But all the same, he knew that Pat had planned wisely. There was really nothing else for them to do, unless they wished to allow the boat to pass on down-stream, and wait for them far below. That would necessitate the making of a temporary raft out of some big log, and floating down to rejoin their friends. The lame trapper hurried as much as he could, utterly regardless of the pain the effort caused him, and in this way they presently reached the point of land that thrust out into the river. "Perhaps they've already gone by?" suggested Sandy, when they failed to see anything of the floating house above their hiding-place. "I hardly think there's been time for that," Bob replied. "The current is only about four miles an hour, Pat told us; and, unless my figuring is wrong, it would take them nearly half an hour to get past here. And we have been no such time making this point; have we, Pat?" "'Tis right yees are, me bye," replied the trapper; and he did not say more, for he was scanning the surface of the river as well as he was able. "But it seems to me there's a river fog coming up from below," declared Sandy. "Yes, that's a fact," admitted Bob; "I noticed that myself; but it isn't going to be so thick we couldn't see the flatboat passing anywhere this side of the middle of the stream." All relapsed into silence. The deepest anxiety prevailed, for it meant a tremendous lot to the three wanderers if they should be so unfortunate as to miss the boat, and be thrown on their own resources, with a lame comrade on their hands in the bargain. "Do you see anything, Bob?" whispered Sandy, presently, when the silence began to seem unbearable. "I believe I do," came the reply. "There, Pat has caught it, too; for I can tell from his actions. Yes, it's a moving object away up yonder; and I do believe, Sandy, it is the boat, coming at last!" CHAPTER XVIII THE MAN WITH THE CHARMED LIFE "HOW can we let them know we're here, so they'll push in close enough, and anchor, while some one comes for us in the dugout?" Sandy inquired. Pat had prepared for that, too, it seemed. "I'm to flash a bit av powder to till them we're waitin' beyant the p'int av land," he remarked; "and 'tis mesilf as had better be gettin' ready to do the same in a hurry, for they do be comin' along right fast." He placed a small amount of the precious powder on a stone, and then held his flint and steel in readiness until such time as the boat came close enough to suit his purpose. Then it was no effort for the experienced trapper to send a spark into the little pile of powder, which went off instantly, giving a brief but vivid flash. All eyes were on the advancing flatboat, for it was a matter of importance to them to know whether the signal had been seen or not. "There, they know we are here, and want to get aboard!" exclaimed Sandy, as a single shot came from the deck of the boat.