Of course the scene in the camp that night was an unusual one. The men who were to accompany the two captains had been advised of their good fortune, and, while they showed signs of pleasure, at the same time they knew that the final stages of the big journey would be filled with peril, so, in one way, they really envied those who could stay behind in comfort and peace. There was an air of half-suppressed excitement throughout the camp as the men conferred together, exchanged some of their possessions, and in numerous ways made ready for the parting that was coming so soon. Captain Lewis did not have many preparations to make, for all along he and his able ally had seen that everything was kept at the highest notch of efficiency. "I really do believe," said Roger, as he and his chum sat watching the many sights of the camp that evening, "that Captain Lewis has planned for every little thing that could happen; and whoever is left in charge here will know what he is to do from day to day, just as if he got his orders fresh from headquarters." "That is partly the result of having a man like Captain Clark along," explained Dick. "He believes in method, and carries his ideas out as a military man should. Captain Lewis could not have found a better companion for his venture than he did." "It is settled that we are to go along with them, of course?" fretted Roger, who knew perfectly well that this matter had been arranged, but wanted to hear his comrade say so. "We have the word of the commander for it, and that ought to be enough, Roger." One whole day they spent in the camp by the river so that nothing should be neglected. Then, on the following morning, bright and early the good-bys were said, and the little party, mounted on the horses, set out to plunge still deeper into the unknown wilderness toward the glittering prize that tempted them--the sun-kissed sea that lay far away over mountains and across burning deserts. It was only natural that every one should be more or less affected over the parting. None of them could tell what the future held. Surrounded by a trackless wilderness, many hundreds of miles from a single white man's village, and with treacherous savages to deal with, the chances of their ever coming together again seemed very remote. During that day both the boys were inclined to be unusually quiet and thoughtful. Indeed, for that matter, every one of the riders seemed to have lost his ordinary spirits, although, of course, this feeling of depression would soon wear away, and by degrees the men would learn to face the situation bravely.