it is."

"Well, it _is_ a good way," began Peter, with rather a rueful face.

"So far that I intend to take you there in comfort," said a pleasant
voice close behind them.

"Oh, father," cried Peter (for it was Mr. Schermerhorn), "how kind of
you! Only look, boys!" and he pointed to two double rockaways which were
waiting on the pier.

In they all swarmed, managing to find places for everybody (and really,
it is surprising how a rockaway can _stretch_ on occasion), and after a
rapid drive along a level sandy road, the ha-ha fences of Mr.
Schermerhorn's splendid country seat, "Locust Grove," came in view. Soon
the carriages entered the beautiful rustic gate, its pillars surmounted
by vases, filled with trailing plants; and in a moment more were dashing
over the gravelled drive toward the western side of the place.

At one point, the road led directly over a deep ravine, spanned by a
bridge of rough logs. Then they whirled past a tranquil lake, dotted
with pond lilies, and shaded by drooping willows, through which might be
caught a glimpse of the tall white chimneys of the house. At last, with
a sudden bend, the drive came out on a wide velvet lawn, relieved by a
fringe of the beautiful locusts, covered, at this season of the year,
with the fragrant pinkish flowers. At some distance a quaint Chinese
summer house served as an observatory; beds of brilliant scarlet verbena
and many-colored petunias dotted the grass here and there, and right
before them, most beautiful of all in their eyes, was the encampment
itself, eight snowy white tents, four in a row, while in the midst rose
a tall flagstaff, with the dear old Red, White, and Blue floating from
the summit.

"Hurrah, boys, there's the tents!" shouted Peter, at the top of his
voice "Come, let's see who'll get there first;" and, before the
carriage could stop, Peter had hopped out, tumbled head over heels on
the soft grass, jumped up, and scampered on in advance, followed a
moment after by the rest.

These wonderful tents were furnished just like real soldiers' dwellings;
with a good warm blanket for each of the three occupants, a bright tin
basin and tooth mug, a cedar bucket to draw water, a square looking
glass, like a sticking plaster, and a couple of wooden lockers (which,
between ourselves, were made of claret boxes) in each one; beside camp
stools in abundance for everybody.

"Here's the officers' quarters!" cried George, as he flung open the
door of the