“That’s right,” agreed Ned. “I’m with you, Stumpy. The sooner the quicker.”
“When do we get to Duluth?” asked Bart.
“Very soon now,” answered Captain Wiggs, who, coming up behind the boys, overheard the question. “I suppose you are all ready to enter port?” and he looked quizzically at the boys.
“Ready. How do you mean?” asked Fenn.
“Why you can pass the quarantine regulations, I suppose? Let me look at your tongues!”
The boys were so surprised that, hardly knowing what they were doing, they stuck them out for the captain’s inspection.
“Bad, very bad,” he murmured. “I’ll have to attend to this at once.” And he laughed heartily.
“Sold again!” exclaimed Frank, as he drew in his tongue. “I thought we were going to get even with him.”
“So we are,” declared Bart. “If not now, on the trip home. We owe him another one now.”
They were soon busy getting things in shape to go ashore and, when the Modoc tied up at a big wharf, they were all ready to go to the hotel the captain had recommended, there to stay a couple of days, until they could start on their little exploring expedition.