nd you a suit of my brother Zack's
clothes--that is, if you are in a hurry."

"Thanks, I'll borrow the suit. I want to report this; and I'll send
the suit back to-morrow."

"You needn't hurry. Zack isn't home just now, so he doesn't need the
suit."

The clothes were found, and Sam slipped into a bedchamber of the
cottage and made the change. Then, after thanking Jennie once more for
her kindness, the youngest Rover set off for Oak Run as fast as he
could.

A train was just coming into the depot and the first person to hop off
was Fred Garrison.

"Hullo, I thought you'd meet me!" sang out Fred. "How are you?"

"Pretty well, considering," answered Sam, with a quiet smile. "But I've
had a whole lot of happenings since I drove down to the depot."

"What's the matter, horse run away?"

"No, I met Lew Flapp."

"Nonsense! Why, what is he doing around here?"

"I give it up, Fred. But he was here and we have had a lively time of
it," answered Sam, and told his story.

"Well, I'll be jiggered! What do you propose to do next?"

"I don't know what to do. I might get the village constable to hunt for
him, but I don't think it will do any good."

"Why don't you tell your folks first?"

"Yes, I reckon that will be best. Jump in the carriage and I'll drive
you over to our home."

Fred had but little to tell out of the ordinary. His folks had wanted
him to go to the seashore for the summer, but he had preferred to take
the houseboat trip with the Rovers.

"I am sure we shall have a dandy time," he said. "I was on a houseboat
trip once, down in Florida, and it was simply great."

"What do you think about the Lanings and the Stanhopes going with us?"

"That will be nice. We certainly ought to have a bang-up time,"
answered Fred, enthusiastically.

Sam had driven over with the best horse the Rover stable afforded, a
magnificent bay, which Anderson Rover had purchased in Albany at a
special sale early in the spring. Sam had pleaded to take the steed and
his parent had finally consented.

"That's a fine bit of horseflesh you have," observed Fred, as they sped
along the level road leading to Valley Brook farm. "I like the manner
in which he steps out first-rate."

"Chips is a good horse," answered Sam. "There is only one fault he
has."

"And what is that?"

"He is easily frightened at a bit of paper or some other white object
in the road."

"That is bad."

The conversation now changed and the boys spoke of t