"Well," remarked his brother, "I would like a chance to get ashore and stretch my legs, just as much as you do. And I hope he says yes, when you ask him. Fish is pretty good, but a fellow gets tired of it as a regular thing, and I don't think that is the finest kind of fish either, that we get. Why, when you took in that slippery mudcat, and we had it for dinner, it tasted better to me." "We haven't seen a solitary sign of Indians since they tried to get us to come in to the shore," Sandy went on. "And that must have been Girty, himself, who rumpled up his hair, and tried to look so hard pushed. You remember we saw him that time after we got ashore, when our boat was smashed, and when Blue Jacket told that Miami chief, Little Turtle, why he stood up for the Armstrong boys. But I'll come back and let you know what father says." Ten minutes later he approached Bob again. "You needn't say a single word," remarked the other, "for I can tell by the look on your face that it's all right." "Yes, he says that we have been making such good time we can afford to lose an afternoon, or part of one, in order to try to get some fresh meat, because we all feel the need of it. So, before the sun is more than half-way down the sky, he will give orders for the boat to be tied up, if everything looks safe, just like it is right now." "I'm glad of that," declared Bob; "because, after being used to walking nearly every day, for miles and miles, it comes pretty hard to just sit here, push a sweep, or tramp up and down around the cabin." "Oh! I just couldn't stand it much longer!" cried Sandy. "I was really thinking that I'd have to jump overboard, and swim ashore, to try my luck, if father didn't want to stop the boat, hoping to catch up with you all below, when you hauled in for the night camp." Bob looked uneasily at his impulsive younger brother. "I don't know whether you are joking when you say that, or not, Sandy," he remarked; "but it would be a foolish move to make, and would bring more worry to the heart of mother. I hope you won't think of such a thing at any time. You are getting too big now to let these things have hold of you so much. There are enough troubles to bother our parents without you adding to the burden." Sandy turned red, and then burst out into a confused laugh. "Oh! I only said I was _thinking_ of doing something like that, you know," he declared; "but that is as far as it would go, I give you my word, Bob. Whenever I catch myself wanting to jump at things so, I remember what Pat said that day we saw the big stag standing knee deep in the water. Too much hurry, too sudden a move, spoils many a good game. And I guess it's so. I'm trying as hard as I know how to think twice, now, before doing anything." "That sounds more like you, Sandy, and I'm glad to hear you talk so," continued Bob; "but did father say anything about how we were to hunt this afternoon?"