Thence they could ascend the plateau in search of that animal food which they so sadly required, the two having been restricted for some weeks to a diet of dry potatoes, without even a scrap of butter or grease to make them go down more palatably.
This being determined on, the two quickly made their preparations for the undertaking, which to them appeared almost as formidable as poor Captain Webb's feat of trying to go down the Falls of Niagara; although, it might be mentioned incidentally, that, at the time they attempted their natatory exploit, that reckless swimmer's name was unknown to fame.
Of course, they had to consider that, should they reach the beach on the other side all right and thus get up to the tableland, they would require some weapon to bring down the animals they were going in chase of; and, as both the Remington rifles as well as Fritz's shot gun had been lost with the whale-boat, the only firearm remaining was the needle-gun, which the elder brother had brought with him from Germany-- more, indeed, as a reminiscence of the campaign in which he had been engaged than from any idea of its serviceableness.
However, for want of anything better, there it was; and, as Fritz had plenty of cartridges which would fit it, the weapon had a chance of now being employed for a more peaceful purpose than that for which it was originally intended.

It would, certainly, still take life, it is true; but it would do so with the object of ultimately saving and not destroying humanity.
There was the weapon and the cartridges; but, how to get them round with them was the question?
The brothers could swim well enough without any encumbrance, still, they would be crippled in their efforts should they be foolish enough to load themselves with a heavy gun, as well as sundry other articles which they thought it necessary to take with them for the success of their expedition.
Why, such a procedure would be like handicapping themselves heavily for the race! What was to be done?
Eric, the "inventive genius," very soon solved this difficulty.
"I tell you what we'll do, brother," he said; "let us put our blankets, with the kettle and rifle and the other things we require, in one of the oil casks.

We can then push this before us as we swim along, the cask serving us for a life buoy to rest upon when we are tired, besides carrying our traps, eh ?" "Himmel, Eric, you're a genius!" exclaimed Fritz, clapping him on the back.

"I never knew such a fellow for thinking of things like you, laddie; you beat Bismark and Von Moltke both rolled into one!" "Ah, the idea only just flashed across my mind," said the other, somewhat shamefaced at his brother's eulogy and almost blushing.

"It came just on the spur of the moment, you know!" "But, how are we going to get the needle-gun into the barrel ?" asked Fritz suddenly, taking up the weapon and seeing that its muzzle would project considerably beyond the mouth of the said article, even when the butt end was resting on the bottom.
"Why, by unscrewing the breech, of course," said Eric promptly.
Fritz gazed at him admiringly.
"The lad is never conquered by anything!" he cried out, as if speaking to a third person.