ought the present no time for
so doing.

It was a happy family gathering, and all remained at the table a long
time, the boys telling their different tales from beginning to end. Mr.
Anderson Rover was much interested in what they had to say about the
Baxters and Lew Flapp.

"You must be careful," said he. "Arnold Baxter can do you no more harm,
but the others will be worse than snakes in the grass."

"We'll watch out," answered Dick, and then he and the others asked
about the houseboat which had been taken for debt and how soon they
could use the craft.

"You may use the houseboat as soon as you please," said Randolph Rover.
"But you must promise your father and Aunt Martha and me not to get
into mischief."

"How could we get into mischief with a houseboat?" questioned Tom.
"Why, we just intend to knock around and take it easy all summer."

"The rest ought to do all of you a power of good," came from his
father. "I declare, it seems to me you have been on the jump ever since
you first went to Putnam Hall."

"Where is the houseboat now?"

"Tied up at the village of Steelville, not very far from Pittsburg. As
I wrote to you, she is under the command of Captain Starr. He knows the
Ohio and the Mississippi thoroughly and will take you wherever you wish
to go."

"Well, we want to stay home a few days first, and make all of our
arrangements," said Dick; and so it was decided.

CHAPTER X

A SCENE IN A CEMETERY

"Hurrah, Fred Garrison says he will go with us!" cried Sam, two days
later. "I have just received a telegram from him. He says he will come
on to-morrow."

"And here is word from Songbird Powell," put in Dick. "He will go,
too. He is to meet us at Pittsburg, any time I say."

"And Hans Mueller will go," said Tom. "That makes three of our friends
to start with. I hope the Lanings and the Stanhopes go."

"So do I," answered Dick, who could not get that talk with Dora in the
hallway of the hotel out of his head.

Sam was anxious to meet Fred Garrison, and on the following afternoon
drove down to the railroad station at Oak Run to greet his chum.

The train was late, and after finding this out Sam took a walk around
the village to see what changes had been made during the past few
months. But Oak Run was a slow place and he look in vain for
improvements.

"Guess I'll have my hair cut while I am here," he said to himself, and
started to enter the only barber shop of which the railroad villag