That night was really the happiest they had all known for many months. The fact that they were close to the goal that had tempted them across the continent did much to bring smiles to the careworn faces of the voyagers. "If all the accounts we've been able to pick up are correct," Dick told Roger that night, while they sat near the fire, the camp being well guarded every minute of the time, "we ought to reach our destination by the end of the second day, perhaps sooner." "Which means we will be able to look out into the west and see nothing but the vast ocean," Roger added, with a contented sigh. "Well, I feel glad--yes, doubly glad, for Captain Lewis and Captain Clark." "I understand why you say that, Roger. To us it means only that our curiosity will be satisfied; but think what they have risked to carry out the plan of the President! It will be the greatest day in their lives when they reach that ocean they have come thousands of miles to look upon." "And think of all they have braved to win their end," added the other boy, his whole expression speaking his deepest admiration for the bold leaders of the exploring expedition. Well might the boys say what they did. A thousand perils had waylaid those daring spirits, yet never once had they dreamed of giving up their plan. Over unknown trails, through dark canyons, across trackless plains and burning deserts, up mighty rivers with their strong currents and swirling rapids--all these and uncounted other dangers had spread out before them, but without daunting their souls. No wonder then that the boy of to-day, who reads of this most wonderful journey ever undertaken in our great country, reveres the names of those two bold spirits who conducted the expedition to a successful finish. With the coming of another day the journey was resumed. Even the weather seemed to have undergone a fit of repentance, for the skies were now as clear as crystal, and the rainy spell had evidently passed. Early in the morning several of the men hastened to the place where the boys had been deceived by the decoy deer. They brought back the game, since none of the thoroughly alarmed Flat Heads had dared return for the carcass. It was easily seen just how cleverly the animal's head had been fixed by means of stout sticks and deerskin thongs. The men also judged that it had been made to stand erect by the aid of other sticks skillfully concealed. On the whole, the boys concluded they had a story to relate that would arouse the greatest interest among the home folks, if ever they were fortunate enough to rejoin the family circle again. Roger was glad that the remainder of the journey was to be made in the canoes, for his ankle pained him exceedingly, and he would have been unable to walk any distance without feeling much distress.