CHAPTER V
CAPTAIN WIGGS'S PROPOSAL
Fenn had to stand considerable "jollying" on the part of his chums, but,though he blushed and was a little annoyed, he took it in good part.
"You can talk about Ruth all you like," he said, "but, just the same, ifyou have any plans to beat a cruise on the Great Lakes, why--trot 'emout, that's all. We've got to go somewhere this vacation, and I don'tsee any better place, though I've looked through the whole geography."
"And the only place you could get to was Bayville," interrupted Ned."It's all right, Stumpy. I agree with you, that it would be a finetrip."
"How could we make it?" asked Frank.
"Walk, of course," replied Bart, with a grin. "It's water all the way."
"Funny!" answered Frank, poking his sarcastic chum in the ribs. "I meanwhere could we get a boat?"
"Hire one, I s'pose," put in Fenn, who had been busy marking animaginary cruise in lead pencil on the map of the Great Lakes.
"That would be pretty expensive," said Bart. "We're not millionaires,though we each have a little money salted away in the bank."
The boys discussed the proposed cruise for some time longer, but thereseemed no way of going on it. To hire a steamer or motorboat for such along trip was practically out of the question for them, and, with muchregret they all admitted it could not be considered.
"Come over to-morrow night," invited Fenn, when his chums left thatevening. "Maybe we can think of something by then."
The next afternoon Fenn, who had gone to the store for his mother,stopped, on his way back, at the public dock of the Still River, whereseveral vessels were loading with freight for Lake Erie ports. There wasmuch hurrying about and seeming confusion; wagons and trucks backing upand going ahead, and scores, of men wheeling boxes and barrels on boardlighters and steamers.
"Port! Port your helm!" suddenly called a voice, almost in Fenn's ear,and he jumped to one side, to allow a short, stout man, with his armsfull of bundles, to pass him. "That's it!" the man went on. "Nearly runyou down, didn't I? Thought you were a water-logged craft in my course.Why, hello! If it isn't Fenn Masterson!"
"Captain Wiggs!" exclaimed Fenn, recognizing the commander of the_Modoc_.
"Looking for a berth?" went on the captain, as he placed his bundlesdown on the head of a barrel. "I can sign you as cleaner of the afterboiler tubes, if you like," and he looked so grave that Fenn did notknow whether he was joking or not. It was a habit the captain had, ofmaking the most absurd remarks in a serious way, so that even hisfriends, at times, did not quite know how to take him. "Yes," he wenton, "I need a small boy to crawl through the after boiler tubes twice aday to keep 'em clean. Would you like the job?"
"I--I don't believe so," replied Fenn, with a smile, for now he knewCaptain Wiggs was joking.
"All right then," said the commander, with an assumed sigh. "I'll haveto do it myself, and I'm getting pretty old and fat for such work. Thetubes are smaller than they used to be. But I dare say I can manage it.Where you going?" he asked Fenn suddenly, with a change of manner.
"No place in particular. Home, pretty soon. Why?"
"I was going to ask you to come aboard and have a glass of lemonade,"invited the captain. "It's a hot day and lemonade is the best drink Iknow of."
"Oh, I'll come," decided Fenn, for Captain Wiggs's lemonade had quite areputation. Besides there were always queer little chocolate cakes inthe captain's cabin lockers, for he was very fond of sweet things, asFenn knew from experience.
"Haven't saved any more sinking automobiles, lately, have you?" askedthe commander, when Fenn was seated in the cabin, sipping a glass of thedelicious beverage.
"No. Mr. Hayward has gone back to Bayville."
"Bayville? Is that where he lives?" asked Captain Wiggs.
"That's it," replied Fenn. "Why?"
"That's odd," mused the captain. "I'm going right near there, thiscruise. You see I've got a mixed cargo this trip," he explained. "I'vegot to deliver some things at several lake ports, but the bulk of thestuff goes to Duluth. Now if you would only ship with me, as cleaner ofthe after boiler tubes, why you could go along."
"Could I?" asked Fenn eagerly.
"Sure."
"And--and could you take any other boiler tube cleaners, or--or anyother help?"
"Well, I need a couple of lads to dust the coal," said the captain, soseriously that Fenn thought he meant it. "You see if coal is dusty itdoesn't burn well," he added. "We have to dust off every lump before wecan put it in the boiler. Now a couple of handy lads, who were quick andsmart could--"
"Maybe you could use three," suggested Fenn, with a smile.
"Sure I could," spoke the captain. "That's it!" he added quickly. "Youand your three chums! Why not? You four could come along, and, ifnecessary, you could all dust coal. We use a lot of it. Come on now,here's a proposal for you," and the captain smiled good naturedly. "Youfour boys come along and make the trip to Duluth with me."
"Would it--would it cost much?" asked Fenn, seeing a chance of carryingout the cruise he had planned.
"Not a cent. I tell you I'll use you boys in more ways than one. Dustingthe coal is only a small matter. There is the smoke stack to be scrubbed,the dishes to be hand painted and the windows to be taken out and put inagain."
"Do you mean it?" asked Fenn. "I mean, do you really want us on thistrip, Captain Wiggs?"
"Of course I do. I sail in three days, to be gone a month or more. Ifyou boys want to have a good vacation come along. Get the permission ofyour folks and let me know to-night."
"I will!" exclaimed Fenn, his brain whirling with the suddenness of itall. "I'll tell the other boys right away," and, not even pausing tothank the captain for the lemonade, he hurried up the companion ladder,out on the deck of the _Modoc_ and, jumping to the dock, ran up thestreet as fast as he could go.