Here some of it was fastened to a spare rope which could be carried out to the floating boat, when the firewood might be hauled aboard. Thad paddled out first, so as to draw the laden dinghy after him; then Maurice used the second rope to get it back ashore, loaded it with the results of his chopping, after which the other did his part. In this fashion the entire amount of fuel was finally taken aboard. "I think we have enough to last us for some time now," remarked Maurice, after he had in the end allowed Thad to draw him out just as the cargoes of wood had been taken aboard. And as Thad once more pushed a couple of shells into the chambers of the little old Marlin he shook his head, observing: "I'd hate to think what would have happened if I'd just missed that ugly customer when I pulled those triggers. For he was coming at me like a house afire, and with blood in his eyes. But, I didn't, all the same, and what's the use bothering over it? Is the storm going down any, d'ye think, Maurice?" But Maurice could not say that it was in the least. CHAPTER X. "NOT TODAY," SAID THAD. "I wonder how long this measly old storm is going to keep us here?" Maurice was saying, that afternoon, as he stood on the after-deck of the anchored shanty-boat, and looked at the wild scene out on the raging river. They had seen not a sign of life thus far around them, since dawn. Even the few boats moving at this late season of the year on the Father of Waters seemed to have been bottled up in such harbors as could be found conveniently near at the time the storm broke loose. "You called me a weather sharp because I said it was due; and now you want me to give a guess about the end--is that it, Maurice?" asked the other, smiling. "Well, if you can hit it as good this time, and encourage a poor ship-wrecked mariner I'd be obliged." "Say, it ain't as bad as that. We've got a lot to be thankful for, I reckon, with this bully old boat to hold us, and keep out the cold. For one you don't hear me kicking," returned Thad, earnestly. "Oh! come off; you know mighty well that I'm the last boy to run up the white flag. Everything's lovely, and the goose hangs high; anyhow, it will later on if I get a crack at one on a sandbar further down the river. But what do you think of the prospects for clearing?" went on Maurice, turning to his chum. "Not good for anything today. P'raps the old storm will blow itself out tonight, and in the morning we may drop out of here. "Oh! well, it's too late now to think of going on today, so after all it don't matter much We can pull some more wood on board before night, and laugh at the cold," remarked Maurice. "Perhaps we'd better be doing it right away, then," observed Thad, with a glance at the west; "for dark comes sudden like at this time of year, you know." "All right. Get the ax and I'll see to the gun, Thad." "Thinking of more dogs, eh?"