"Busy times ahead," murmured Joe. "Well, I guess it's all for the best, except the carrying away of our friends. I was getting a bit tired of this vacation life, anyhow."
"So was I," admitted Blake, as they left the store and headed for their boarding house.
With quickening steps the boys walked up the path. There was nervous energy in their every move.
"My! But you're in a hurry on a hot day," observed Mrs. Baker, who had taken quite a liking to her two young boarders.
"Got to be!" exclaimed Blake. "We're going to try and catch the afternoon train for New York."
"New York! My sakes alive! You're not going; are you?"
"Got to," explained Joe. "I think we can make it if we hurry. Some friends of ours are lost in that Mississippi flood, and we've got to go and help find and save them if we can. No time to lose!"
"My land sakes! I never heard tell of such a thing!" cried Mrs. Baker. But the boys did not stop to hear her comments. They were on their way to their rooms to pack their grips.
