Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/197

 boat; the packs were put on board; there was no time for elaborate farewells, even when it came  to pushing out from shore.

“Shove her easy,” directed Dick, and—

“A little more,” said Oscar. “There, now we are afloat. Good-by, good-by.”

His paddle dipped, the canoe shot forward, a sharp ripple rose beneath her bow. The two boys stood watching as she moved steadily away. The water was turning from gray to silver and shining in the morning light, while a gold and  scarlet glow behind Jasper Peak showed where  the sun was soon to rise. Hugh and Dick still stood as the boat dwindled to a black speck on  the glittering lake, turned into Harbin’s Channel  and disappeared. Even then they waited, shading their eyes, hoping for one more sight of it. Finally Hugh heaved a long sigh and the two turned to look at each other. The valley of the Promised Land was their very own, to hold or to  lose.