CHAPTER XVI.
CAPTAIN SAM PLAYS THE PART OF A SKIPPER.
The launching of the boat was easy enough, and she rode beautifully on the water.

To test her capacity to remain right side up, Sam put the boys one by one on her gunwale, and found that their combined weight, thrown as far as possible to one side, was barely sufficient to make her take water.
The stores were stowed carefully in the bow and stern; rough seats were fitted in after the manner of a boat's thwarts, but not fastened.
They were left moveable for the purpose of making it possible for several of the boys to lie down in the bottom of the boat at once.
There was no rudder as yet, although it was Sam's purpose to fix one to the stern as soon as possible, and also to make a mast when they should get to Pensacola, where a sail could be procured.

For the present two long poles and some rough paddles were their propelling power.
"When we get out into the river," said Sam, "she will float pretty rapidly on the high water, and we need only use the paddles to give her steerage, and to paddle her out of eddies." "What are the poles for ?" asked Tom.
"To push her in shoal water, for one thing," answered Sam, "and to fend off of banks and trees." A large quantity of the long gray moss of the swamps was stored in the bottom for bedding purposes, and the boat was ready for her passengers.

One by one they took their places, Sam in the bow, and the voyage down the creek began.

This stream was very crooked, and many fallen trees interrupted its course, so that it was very difficult to navigate it with so long a boat.