this spot.  When they arrived at it, the whole mystery was explained, for they found that the man was James, who lived at Forester’s father’s, and the oxen were his father’s oxen.  James had come down, under an appointment which Forester had secretly made with him, with the oxen and a drag, and by means of them he hauled the boat across to the mill-pond again, by a back road which led directly across the pastures, and lanched it safely again into the water close to the dwelling of its owner.  So the boys had, as it were, the pleasure of sliding down hill, without the labor of drawing their sleds up again.

[Illustration:  THE DRAG.]

Marco was very much pleased with this expedition.  Forester told him when they got home, that the Indians often carried their canoes around falls, or from one river to another, and that such carrying-places were called portages.

Chapter XI.

Lost In The Woods.

While Marco Paul was in Vermont, he and Forester had a remarkable adventure in the woods.  They got lost in fact, and for a time it seemed quite doubtful how they were ever to find their way home.  It happened thus.

One morning in the fall of the year, Marco, walking along toward the barn with James, asked James what he was going to do that day.

“I expect that I am going to gather apples,” said James.

“Well,” said Marco.  “Are you going in the cart?”

“Yes,” said James.

“And may I go with you?” asked Marco.

“Yes,” said James.

“And help gather the apples? said Marco.

“Yes,” said James.

“And drive the oxen a little way?” asked Marco.

“Yes,” said James.

“Well.” said Marco.  “I will run and get my goad-stick.”

Marco went toward the house intending to go in and get his goad-stick.  On his way he met his uncle.  His uncle asked him whether James was out in the barn.  Marco said that he was, and his uncle then asked him to go and request James to come to him.  Marco did so, and he and James then came along toward the house together.

Marco’s uncle stood upon the step of the door.

“James,” said he, “I was thinking that we ought to send for the horses;—­and the apples ought to be gathered too.  Which is it best to do?”

“I hardly know, sir,” said James.  “It is high time that the apples were gathered, and yet we promised to send for the horses to-day.”

“I can go and get the horses,” said Marco,—­“just as well as not.  Where is it?”

“Oh no,” said his uncle.  “It is ten or fifteen miles from here.  Isn’t it, James?”

“Yes,” said James, “by the road.  I suppose it is about four miles through the woods.  I was intending to walk there, through the woods, and then to come home round by the road.  It is rather a rough road for horses through the woods.”