ed it about six feet from the
place where they had started it, and after piling fresh fuel on it, lay
down on the hot rock with their feet to the flames. The fire had heated
the rock so that they could hardly bear to touch it; but the heat dried
their wet clothes rapidly, and kept them from taking severe colds.
Meanwhile their blankets had been spread out near the fire, and in half
an hour were very nearly dry, and pretty severely scorched. Two large
logs were then rolled on the fire, and when they were in a blaze the
boys wrapped themselves in their blankets, and lying as near to the fire
as they could without actually burning, resumed their interrupted sleep.
They found the rock rather a hard bed, and it offered no temptation to
laziness; so it happened that they were all broad awake at half past
four; and though somewhat stiff from lying on a rocky bed, were none the
worse for their night's adventure.

"There's one thing I'm going to do this very day," said Harry, as they
were dressing themselves after their morning swim. "I'm going to write
to the Department to send us a big rubber bag that we can put our spare
clothes in and keep them dry. There's no fun in being wet and having
nothing dry to put on."

"If we have the bag sent to Albany, it will get there by the time we
do," said Tom. "You write the letter while we are getting breakfast."

So Harry wrote to the Department as follows;

"DEAR UNCLE JOHN,--We've been wet through with a steamboat once,
and the tide wet us the first night, and we got rained on, and I
jumped in to get Joe out, and we've had a gorgeous time. Please
send us a big water-proof bag to put our spare clothes in, so that
we can have something dry. Please send it to Albany, and we will
stop there at the Post-office for it. Please send it right away.
You said the Department furnished everything. We've been dry twice
since we started, but it didn't last long. There never was such
fun. All the boys send their love to you. Please don't forget the
bag. From your affectionate nephew,

"HARRY."

"This was the morning that you were going to sleep till eight o'clock
without waking up, Harry," said Tom, as they were eating their
breakfast.

"There's nothing that will wake a fellow up so quick as the Hudson River
rolling in on him. I hadn't expected to wake up in that way," answered
Harry.

"So far we have done nothing but find out how stupid we