"What is it?" his partner asked, with interest.
"Go off for a good long sail; make a day of pleasure of it. For months we have had nothing but business, and I should really like to put a dinner on board the sloop, and fuel, so we can make our tea or coffee, and all of us go off for a day's cruise."
"Where would you go?" inquired Judd, laughingly. "There are very few places around here that you have not visited."
"Oh! go just where we took a notion to go," Budd replied. "The enjoyable part of the trip would be in not having a definite place fixed before we started."
"Well, if to-morrow should prove as pleasant as to-day has been, you couldn't choose a better time for going," went on his chum. "Father and Uncle Henry, what do you think of Budd's idea?"
All four were soon busy discussing the suggestion, and they went to their rooms with the understanding that if the morrow proved a fine day the trip should be undertaken.
The lads were up early, and found the day was promising to be all that they could ask. The preparations were rapidly made, therefore, and at nine o'clock all necessary provisions had been stowed on board the sloop and they were ready to embark.
"Here, Budd; we are to go where you take a notion to go, so you can take the helm," cried out Judd, hurrying to cast off the sloop's fastenings and to hoist her jib and sail.
Budd took the assigned place, and turned the bow of the Sea Witch down the bay. The wind was from the northwest, and they went along at a good rate of speed.
Arriving at the mouth of the bay, Budd turned the sloop to the west and ran in close to the shore, so as to have a good view of the Pier, whose hotels and cottages, closed for the season, made it seem like a deserted city. On they went until Point Judith was reached; then Budd put up the helm and ran directly out to sea.