But Fenn knew it was something about the mysterious cave that was worrying Ruth, and he wished, more than ever, that he could do something to aid her.
It was a week after this when, school having closed for the summer term, the four chums were gathered at Fenn's house. Frank, Ned and Bart had arrived at the same time, to find Stumpy absorbed in the pages of a big geography.
"Going to take a post-graduate course?" asked Bart.
"No, he's looking for Bayville, to see if he can't catch a glimpse of Ruth," spoke Ned.
"I was planning a vacation trip," replied Fenn, with dignity.
"On the Great Lakes," answered Fenn. "I think it would be just the thing. I've been looking it up. We could go down the Still River to Lake Erie, and then to Lake Huron. From there we could visit the Straits of Mackinaw, and then, after a trip on Lake Michigan, go through the Sault St. Mary to Lake Superior. Then--"
"Yes, and then we could sail to Bayville and you could visit Ruth while we sat on the bank and caught fish!" interrupted Frank. "Oh, Stumpy, it's easy to guess what you are thinking about!"
Fenn had to stand considerable "jollying" on the part of his chums, but, though he blushed and was a little annoyed, he took it in good part.
"You can talk about Ruth all you like," he said, "but, just the same, if you have any plans to beat a cruise on the Great Lakes, why--trot 'em out, that's all. We've got to go somewhere this vacation, and I don't see any better place, though I've looked through the whole geography."
"And the only place you could get to was Bayville," interrupted Ned. "It's all right, Stumpy. I agree with you, that it would be a fine trip."
"Walk, of course," replied Bart, with a grin. "It's water all the way."
"Funny!" answered Frank, poking his sarcastic chum in the ribs. "I mean where could we get a boat?"
"Hire one, I s'pose," put in Fenn, who had been busy marking an imaginary cruise in lead pencil on the map of the Great Lakes.
"That would be pretty expensive," said Bart. "We're not millionaires, though we each have a little money salted away in the bank."
The boys discussed the proposed cruise for some time longer, but there seemed no way of going on it. To hire a steamer or motorboat for such a long trip was practically out of the question for them, and, with much regret they all admitted it could not be considered.