“Nary leak!” Pop exclaimed, leaning close. “Guess I qualify for an expert boat-maker, don’t I? All right, Teddy, stop yore solo an’ hop in.” “_Après vous, m’sieu_,” Teddy smirked, and bowed low. “I assure you I crave to see you get wet first.” “Don’t mind him, Pop,” Roy laughed. “That’s French, and not what you think it means. He just said: ‘after you!’ so don’t get sore. Come on, Teddy, you tomato! Get in there before I toss you in!” “_Now_ you said something!” the boy ejaculated. “I obey with pleasure--but I’ll be back--oh, I’ll be ba-a-a-a-ak!” and he waved a hand vigorously as he settled himself in the bottom of the canoe. “You’ll be back before you’re gone,” Roy remarked. “You paddle, my young gentleman of leisure. Oh, yes, there’s more than one. Bug Eye found the one that wasn’t broken, and this stick will do for the bow paddle. Here. On your horse, cowboy!” Teddy took the flat board Roy held out to him and looked at it wonderingly. “I am to paddle with _this_?” he said in a shocked voice. “Roy, my social position! I could never forgive myself--paddling Whirlpool River with a flat board! Dear, dear, what will Mrs. Percy Van Pelt say when she hears about this? I shall never, _never_ hear the last of it!” “We’ll try to keep it out of the papers,” Roy replied, laughing loudly. “Pipe down now, and go to work. Just forget Mrs. Percy Van Pelt and remember me sitting back of you here with a strong paddle and a good reach.” “I desire an objection noted,” Teddy murmured, as he took the stick and shifted to the bow seat. “I obey, but under protest. All right, cap’in, whenever you say! I’m all set.” “Everything in?” Roy asked, looking about him. “Rifles in the bottom? Yep. We’re off, boys. The Amazon Adventurers!” The canoe shot for the middle of the river, propelled by Teddy and Roy. The stream was again placid, as it had been before the storm. A gentle current bore them along. As they left their camping site, Roy turned his head and looked back. Many things had happened in the space of twenty-four hours, since they had first lit their fire. They had heard thieves planning to rustle the cattle on the Whirlpool River range. Then the pursuit and the rock ahead. The crash, and the roaring flood. Then his life had hung in the balance. How close it had come to being taken, he probably would never know. How had he gotten ashore? Why hadn’t he been drowned? Why-- Roy shook his head slowly. “Mother must have been on the job then,” he said to himself, and smiled. “She said she’d put in a good word, and I guess she did! Surely, something besides me kept my head above water!” Then another thought came to him. They were approaching the rapids with a mended canoe. The cattle were beyond, and rustlers were bent on taking them, if they had not already done so. There was the possible landslide that the stranger had reported.