Marco was in favor of going down the river, but all the rest, though they said that they should like to go very much, thought it would not answer, as it would be almost impossible to get the boat up again over the rips.

After the consultation was concluded, Forester said, "Well, boys, you have all given wise opinions except Marco, and his is not wise.

Now we'll go aboard the boat." "_Crew aboard!_" said Forester.

The other orders followed in rapid succession: _Attention! Toss! Let fall! Backwater! Oars! Give way!_ The boys considered it settled, on hearing what Forester had said of the wisdom of their several opinions, that they were now going back toward the mill; but how they were going to get the boat back above the dam they did not know, though they did not doubt that Forester had some good plan which he had not explained to them.
Instead, however, of turning the head of the boat up the stream, Forester pointed it toward the river.

They supposed that he was going out to the edge of the river, and that then he would turn and come back; but, to their utter amazement, he pushed boldly on directly into the current, and then, putting his helm hard up and calling out to the crew to give way strong, the boat swept round into the very center of the stream and shot down the river over the rips like an arrow.
[Illustration: THE EXPEDITION.] "Give way, boys, hearty," said Forester.