Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III "adventurer, Of America" IT was on a morning in early spring that our four adventurers found themselves at the side of their boat, which rested on the bank of the great Missouri River, not far above its mouth. Their little tent stood, ready for striking, and all their preparations for the start now were made. Rob stood with a paint pot and brush in hand, at the bow of the boat. "She's dry, all right, by now, I think," said he. "If we put a name on the stern board the paint could dry without being touched. What shall we christen her?" "Call her 'Liberty,'" suggested Jesse, or, say, 'America.'" "Fine, but too usual. Give us a name, John." "Well, I say, 'Columbia,' because we are headed for the Columbia, the same as Lewis and Clark." "Too matter-of-fact! Give us a jollier name." "Well, give us one yourself, Rob," said Uncle Dick, "since you're so particular." "All right! How'd 'Adventurer, of St. Louis,' do?" "Not so bad—not so bad. But to Lewis and Clark, St. Louis was only one point of their journey, important as it was." "I'll tell you," broke in Jesse, the youngest. "Call her Adventurer, of America.' You can paint it all on, if you use small letters for part, like the steamboats." "That's the name!" said Rob. "Because that was a great adventure that Lewis and Clark were taking on; and it was all for America— then and now. Hard to live up to. But, you see, we're only following." "What do you say, Uncle Dick?" asked John. "I like it," replied the latter. "It will do, so paint it on, Rob; and all of you be careful not to smudge it. It'll be dry by to-morrow morning, for this fantail rides high above the motors. "Finish drying and packing the dishes now, and let's be off when Rob gets done. We're exactly one hundred and eighteen ...