Urged on by an almost unanimous call, Paul finally agreed to start themotor again, and see what the result would be. So Jud sent the order tothe second boat by means of his signal flags.

When the happy popping of the _Comfort's_ exhaust made itself heard,there was an almost simultaneous cheer from the scouts.

"We're off!" they shouted, in great glee.

"Goodbye, ancient mud bank!" cried Gusty, waving his hand in mock adieuto the unlucky spot where so much precious time had been wasted. "Seeyou later!"

"Not much we will!" echoed Joe Clausin. "I've got that spot marked with awhite cross in my mind, and if this boat ever gets close to it again,you'll hear this chicken cackle right smart. It's been photographed on mybrain so that I'll look at it lots of times when I wake up in the night."

"How about the other boat?" asked Paul, who was stooping down to fixsomething connected with the motor at the time, and could not stop tolook for himself, although he could hear the throbbing of the_Speedwell's_ machinery.

"0h! she slid off easier than we did, I reckon," remarked 0ld Dan Tucker,now snuggled down comfortably, and apparently in a mood to take thingseasy, since it would be a long time between "eats."

"Tell them to go sluggish, all the same, Jud," Paul remarked.