To Winn it seemed as though nothing could be more perfect or inviting, and he longed for the time when it should be his temporary home.
For a whole month after the raft was finished, loaded, and ready to set forth on its uncertain voyage, it remained hard and fast aground where it was built.

To Winn's impatience it seemed as though high-water never would come.
"I don't believe this old raft is ever going to float any more than the mill itself," he remarked pettishly to his sister Elta one day in October, as they sat together on the _Venture_ and watched the sluggish current of the little river.
"Father thinks it will," answered Elta, quietly.
"Oh yes.

Of course father thinks so; but he may be mistaken as well as other folks.

Now if I'd had the building of this craft, I would have floated all the material down to the mouth of the creek.

Then everything would have been ready for a start as soon as she was finished." "How would you have loaded the wheat ?" demanded Elta.
"Why, boated it down, of course." "And so added largely to its cost," answered the practical girl.