he is called the
_Dora_--"

"After Dora Stanhope, of course," interrupted the youngest Rover, with
a quizzical look at his big brother Dick.

"Now look here, don't you start in like that, Sam," came quickly from
Dick, with a blush, for the girl mentioned was his dearest friend and
had been for some years. "Tell us about this houseboat, Tom," he went
on.

"The houseboat is now located on the Ohio River, at a place not many
miles from Pittsburg. Uncle Randolph says if we wish to we can use her
this summer, and float down to the Mississippi and further yet for that
matter. And we can take along half a dozen of our friends, too."

"Hurrah! that's splendid!" burst out Sam. "What a glorious way to spend
the best part of this summer! Let us go, and each take a chum along."

"Father says if we go we can take Alexander Pop along to do the cooking
and dirty work. The houseboat is now in charge of an old river-man
named Captain Starr, who knows the Ohio and Mississippi from end to
end, and we can keep him on board."

"It certainly looks inviting," mused Dick Rover. "It would take us
through a section of the country we haven't as yet seen, and we might
have lots of sport, fishing, and swimming, and maybe hunting. How many
will the houseboat accommodate?" he added.

"Twelve or fourteen, on a pinch."

"Then we could have a jolly crowd. The question is, who are you going
to take along? We can't take all of our friends, and it would seem a
shame to ask some and not others."

"We can decide that question later, Dick. Remember, some of the
fellows already have their arrangements made for this summer."

"I know Major Colby can't go," said Sam. "He is going to visit some
relatives in Maine."

"And George Granbury is going up to the Thousand Islands with his
folks," put in Tom.

"We might ask Songbird Powell," came from Dick. "I don't believe he is
going anywhere in particular."

"Yes, we ought to have him by all means, and Hans Mueller, too. They
would be the life of the party."

"I should like to have Fred Garrison along," said Sam. "He is always
good company. We can--"

Sam broke off short as the roll of a drum was heard on the parade
ground outside the tent.

"Dress parade, for the last time!" cried Dick Rover. "Come, get out and
be quick about it!" And as captain of Company A he caught up his sword
and buckled it on in a hurry, while Tom, as a lieutenant of the same
command, did likewise.

When they came out on