every
boy in the country ought to know something of the sea, and that the more
he knew in that line the better it would be both for him and the
country. Then he went to call on his old shipmate, Mr. Redmond
Cuddeback, who, through his invention, had now become a large
stockholder in the Berks Mills.

From that visit the big-hearted old sailor returned with a beaming face
and the air of one who is charged with an urgent mission. That
afternoon, in company with Squire Bacon, he drove from house to house
until he had held a personal interview with the parents of every Ranger
in Berks. Then he desired Will Rogers to call a special meeting of the
band for that very evening, as he wished to make them a communication of
the greatest importance.

Never had the Rangers found their parents so smiling and also so
reticent as at supper-time. The very air seemed filled with a pleasant
mystery, and when the members of the band reached Range Hall they were
fully impressed with the idea that something big was about to happen.
Nor were they disappointed, for they found Admiral Marlin occupying Pop
Miller's one particular chair, and so impatient to address them that he
could hardly wait for the formal preliminaries with which their meetings
were always opened.

As soon, therefore, as he was invited to speak he plunged at once into
his subject as eagerly as though he were a boy himself, by saying:

"It's all right, lads, and you can go on that salt-water cruise just as
quick as ever you have a mind."

"Hurrah!" shouted Will Rogers, who was the first to grasp the full
meaning of this astonishing statement.

Then how all the others did cheer, and clap their hands, and give
utterance to various expressive though unintelligible exclamations of
joy! During this demonstration the Admiral smiled and bowed, and beamed
upon them as though his happiness were fully equal to theirs.

When quiet was at length restored, he continued: "Yes, boys, it's all
arranged. I've applied to the several heads of department, and obtained
leave of absence for every one of you, with permission to cross the sea.
But it's to be a regular cruise instead of a mere camping frolic, and
although you will visit the canoe club island, and have a chance to join
in all that is going on, you will live on board ship, which is to my
mind a much more sensible arrangement."

"Of course it is!" shouted Jack Jackstraw and the "midshipmite" both
together.

"The ship," cont