"I'm going to find out first if mine is here to be looked after,"
said Grant. "Come on with me, Jack, and I'll go to the express
offices and see if it is there."

John followed his friend, but their labors were not crowned with
success when after an absence of an hour they returned to the
place where the Black Growler was awaiting them. Not a word had
been received from Albany nor had Grant succeeded in finding any
trace of his missing baggage.

"Never mind," he said quickly. "I'll have to make the best of it.
I'm not going to spoil all the fun of the trip crying over
spilled milk."

Again John winked at Fred, but no words were spoken after the
boat and its belongings had been left in charge of a man and the
boys together had started for their hotel.

It was still light when they returned to the dock and Fred said,
"I wonder how it would do for us to go on a bit farther. There
are hotels all along the way and I think it would be good fun to
stop at some one of those country taverns."

"We're with you," said George. "We want to get all the
experiences we can on this trip."

"I guess it will be something you will remember," said Grant.


CHAPTER VI