They
were puzzled by this, and wondered what reason the men could still have
for wanting the raft. Certainly their connection with it was now too
well known for them to hope to make any further use of it in pursuing
their unlawful business. Nor did it seem likely that they would choose
it merely as a conveyance down the river. No; it must be that they had
hoped to sell the _Venture_, and realize a considerable sum by the
transaction. This was the conclusion finally reached by our raftmates,
though it was not one with which they were entirely satisfied.
Still, they felt that, as they were now four to two, they might
reasonably hope to be left in undisturbed possession of the raft for
the future, and so did not allow thought of the "river-traders" to
trouble them to any great extent. They decided that two of them should
stay constantly on board the raft, at least so long as they remained in
that locality, and that Bim should also be added to the protective
force.
To begin with, Binney and Winn remained on guard while Billy Brackett
and Glen went into the town to telegraph for Solon, send down the
instruments, and make other arrangements for the voyage. It had been
decided that as their crew was incomplete without a cook, Solon should
be sent for, and that they could not make a start until he arrived,
which would probably be early the next morning.
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