But there was not a trace of a white star.
“It must have been washed away when the cellar was flooded last year,” suggested Ruth. The others agreed with her.
“Well, then, the other thing to do—lacking the guiding star—is to start and dig up the whole cellar—foot by foot,” decided Luke.
“It’s a job,” groaned Neale.
“But it’s worth it!” declared Agnes.
“Crickets!” exclaimed Hal. “Think of telling the fellows at home that I took part in a treasure-hunt—a real treasure-hunt! And right here in the settled part of the U. S. A.!”
“The hunt is going to be real, whether the treasure is or not!” laughed Nalbro, who did not take the matter very seriously.
“We’ll find it yet!” declared Agnes. “You’ll see!”
“But I suggest that we wait until to-morrow before digging up the cellar,” said Ruth. “It’s getting late.”
This was true. Their preparations, the sending away of Tess and Dot and the search of the cellar, had taken up most of the day. Evening was now coming on.