"Fished," she replied laconically. And neither coaxing nor threats extracted any further information from the ladies that evening.
After supper Marian remarked carelessly: "Frank, there are more fish than we can use, don't you think it would be nice to send some over to the Captain?"
But it was Marian herself who finally let the cat out of the bag the following morning just before Alice and Dick left. The train would not leave until evening, but they were all going in to make a tour of the Indian remains and to do some shopping. Frank was driving for the guests and Marian; the youngsters were with the Captain. Marian reached down under the seat to push a satchel out of the way of her feet, and to her surprise, came in painful contact with a fish hook. She pulled up a bunch of line and several hooks.
"Oh, I wondered what became of our lines," she said carelessly. "Wing must have put them in for us."
She looked up to find both Dick and Frank regarding her with interest and Alice looking reproachful.
"Methinks," remarked Dick, gazing at the heavens thoughtfully, "I see a great light."
"I knew they'd let it out," Frank replied meanly. "Women are clever, but a secret is too many for them every time."
The day was cloudy but sultry. Collars wilted and little damp spots appeared between their shoulder blades if they ventured to lean against the backs of the seats.
Leaves were curling in the corn fields; the prairies were parched with the heat. Frank got out and examined several of the ears of corn just heading out in a field they passed.
He looked sober when he returned. "Forty-eight hours more like to-day will finish that field. It's a trifle better on the bottom lands."
Marian and Alice scanned the heavens. "That cloud bank off to the south looks hopeful," said Marian after several minutes' silence.
Whether it was the weather or their unusual exertions of the preceding day or the menace of the drouth, that weighed upon them, it would be hard to say, but their interest in the Old Mission and the Indian mound on the Cook place was languid. Perhaps Ernest had been right when he declared that they were more interesting to hear about than to see. "It looks just like other houses, only the walls are thicker and the stone chimneys go clear down to the ground outside!" Katy exclaimed, distinctly disappointed at the appearance of the one-time fort.