclaimed George and Fred together. "That's right," repeated Grant. "One of the boats is gone." CHAPTER VI DIVIDED For a moment the boys stood and stared blankly at the one boat and at the place on the shore where the other had been drawn from the water. There was no question now as to their loss. Every member of their party was present and yet only one boat was to be seen. Certain of their supplies also were missing and the discovery served to increase the feeling of dismay. "Do you suppose that boat got loose?" inquired Fred, who was the first to speak. "I don't 'suppose it got loose,'" retorted Grant somewhat gruffly. "Do you think somebody took it?" again Fred asked. "If it didn't get loose, please tell me why it's gone? There's only one way the boat could get into the river. One was for it to get loose and the other for somebody to work it loose." "Then the question is," said George, "who took it?" "And there isn't much question about that," said Fred confidently. "Do you think those two men stole the boat? I mean the two that were in our camp last night?" "I don't know who else could take it," said John. "And it's my fault too, isn't it?" "In a way it is your fault, all right," said Grant. "You started those men on the trail. If you had kept still no one would have known anything about it."