By the end of the week word was received from both the Stanhopes and the Lanings that all would be glad to join the Rovers in their houseboat vacation.  They would take a train for Pittsburg direct on the following Wednesday morning and would there await their friends.

“This suits me to a T!” cried Dick, after reading the communication Dora had sent him.  “If we don’t have the best time ever then it will be our own fault.”

“Just what I say,” answered Sam, who had received a long letter from Grace.

There were many articles to pack and ship to Pittsburg.  The boys also made out a long list of the things to be purchased for the trip, and in this their father and their aunt helped them.

Sunday passed quietly, all of the boys attending both church and Sunday school.  It was a hard matter for Tom to keep still on the Sabbath day, but he did so, much to his aunt’s comfort.

Aleck Pop was highly delighted to think that he was to be taken along, especially as cook.

“I’se gwine to do ma level best fo’ yo’ an’ fo’ de ladies,” said the colored man.  “Yo’ is gwine to hab reg’lar Waldorf-Astoria feed.”

“Don’t feed us too good, Aleck, or we’ll all die of dyspepsia,” said Sam.

“I’ll take care of dat, Massah Sam.  Don’t yo’ remember how I used to cook when we was out in de wilderness ob Africa?”

“Indeed I do, Aleck.  Yes, I know you’ll take care of us,” answered Sam.

On the day before the start the boys were surprised to see Hans Mueller appear, with a big trunk and a dress-suit case.  The German boy came over from Oak Run in a grocery wagon, having been unable to find a cab.

“How you all vos?” said he, shaking hands.  “I dink first I go py dot Pittsburg und den I dinks me I got lost maybe—­so I come here.”

“That’s right, Hans,” said Dick.  “But what made you bring such a big trunk?”

“Shsh!” answered Hans, putting a finger to the side of his nose.  “Dot is a secrets alretty!”

“A secret?”

“Dot’s him.  You vos going to haf der ladies along, hey?”

“Yes, they are all going.”

“I got me dree dress suits py mine drunk in.”

“Three dress suits!” roared Dick.  “Oh, Hans!”

“Ain’t dot enough?” questioned the German cadet, dubiously.

“Three dress suits!” repeated Dick.  “Oh, somebody hold me, or I’ll have a fit!” And he nearly doubled up with laughter.

“What’s the funeral about?” came from Tom, who was standing near.

“Hans is to become a real ladies’ man, Tom.”

“I don’t solve the riddle.”

“He has got three dress suits in his trunk.”

“Phew!  He’ll leave us in the shade entirely.  Say, Hans, have you got any patent leathers?”

“Yah, I got two pairs of batent-leather shoes.”

“Hope you brought your pumps,” put in Sam, who had come up.

“Bumps?” queried Hans, with a puzzled look.  “Vy I pring me a bump?  Does der poat leak?”