Boy Scouts In A Motor Boat Or Adventures On The Columbia River
G. Harvey Ralphson
Paperback
(Stevens Publishing, Nov. 17, 2005)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...of the moonlight. Harry's vigil passed on monotonously until midnight, and then he heard the plash of an oar. At first it seemed that he must be mistaken, for the river was clear, over the rapids above and down the shining surface. Then, from a tiny creek, unobserved before, he saw the unpainted prow of a boat thrust forth. Slowly the boat revealed itself until its length lay in the river, the bow pointing downward. There seemed to be two men in the boat, but Harry could not make sure that there were not three. At least there were two pairs of oars at work. Harry, not wishing to take all the responsibility, shook Ned by the shoulder, and that young man was almost instantly on his feet. Harry pointed down toward the boat and did not speak. Ned looked thoughtful. The men in the boat might be employes of the copper mines below, or they might be fishermen, or prospectors, or huntsmen, but if they were, the boy thought, they would hardly leave the locality without inspecting the Black Bear. Boats of her build were not common in that country, and curiosity would naturally lead any honest visitors to inquiry and inspection. The boat, held by the oars, remained almost stationary in the water for a moment and then slowly turned and started up stream in the direction of the Black Bear. Ned and Harry crouched down and remained perfectly quiet. The rowboat came on slowly, and three men could now be seen, two at the oars and one at the helm. The boys got their weapons ready and waited. Much to their surprise, however, the rowboat made a wide detour and passed up stream, leaving a space half the width of the river between the two boats. "They've got their nerve!" Jimmie whispered, as the distance between the two parties increased. "Look! Look!" he add...