Mrs. Rover giving the
boys final instructions about taking care of themselves.

"I shall miss you very much," she said, with tears in her eyes. Her
lively nephews were as dear to her as if they were her own sons.

"You'd better go along, Aunt Martha," said Dick.

"We'd like it first-rate," added Sam.

"It might help us to keep out of mischief," came from Tom, with a
bright smile.

"No, I'll stay at home with your uncle, boys. But do take care of
yourselves, and come home safe."

"Oh, there will be no danger in this trip," said Dick, but he was
mistaken--there was to be great peril and of an unusual kind. If the
treasure hunters could have seen what was before them they would not
have started off in such a confident frame of mind.

The train was a little late, but presently it rolled into the station
and the trunks and other baggage were hoisted aboard. Then came the
final embraces and the boys climbed up the steps, followed by their
father and Aleck.

"Hurrah, we are off at last!" cried Tom, and waved his cap
enthusiastically. The others did the same, and then the train started
and Oak Run quickly faded from sight. As the boys settled down in their
seats a lad came from another car and moved swiftly toward them.

"Songbird, by all that's lucky!" cried Dick, and caught the other by
the hand.

"I thought you'd be on this train," answered Songbird Powell. "I got
your wire last night that you would stop off at New York. I am going to
stop, too--to see an uncle of mine on a little business."

"Then you'll travel with us to Philadelphia?" queried Sam.

"Sure."

"Good! Tom was just saying he'd like some of the others along."

"When I got your invitation I danced a jig of delight," went on
Songbird. "I just couldn't help it. Then I sat down and wrote----"

"A piece of poetry about it thirty-five stanzas long," finished Tom.

"No, Tom, there are only six verses. You see I couldn't help it--I was
so chuck full of enthusiasm. The poem begins like this:

"'Twas a peaceful, summer night,
When all the stars were shining bright,
There came a rap on our house door
Which made me leap from bed to floor.
To me had come a telegram
From my old chums, Dick, Tom and Sam
Asking if I had a notion
To sail with them upon the ocean.
To skim along on waters blue----"

"And then and there get seasick, too," finished Tom. "Don't forget to
put in about the seasickness, Songbird--it always g