THE other boys rose that morning at the usual hour, and descended leisurely to breakfast. The absence of Bart and Pat was noticed and commented on. It was supposed, however, that they had gone off somewhere to get up an appetite for breakfast, and that they would be along before the meal was over. Time passed, and the breakfast was ended; but still no signs appeared of the absentees. It was now nearly time to start, and they all strolled down to the wharf where the Antelope was, thinking that the two boys might possibly be there. On reaching the place they looked around, but saw no signs of them. Captain Corbet had not seen them, nor had Solomon. Everything was ready, and it was only a few minutes of the time. “It’s queer where those fellows can have gone to,” said Bruce. “They’ve gone on a walk, of course,” said Arthur; “and I dare say they’ve gone farther than they intended.” “O, they’ll be along soon,” said Phil, “and won’t they be half starved? Methinks!” “It’s a strange thing,” said Tom, “that they should have slipped off in this way. No one knows anything about them. No one at the inn saw them go out. They must have got up precious early.” “Well, they’re both rather early risers,” said Arthur; “and they may have gone off fishing.” “I dare say they have,” said Bruce. “Bart is crazy about fishing, and if he has got one solitary bite, he’ll give up the expedition to Aspotogon.” “And Pat’s as bad, every bit,” said Phil. “Depend upon it, those two have gone out to catch fish for breakfast, and won’t be back till somewhere about evening.” “For my part,” said Tom, “I shouldn’t wonder if they’ve both backed out deliberately.” “Backed out?” “Yes. I don’t believe they cared about going to Aspotogon.” “Pooh! nonsense! What makes you think that?” “Why, last evening I noticed that they didn’t say a single word. Both of those fellows were as muni as mice, and all the rest of us were in full cry about the expedition. Depend upon it, they didn’t want to go, and have backed out. They didn’t want to say anything about it, for fear we’d tease them to come, but quietly dropped off, leaving us to go without them. O, that’s the way, beyond a doubt.” “Now that you mention it, Tom,” said Phil, “I do remember that they didn’t say anything last night, neither of them.” “Neither did they,” said Arthur. “Pact,” said Bruce; “it looks very much as if they had talked the matter over, and concluded to back out in this quiet way; and I don’t know but what they have concocted some scheme of their own.” “O, some fishing scheme, of course. Bart was crazy about it, you know, and he’s persuaded Pat to go with him.” “Well, in that case we needn’t wait.” “O, we may as well hang on till ten--in case they should turn up after all.”