"You see, they didn't make way with those fish after all, Dick, because they were not found until late in the evening. So they just cleaned and salted them down, and we're to have the greatest treat you ever tasted to-night. It sometimes pays to wait patiently for things to come along," and, seeing Dick smiling, he winked knowingly, after which he bustled off to watch the process by means of which the fish were to be prepared for the coming meal. FOOTNOTE: [4] See "The Pioneer Boys of the Missouri." CHAPTER XXI AT THE FOOT OF THE ROCKIES "THE time is coming, and very soon at that, I guess, Dick, when we must expect a great change in our going." Roger made this remark some two weeks after their adventure with the rascally Dacotahs, who had been misled by the false words of Andrew Waller. All this while the whites had been steadfastly pushing farther and farther up the narrowing Missouri, until navigation had become very difficult. "Yes, I know what you mean by that," remarked Dick. "Every day now we are having more and more trouble with the batteaux. They get aground so often that much valuable time is wasted in freeing them." "It looks as if we might be nearly at the headwaters of the Missouri, the river is getting so shallow," Roger observed. "That is probably partly due to the time of year," explained Dick. "We are well along in August, you must remember, and the snow doesn't melt as easily up in the mountain canyons now as it did earlier in the season. Besides, we have had little heavy rain, if you stop to think." "What do you expect Captain Lewis will do, Dick?" "I heard him saying only to-day, when they were working at the boat which stuck on the shoal, that it looked as though the limit had been reached. You understand what that means, of course, Roger?" "I believe I do," was the reply. "From what I've picked up here and there it appears to be the plan to leave part of the expedition in camp somewhere along the upper reaches of the Missouri until next year, while the rest make a dash for the Coast on the horses." "It was fixed," continued Dick, "that Captain Clark should lead the party headed for the sea; but I have heard since that Captain Lewis has changed his mind. He doesn't feel like being cheated out of that glorious sight after all he has passed through." "And who can blame him?" burst out the impetuous Roger. "I only hope they let us keep along with them. We have a horse apiece, you know, and could easily hold our own when it came to hunting for game." "Captain Lewis promised that we should set eyes on the sea if any one in the party did, and he is a man of his word, you know."