It was so wet and dripping in the timber that he only remained there a few minutes; but as he turned to retrace his steps, his attention was diverted by a new object of interest.
He was on a bank of the river, beside which was moored a raft.

It was a timber raft, with a single large "shanty," that had a strangely familiar look, standing amidship.
"It isn't the _Venture_, of course," thought Winn; "but I'll just step aboard and inquire if they have seen anything of a raft with a 'shanty' and a tent on it.

It will save us some time when we get started down the river again." So thinking, the boy stepped lightly aboard.

His footfalls were deadened by the wet, so that he gained the forward end of the "shanty" without attracting attention.

The door was closed, and Winn was startled to note how very familiar that gable end of the building looked.