ething that will tell you the city on the key is close at
hand. To-morrow we will wind up our little cruise, I'm sorry to say."

A groan greeted this announcement, although they had suspected that such
an ending to their happy time was imminent.

Jerry reluctantly raised the marine glasses.

"Yes, it's a fact, fellows," he said slowly. "I can see the wharves and
some of the boats, as well as church steeples. That's Cedar Keys, all
right."

"Then this is our last night in camp. Well, boys, don't let's get the
blues. We've had a bully good time, and will never forget what has come
our way. Why, the rescuing of the wrecked balloonists alone paid us for
coming," said Will.

They found plenty of water, and anchored in the mouth of the famous
Suwanee River, with the busy city something like twelve miles away.

Once more they went ashore, and on the bank of the stream of which they
had so many times sung they built their last campfire and put up their
tent.

"Lucky we bundled those things in before leaving that camp, when
searching for the lost balloonists," said Will, who was figuring on
getting a picture of the scene in the morning, to finish up his series.

"Yes, for otherwise we'd have had to sleep on board to-night," laughed
Frank.

Supper over, they sat around, talking and laughing, in the endeavor to
forget the sorrow that gnawed at their boyish hearts. They had enjoyed
this trip so much that it would be with the keenest regret that they
turned their backs on the Sunny South, and once more struck out for the
snow-clad hills of their native land.

Jerry sang, and Bluff orated to his heart's content. Finally they noticed
that Frank was looking at something he held in his hand.

"It's the sealed document his father gave him before starting," said
Bluff.

"Tell me about that, will you! Frank, didn't he give you permission to
open it when you came in sight of Cedar Keys?" cried Jerry eagerly.

Frank, in reply, was tearing off the end of the envelope, a smile of
expectation on his face.

"I guess it's going to turn out a joke," hazarded Bluff.

"Now, I've been thinking that perhaps they settled it we should come up
by way of the ocean from Jacksonville," declared Will, "and that's the
surprise."

"How is it, Frank? Tell us about it!" cried Jerry as he saw the face of
the other light up when his eyes took in the import of the communication
he found inside the envelope his father had given him.

Frank turn