“Well, there’s no use worrying over that part of it,” Jerry said. “We’ll start out. Maybe we can find a hotel or a farm house where we can buy some lunch.”
Tired and discouraged, hungry and thirsty, the boys started off to tramp up along the river bank. It was in strange contrast to the manner in which they had arrived the evening before.
Their course lay partly through meadow land and partly through the woods, for the river was winding in its course. The sun beamed down hot and the journey was anything but a pleasant one. But the boys with grim determination did not mind the discomforts. They wanted to find their boat and they were willing to make any sacrifices to get her.
They had walked for an hour without seeing a sign of habitation or meeting a person. But, about noon, as they came around a sharp turn, where the river flowed between two rather high hills, they spied a farm house, which, from the extent of land surrounding it, and the number of out buildings seemed to belong to a man of means.
“Well, that looks as if there was something to eat there, at any rate,” spoke Bob. “Hurry up, fellows, I’m nearly starved. Have any of you got any money? I’m broke.”
Ned had only a little change, but, fortunately Jerry had several bills in his pocket.
“We don’t look very presentable to go up to a man’s house on Sunday,” said Ned. “But beggars can’t be choosers.”
The boys had on old suits which they donned as they expected to tramp through the woods. Their good clothes were on the boat. Then too, the jaunt along the river had not improved their appearance as they were rather begrimed.
“Let’s scrub up a bit before we make an appeal for help,” suggested Ned.