noon
The boys loaded the fox cage into the Peterboro , got in themselves , and shot down the river again in a fresh start for home . They left the trapper sitting on the rock , glaring after them . Now that the strain was over and the fight won , the boys felt utterly exhausted . They kept on at as fast a pace as they could , however , and reached the Missanabie River a little after noon . There they stopped to cook dinner . Once more they had hot , black _ voyageurs ' _ tea , and fried flapjacks , and salt pork . It seemed the most delicious meal they had ever eaten ; but when they had finished , they felt too weary to start up the Missanabie , and reckless of consequences , they lay down and slept for almost two hours .