"I don't know what to do. I might get the village constable to hunt for him, but I don't think it will do any good."
"Why don't you tell your folks first?"
"Yes, I reckon that will be best. Jump in the carriage and I'll drive you over to our home."
Fred had but little to tell out of the ordinary. His folks had wanted him to go to the seashore for the summer, but he had preferred to take the houseboat trip with the Rovers.
"I am sure we shall have a dandy time," he said. "I was on a houseboat trip once, down in Florida, and it was simply great."
"What do you think about the Lanings and the Stanhopes going with us?"
"That will be nice. We certainly ought to have a bang-up time," answered Fred, enthusiastically.
Sam had driven over with the best horse the Rover stable afforded, a magnificent bay, which Anderson Rover had purchased in Albany at a special sale early in the spring. Sam had pleaded to take the steed and his parent had finally consented.
"That's a fine bit of horseflesh you have," observed Fred, as they sped along the level road leading to Valley Brook farm. "I like the manner in which he steps out first-rate."
"Chips is a good horse," answered Sam. "There is only one fault he has."