noon
Going down the river was very different from coming up it . The current ran so swiftly that the boys could not add much to their speed by paddling ; all they had to do was to steer the craft . The water was so high that they could run most of the rapids , and stretches that they had formerly toiled up with tumpline or tracking-line they now covered with the speed of a bullet . Toward noon Fred became intolerably hungry ; but neither of the others spoke of eating , and he did not mention his hunger . Mac , in the bow , put the shotgun where he could easily reach it , and scanned the shores for game as closely as he could ; but no game showed itself . They traveled all day without seeing anything except now and then a few ducks , which always took wing while still far out of range . At last they came to `` Buck Rapids , '' where they had shot the deer .