River in several places. We'll have to try one place after another."
"Do your directions start from that p'int?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll have to find the right emptyin' place, that's all. My advice is to start fer the spot to-morrow early."
So it was arranged, and Dick called Tom and Sam down to the barn to talk it over. It was late in the afternoon, and all worked until after the supper hour in preparing for the start.
"It's a good twenty miles' tramp from here," said John Barrow, "and we'll have to climb two pretty steep mountains to get to the spot."
"Why can't we follow the stream up?" asked Tom. "That would be easier than tramping up the mountains."
"By the river the way is at least forty miles, and there are half a dozen rough spots where you'd have to walk a mile or two."
"We have our skates," said Sam. "Skating would be easier than walking, and pulling the sleds on the ice would be child's play."
"Well, I allow as how I wouldn't mind skatin' myself," said John Barrow thoughtfully. "I never thought of that before. If you want to, we can try that trail. We can take to the mountain any time, if we find skating no good."
So it was arranged that they should strike out
