w them a trick or two before I'm done with
them."

After Tad Sobber came out of confinement the Rover boys thought he might
try to play some underhand trick on Tom, and consequently kept their
eyes open. But nothing developed for some days, and then it came in a
most unexpected way.

The boys settled down to their studies, but it was not in their nature
to go in for all work and no play. On the following Saturday they asked
for permission to visit Cedarville, to buy some things Sam and Tom
needed. They took with them Songbird and Hans, and went on foot, the
weather being ideal for walking. Just before leaving they saw Sobber and
Pell hurry away, also in the direction of the town.

"I wonder where they are going?" mused Dick.

"Sobber is going to take a run by steamboat to Ithaca," answered
Songbird. "I heard him speak to Captain Putnam about it."

"Is Pell going along?"

"I don't think so."

The three Rover boys and their friends were soon on the way. They felt
in the best of spirits, and Powell could not resist the temptation to
break out into his usual doggerel:

"I love to roam o'er hill and dale,
In calm or storm or windy gale,
I love the valley and the hill,
The brooklet and the running rill,
I love the broad and placid lake----"

"Where we can swim or take a skate,"

finished Tom, and then went on:

"And just remember, of the rest,
I love old Putnam Hall the best!"

"That last sentiment hits me," said Fred. "Tell you what, fellows, no
place like our school."

"I dink I make me some boetry alretty," said Hans, solemnly, and began:

"I lof to hear der insects hum,
I lof to chew on chewing gum!
I lof to see der moon shine owit----"

"And love to eat my sauerkraut,"

added Tom gaily. "Songbird, can't you get up some real nice bit of verse
about sauerkraut and Limburger cheese for Hans' benefit?"

"The idea of poetry about sauerkraut and Limburger cheese!" snorted the
verse maker in disgust.

"Well, anyway, the lines about the cheese would be good and strong," was
Dick's comment.

"A poem about sauerkraut wouldn't do for this automobile age," said Sam,
dryly.

"Why not?" asked Tom.

"Because sauerkraut belongs to the cabbage," answered the youngest
Rover, and then dodged a blow Tom playfully aimed at him.

"I shan't try to make up any more verses," said Songbird. "Every time I
try----"

"Hullo, here comes a carriage with three young ladi