The trail led them three hundred yards to the eastward, and then down into a sheltered hollow just above the water's edge, where a small boat was drawn up upon the shore.
"Here's a boat!" exclaimed Jamie, who had run ahead.
"A boat!" shouted David.

"They left un and took our boat." "And good reason!" said Jamie, who had reached the skiff.

"The bottom's half knocked out of un." It was evident that the boat had been driven upon the rocks in making a landing, and a jagged hole a foot square appeared in the bottom, rendering it in that condition quite useless.

Near by a tent had been pitched, and there was no doubt that the men who had abandoned the boat had been in camp for a day at least in the sheltered hollow.
The boys turned the boat over and examined the break.
"'Tis a bad place to mend," observed David.
"But we can mend un," declared Andy.

"We can mend un by noon whatever, and get to Fort Pelican this evenin'." "I'm doubtin'," David shook his head.