-{ TO CARIBOO AND BACK }--

_ “Well, she’s no beauty anyhow,” the dug-
out’s owner said. “So I guess I'll call her the
Tuab’.”’

Betty thought a lady should not be called a
tub; but the name was rather suitable, for the
canoe was short and broad.

“Hope she’ll be as tough and trusty as Jinks
was in a tight place,” Arthur remarked.

A good many hours had been spent by the
boys in learning to handle the paddles and to
drive the dugout through the water either with
or against the current. An Indian boy of about
the same age as they were came with them,
using a birchbark canoe, and gave them instruc-
tions, jeering at their mistakes and grunting
approval when there was improvement. Of the
two Jim wielded the stronger paddle and Arthur
-the more dexterous. They made a good team,
for both strength and dexterity would be needed
in the rapids of the Fraser.

There were two others besides Jim and
Arthur who elected to travel at least part way
by canoe. They were Professor Allen and John
Nott, the tailor, an oddly assorted pair, and
neither of them particularly expert on the
water.

[129]