"Nobody cares!" added another.
"I care," said Joe boldly. "I wish I had time to hunt him up!"
"You, of all fellows! You hunt him up!" exclaimed Frank Furman.
"The idea of your troubling yourself about him!" cried Dave angrily. "You make me mad, Joe!"
"But I know something how he was feeling, and what a hard thing it was for him to confess."
"Never mind him!" said Dave impatiently. "The boat is waiting! Where's your baggage?"
"I'll take your rod," said Ned Gould, taking Joe's fishing-rod from the hooks.
"No, not that one. Ralph left his for me. The janitor brought it around; he said he found it in the hall. Poor Ralph!" said Joe, examining the paper tied to the rod with the address, "For Joe Chester."
"Humph! that's the least he could do!" grumbled Dave. "Come, get your things together quick!" and he pulled Joe's valise from under the bed.
Joe was too excited to help much, but among them all they soon had the valise filled; and with a whoop that would have delighted the heart of a red Indian, the boys dashed downstairs, nearly crushing the janitor, who was labouring slowly up to investigate the noise coming from Room 8.