breast of lamb, mashed potatoes, green peas,
lettuce, coffee, pudding and cheese.

"Why, Aleck, this is a surprise," said Dora. "Some day they will want
you to become the chef in a big hotel." And this compliment tickled the
colored man greatly.

"T'ank yo' Miss Dora," he answered. "But I don't want to be no chef in
a hotel. All I wants to do is to stay wid de Rober boys so long as I
lib."

During the afternoon the boys tried their hands at fishing and caught
quite a mess. By four o'clock Pleasant Hills was reached and they tied
up in a convenient spot. All of the girls and Mrs. Stanhope went ashore
with Mrs. Laning, to visit the friend that had been mentioned.

"Bring them down to the houseboat to-night, if they care to come," said
Dick.

"Thank you, Dick, perhaps we will," answered Mrs. Laning.

"Let us take a swim while they are gone," suggested Tom. "That water is
too inviting to resist."

"Agreed!" shouted the others, and ran to their rooms, to get out their
bathing suits. Soon Tom was ready, and leaping to the end of the houseboat,
took a straight dive into the river. Sam followed and Fred came next,
and then Dick, Songbird, and Hans came down in a bunch. The water was
just cold enough to be pleasant, and they splashed around in great sport.

"This is what I call living!" yelled Tom and diving under, he caught
Hans by the big toe.

"Hi, hi! let go mine does!" shrieked the German lad. "Somedings has me
py der does cotched!"

"Maybe it's a shark," suggested Fred.

"A shark! Vos der sharks py der Ohio River?"

"Tons of them," came from Sam. "Look out, Hansy, or they'll swallow
you."

"Du meine Zeit!" gasped the German cadet. "Vy didn't you tole me dot
pefore, hey? I guess I don't schwim no more." And he started to climb
up a rope ladder leading to the deck of the houseboat.

"Don't go, Hans!" sang out Songbird. "They are fooling you."

"Dere ton't been no sharks in der river?"

"No, nothing but sawfish and whales."

"A vale! Dot's chust so bad like a shark."

"No, not at all. A shark bites. A whale simply swallows you alive," put
in Sam, with a grin.

"Swallows me alife, hey? Not on your life he ton't!" returned Hans, and
started again for the rope ladder. But Sam pulled him back and ducked
him, and was in turn ducked by Fred, who went under by a shove from
Dick; and then followed a regular mix-up, the water flying in all
directions.

"By golly, dat's great!" cried Aleck, from the deck. "I