“Where?”
“Are we all going?”
All Fenn could do was to nod his head vigorously. He was all out of breath. As soon as he could get enough wind to talk, he rapidly explained what Captain Wiggs had said.
“Does he mean we’re to work our passage?” asked Frank. “I don’t know as I care to shovel coal, if that’s what he means.”
“I guess he was only joking about that part of it,” answered Fenn. “I’m going, if I have to scrub the decks. It will be sport.”
“That’s right,” chimed in Bart. “I don’t mind working my way for the sake of the trip. When can we go?”
“Let’s go down to the wharf and have a talk with him,” suggested Ned, and they all agreed this was a wise idea.
A little later they were in the large cabin of the Modoc, which, for a freight boat, was well fitted up.
Captain Wiggs repeated the invitation he had given to Fenn. The boys would be welcome to make the trip with him, he said, as long as their parents consented. They would need an outfit of clothing, with rough garments for stormy weather, which might be encountered.
“And we’ll do anything we can to help you run the boat,” added Bart, who felt that some return ought to be given for the captain’s generosity.