Part 33 (1/2)

”What do you say, Brace?” said his brother, turning to him.

”Well, at first I didn't like the idea at all: it sounded so much like being beaten and having to make a fresh start; but I think now that it's just what we as good as planned to do when we set off. When shall we start?”

”It seems to me,” said Sir Humphrey, smiling, ”that Briscoe's motion is carried unanimously. As to starting, we might take a boat and begin exploring at once, making day excursions. The longer ones would depend upon how soon Captain Banes could get the longboat ready.”

”By to-morrow morning would do for me, sir,” said the captain bluffly.

”But you would not be able to fix up the boat in such a short time.”

”There's really nothing to do, sir. There's a hole in the thwart fore and aft for a short upright to carry the spar the length of the boat, and we'd make that do for mast as well. Dellow could soon cut us up a bit of canvas that would do for sail and extra cover to rig up o'

nights. You'd better have the stern covered in with a regular awning.

We'll be ready for you by daylight, gentlemen.”

”That will be capital. Can you let us have one of the other boats, so that we can row up towards the falls at once?” said Brace.

”You can sail, squire, and save the men's arms in the hot sun. Plenty of wind for that.”

”Capital,” said Brace. ”You might come with us, Free.”

”No,” said his brother; ”I had better wait a few days longer before I begin.”

”What will you occupy yourself with whilst we are away?” asked Brace.

”Oh, I shall find something to do. I'll stop and help Captain Banes, and see to the stores for tomorrow's expedition.”

”Do you feel strong enough?” said Brace anxiously.

”I am getting stronger every day. There, take the guns with you and try and knock over a few ducks. I've noticed several fly up the river since we've been here.”

”All right,” said Brace. ”We'll try to get some for the cook.”

”And I say, squire,” cried the captain, ”when I was a boy, whenever I got a chance I was off fis.h.i.+ng, and I learned from experience that the best place, and where the fish gathered most to feed upon what came down a river, was just where the water fell below a weir.”

”Yes,” said Brace; ”I should think that would be the best place for fis.h.i.+ng.”

”Well, then, as the old saying goes, 'A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse.' You don't want me to tell you that you're going to sail to a great natural weir of rock, up to which the fish from hundreds and hundreds of miles of big river swim in great shoals to feed.”

”You mean that we should take some tackle with us?”

”That's right, and, by Jingo, the very thought of it makes me want to come with you and have a try.”

”Come, then,” cried Brace, ”and have a good day's sport with us.”

”Nay, nay, nay, my lad: duty first, pleasure after. I've got to put out anchors and see to the provisioning of that boat.”

”Let Mr Dellow do it. He'll be able to see to that all right.”

”No,” said the captain shortly. ”You go and try. Another time I should like to go with you and be a boy again.”