“Well, a canoe might be fine for shooting downstream, but I don’t believe you’d find it as safe in the rapids as those hide boats.  The rocks can’t smash in their sides, like cedar or canvas craft.  Better to do as the natives do, I find, whenever I go anywhere.  They know by experience what’s best,” returned Frank wisely.

“Look there!  A cowboy coming like the wind up the river, waving his hat over his head!  Say! d’ye suppose anything’s gone wrong at the ranch, and we’ll have to cut our hunt short?” exclaimed Bluff anxiously.

“Oh, I guess not.  You see, those fellows are built that way.  They never can do anything without excitement.  See!  He’s holding up something that looks like a mail pouch,” said Frank composedly.

“Why, of course that’s it!  I heard Mr. Mabie say he expected mail to-day, and, for one, I’ll be mighty glad to hear from the folks,” sighed Bluff.

“What?  Not getting homesick already, I hope?” smiled his chum.

“Certainly not, only a fellow naturally likes to hear from his mom and dad when he’s away so far,” declared Bluff stoutly.

“Yes, and also from some other fellow’s sister, in the bargain.  Nellie never finds time to write to me when I’m away, leaving all that to the old folks; but I notice that you always manage to get a letter in her handwriting.”

“Well, I made her solemnly promise to write every other day, you see,” explained Bluff, while he suddenly became red in the face, hurrying off to get his mail.

There were letters for all the boys.  Jerry was called in from his entrancing sport to receive his share, and Frank noticed that he, too, had a sweet-looking missive in a schoolgirl hand.  Of course, it must be from Mame Crosby, for Jerry and she were great friends.

“Here’s something enclosed in my letter, and directed to Mr. Frank Langdon.  Does anybody know a fellow by that name?” asked Will, holding up a delicate envelope that seemed to exhale a fragrance all its own.

“And sealed, too!  What a breach of etiquette!” jeered Jerry.

“Now, will you be good?” observed Bluff, glad of a chance to return the favor.

“That’s all right.  Possibly Violet wants to make some inquiries concerning her twin brother, how he behaves, and if he has developed any rash spirit calculated to get him into trouble.  I remember telling her that if she felt anxious just to drop me a line, and I’d answer.”

Frank unblushingly took the envelope from the extended fingers of Will.

“Open it!” commanded Bluff.

“You’ll have to excuse me, fellows.  That wouldn’t be hardly fair to my correspondent, you know.  She expects me to keep her secrets.”  And Frank coolly sauntered off as he spoke.

Nor did he ever take them into his confidence with regard to what the contents of that scented missive might be.  Even Will was not told.  However, like most brothers, it can be said that he did not seem overly anxious to learn.  He had, perhaps, secrets of his own.