"And what's the other river coming into Mendota Lake on the side across from the city?"
"Then, if this boat was launched in Lake Monona, it could enter the Canal over by Winnequa, cross into Mendota Lake, and proceed up the Yahara?"
"She could, sure. Lots of boats do that."
"Here's a creek entering the Yahara. Is that navigable for a boat drawing two or three feet of water?"
"Maybe. I guess a small boat could get up the creek a ways."
As Matt figured it, the cabin where he had left McGlory and George was on the creek. Why couldn't he get the _Sprite_ afloat and proceed by water to the cabin?
"I don't know anything about these lakes," went on Matt, "but I'd like to get some one who knows them and make a little cruise."
"Fourth Lake is mighty treacherous. Whenever there's a west wind she kicks up a big sea, and a lot of boats have come to grief on the rocks of Maple Bluff. That's here--that piece of land running out into the water, over where they've made a park. It used to be called McBride's Point. A mile across from the bluff is Governor's Island. The insane asylum is near the island. If you want to put your boat in Fourth Lake, why don't you launch it there instead of taking it to Third Lake?"
"Well, I want to try her out with a little longer cruise than just across Fourth Lake. Do you know of any one I could get to pilot me around?"
"H'm!" murmured the driver thoughtfully. Presently his face brightened. "Any objection to color?" he asked.
"Well, how'd a colored boy do? I know of one that's right to home on the lakes, and he's a character, you bet. His name's Pickerel Pete; that's all he's got, just Pickerel Pete."
"He'll do," said Matt. "How can I get hold of Pickerel Pete?"
"Tell you what I'll do; I'll get hold of him for you. When you going to put that boat in the water?"
"'Course we got to deliver it for you. I'll have some of the boys help me get it on the dray, and on the way down to the lake I'll pick up Pete. You don't need to wait here. In half an hour you go down King Street to Wilson. There's a lot of landings and boathouses t'other side the railroad depot. If we ain't there when you reach the place, you wait, and we'll show up pretty soon afterward."
"That's mighty good of you," said Matt. "You'll be careful of the boat, will you?"