eed not all spend the night, or any part
of it, on board," exclaimed Violet in tones of delight. "Oh, Cousin Annis,
and all of you, do agree to it, and we will have a charming little trip!"

"Indeed, so far as I am concerned nothing could be pleasanter, I am sure,"
said Annis, looking highly pleased; "but--I fear it would be giving you a
great deal of trouble, captain."

"Not at all," he returned, "but on the contrary it will, I think, be a
very enjoyable little trip to me and my wife and children."

"Oh, I should like it very much!" exclaimed Lucilla; "there would be such
a nice large party of us all the way to Pleasant Plains--supposing your
river is navigable so far for a vessel of this size--and then the trip up
the lake, a little visit to Mackinaw, and the sail back again, would be a
restful and enjoyable break in the visit here to the Fair."

"What do you say to the plan, Grandpa and Grandma Dinsmore, and mother?"
asked the captain, turning toward them. "And you, Cousin Ronald?"

All expressed themselves as well pleased with the idea, and it was decided
to carry it out.

"We will be happy to have you accompany us also, Chester and Frank, should
you care to do so," said the captain cordially, "though I fear it will rob
you of some of the time you had planned to spend at the Fair."

"Thank you, captain," said Frank, "I, for one, accept your very kind
invitation with great pleasure. It will give me a glimpse of a part of our
big country that I have never seen--in the pleasantest of company, too;
and as to our visit to the Fair, we can prolong it by another week, if we
choose."

"So we can," said his brother, "and I, too, accept your kind invitation,
captain, with cordial thanks."

"Then let me advise you of Pleasant Plains to be on board here, bag and
baggage, by eight, or at the latest nine, o'clock to-morrow morning," said
Captain Raymond. "We will be happy to have you take breakfast here with
us, and we may as well be on our way across the lake while eating. Then I
hope to have you at your destination by seven or eight in the evening,
and, leaving you there, steam on down the river and up the lake, the rest
of my passengers resting in their berths as usual."

"Then it will take about all of the next day to get to Mackinaw, won't it,
papa?" asked Grace.

"Probably."

"And how long will we stay there?"

"I suppose that will depend upon how we enjoy ourselves. I think it likely
you will all be satisfie