Across the wide expanse, which seemed the
wider for the little winding stream they had so lately followed, the
hills were already turning from green to gray and tiny lights were
visible upon the rugged heights. A great white steamer with its light
already burning was plowing majestically upstream and the little open
craft at the shore rocked in the diminishing ripples which it sent
across the water, as though bowing in humble obeisance to it.
"Gee, it's lonely, isn't it!" said Pee-wee.
"Not getting homesick, are you, kiddo?"
"No, but it seems kind of lonesome. I'm glad there's three of us. Oh,
jiminy, look at those hills."
The scene was indeed such as to make the mightiest man feel
insignificant.
The map showed a road which led to Haverstraw, and this the boys decided
to follow until they should find a convenient spot in which to bivouac
for the night. It followed the Hudson, sometimes running along the very
brink with the mighty highlands rising above it and sometimes running
between hills which shut the river from their view.
"Hark," said Tom. "What did I tell you! Thunder!"
A low, distant rumble sounded, and as they paused in the gathering
darkness, listening, a little fitful gust blew Pee-wee's hat off.
"We're going to get a good dose of it," said Tom. "I've been smelling it
for the last hour; look at those trees."
The leaves were blowing this way and that.
"We should worry," said Roy. "Didn't I tell you we might have to get our
feet wet? This is a risky bus----"
"Shut up!" said Pee-wee.
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