you've got several books on the subject since your
father half promised to put a little craft on Lake Camalot next season,"
remarked Jerry.

"Well," laughed Frank, fairly caught, "between the lot of us it'll be
strange if we don't know how to handle that dandy boat of Cousin
Archie's--the _Jessamine_ he calls her."

"Three cheers for the _Jessamine,_ then!" said Bluff.

They were given with a will, after which the boys separated. Since this
would be their last night at home for two weeks they had sensibly
decided to spend it in the bosom of their families. Everything was done,
at any rate, so that it was useless to bother about that matter any more.

In spite of Frank's warning it is very unlikely that any one of the four
slept very soundly. The near future beckoned to them with such grand
possibilities concerning the sport they loved, that they could not get it
out of their minds; and innumerable plans for the happy times ahead kept
their brains busy the major portion of that last night under the parental
roof-trees.

Finally the morning dawned, with a light snow falling. There was a bustle
in at least four homes that day, and presently the intending travelers
gathered at the station long before the train was due that would take
them on to Philadelphia, and then, with a change of cars, to the
beckoning sunny Southland.

And when finally the parting moment came, there were hurried good-byes,
the bags were thrown into the baggage car, and as the train pulled out
those of their school friends who had come down to see them off, as well
as their relatives, waved a shower of handkerchiefs amid a chorus of
shouts.

"Hurrah!" cried Bluff, as he settled down in his seat, "we're on the way
to the greatest time of our lives!"'

CHAPTER IV

JERRY MEETS TROUBLE HALF WAY

"Ain't she a beauty, though?"

"Finest thing ever put in the water! And to think we're going to live
aboard her for nearly two weeks! It's the greatest luck ever!" observed
Will.

"Talk to me about your automobiles and aeroplanes, give me a neat little
motor-boat for mine. I wouldn't change places with King George just now."

Frank said nothing, but the smile on his face was a satisfied one.
Indeed, it could not well be otherwise. Any boy who loved camping and
cruising as much as he did must have been thrilled at the prospect of
running that jaunty little craft for a spell, navigating new waterways
and making discoveries constantly, such as