that he had been well shaken up.

For a time thankfulness at the escape of the men, and that so much
of the outfit had been saved, made me oblivious of everything else.
Then gradually it came to the minds of the men what was missing,
but it was some time before the list was complete, and I knew that
we had lost all the axes, all the frying-pans, all the extra pole-
shods, one pole, one paddle, the crooked knife, two pack-straps,
one sponge, one tarpaulin, my stove, and Job's hat and pipe. The
loss of the axes and the pole-shods was the most serious result of
the accident, and I wondered how much that would mean, but had not
the courage to ask the question. I feared the men would think they
could not go on without the axes.

Soon they began to upbraid themselves for putting both tents and
all the axes into the same canoe; but there was no mention made of
turning back. All seemed only thankful that no lives were lost.
While Job and Joe were changing their wet clothing, George and
Gilbert, as quickly as possible, prepared lunch. Job, however, was
very quiet during the meal, and ate almost nothing. Later,
however, I could bear George and Joe in fits of laughter. Job was
entertaining them with an account of his visit to the fishes.
According to his story, he had a most wonderful time down there.




CHAPTER V

TO THE BEND OF THE RRVER