"Well, yes, then! And you can cut off a little from the spring term, too. But it's all on condition that you come back also with a knowledge of that much history, additional to your regular studies." "Oh, agreed to that!" said Rob; while John and Jesse began to drop their books and eagerly come closer to their older guide and companion. "What'll we need to take?" asked John. "We can't live on the country as we did up North." "Cut it light, young men. One week's grub at a time, say. The little tent, with a wall, and the poles along--we can spread it on the boat if we like." "Not the mosquito tent?" asked Jesse. "No, not after the seasoning you chaps have had in the North. Some mosquitoes, but not so many for us old-timers. Take bars, no head nets. We're not tenderfeet, you see." "A blanket, a quilt, and an eiderdown quilt each?" suggested John. "You'll not! Did Lewis and Clark have eiderdown?" "No, but they had buffalo robes!" "And so have we!" Uncle Dick laughed aloud in triumph. "I found three in an old fur trader's loft here, and--well, I bought them. He'd forgotten he had them--forty years and more. A blanket and a quilt and a robe each, or Jesse and John to divide the biggest robe--and there we are!" "A tarp to go over all," said Rob. "Yes. And our regular mess kit. And the usual wool scout clothes and good shoes and soft hat. That's about all. Two trout rods, for the mountains. One shotgun for luck, and one .22 rifle--no more. It'll make a load, but Jesse's river ship will carry it. Nasty and noisy, but nice, eh?" "It'll be fine!" said Jesse. "Of course, we take our maps and books and papers, in a valise?" "Yes. I'll have a copy of the original _Journal_." "And we'll always know where we are?" said John. "That is," he added, "where they were?" "Yes," said Uncle Dick, reverently enough. "As near as we can figure on the face of a country so changed. And we'll try to put in all the things they saw, try to understand what the country must have been at that time? Is that agreed?" Each boy came up and stood at attention. Each gave the Boy Scout's salute. Uncle Dick noted with a grim smile the full, snappy, military salute of the American Army which Rob now gave him. He returned it gravely and courteously, as an officer does. CHAPTER III "ADVENTURER, OF AMERICA" It was on a morning in early spring that our four adventurers found themselves at the side of their boat, which rested on the bank of the great Missouri River, not far above its mouth. Their little tent stood, ready for striking, and all their preparations for the start now were made. Rob stood with a paint pot and brush in hand, at the bow of the boat. "She's dry, all right, by now, I think," said he. "If we put a name on the stern board the paint could dry without being touched. What shall we christen her?" "Call her 'Liberty,'" suggested Jesse, "or, say, 'America.'" "Fine, but too usual. Give us a name, John."