a
faint smile. "But I agree with you, the quicker we get after the
treasure the better."

After that a discussion lasting well after the dinner hour followed,
and was only ended when Mrs. Rover fairly drove them into the dining
room for the midday repast. It was resolved that the party to go in
search of the treasure should be made up of Anderson Rover and his
three sons, Mrs. Stanhope and Dora, the Lannings, and also Fred
Garrison, Songbird Powell and Hans Mueller. During the afternoon a
number of telegrams and letters were written, and the boys send these
off before nightfall.

Aleck Pop was very much interested in such conversation as he had
overheard, and as he had accompanied the boys to the jungles of Africa
and on the houseboat trip he was very anxious to be a member of the
present party.

"I don't see how yo' young gen'men is gwine to get along widout me,"
he said to Sam. "Don't yo' think you kin squeeze me aboadh somehow?"

"Aren't you afraid you'd get seasick, Aleck?" asked Sam.

"I ain't afraid ob muffin, if only yo'll take me along," answered the
darkey earnestly.

"I suppose the steam yacht has its cook."

"Dat might be, Massa Sam, but didn't I cook all right on dot
houseboat?"

"You certainly did."

"Might be as how I could gab dot cook on de yacht seem p'ints as to
wot yo' young gen'men like, ain't dot so?"

"Perhaps, Aleck. If you wish, I'll speak to father about it."

"T'ank yo' werry much, Massa Sam!"

"But you must promise one thing," put Tom, who was listening to the
talk.

"Wot is dat?"

"You won't run off and marry the widow Taylor when you get back."

"Huh! I'se done wid dat trash!" snorted Aleck. "She kin mahrry dat
Thomas an' welcome. I don't want her or her chillun neither!"

"All right, then, Aleck, we'll, see what we can do for you," said Tom,
and Sam said the same. In the end it was agreed that Aleck should
accompany the party as a general helper, and this pleased the colored
man very much. It was a lucky thing for the boys that Aleck went
along, as certain later events proved.

CHAPTER VIII

THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK

The more the Rover boys talked about the treasure hunt the more
enthusiastic they became, until, as Tom expressed it, they were
"simply boiling over with enthusiasm."

"It will be a grand thing for the Stanhopes and the Lanings if we do
locate that treasure," said Sam. "Mr. Laning has some money, but I
know he'd like more, so he wouldn't