As they approached the point where the river turned again, Marco, who was looking out before, saw a sort of landing, where there was a man standing, together with a yoke of oxen.

It was just sunset when they approached this spot.

When they arrived at it, the whole mystery was explained, for they found that the man was James, who lived at Forester's father's, and the oxen were his father's oxen.

James had come down, under an appointment which Forester had secretly made with him, with the oxen and a drag, and by means of them he hauled the boat across to the mill-pond again, by a back road which led directly across the pastures, and lanched it safely again into the water close to the dwelling of its owner.

So the boys had, as it were, the pleasure of sliding down hill, without the labor of drawing their sleds up again.
[Illustration: THE DRAG.] Marco was very much pleased with this expedition.