Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/365

 us. A little ahead is a bend. After we make that we'll hide up an' camp, an', as Etienne says, 'fumer la pipe.'"

Now the work was more strenuous as they were fighting against the current. Again the task became purposeless so far as Lander could observe. It consisted of nosing ashore and backing out, of blundering on to bars and snags and working clear. At last he was driven to ask:

"Do you know where you want to go and how near you are to arriving, Mr. Bridger?"

"We're already there," assured Bridger. "Work her dead ahead."

Lander stood in the stern, pushing with all his strength. He heard the rustling of branches in the bow and finally felt a limb worrying his head.

"Now it's fumer la pipe," said Bridger.

Lander reached out with his pole and found it rested on the river bank.

"I reckon I could jump ashore," he said.

"Reckon so, if you didn't fall in. Better stretch out on the cargo-box an' git a few feet of sleep."

Both were asleep when the sun came up, but were soon awake and on the bank. The river was empty. They were above the bend and snugly