There were close upon a hundred of the Hilltop Boys, and they were now on
a tour of the islands of the Spanish Main, having been invited by the
father of one of them, a man largely interested in the shipping business,
who had put at their service a commodious steam yacht large enough to hold
them all.

Besides the boys there were Dr. Theophilus Wise, the principal, and a
number of his instructors, the negro coachman at the Academy, who was now
serving in the capacity of cook and general handy man to the doctor and
the boys, and the captain and crew, a considerable party all told.

The sky was bright, there was none too much motion, and there was really
no reason why a lot of healthy boys should be seasick, and perhaps they
only feared they would be, and were just a little uncomfortable.

They were to spend the Easter vacation and a few weeks longer among the
islands, continuing their studies as usual, and getting a knowledge of
geography and of many other things, which they could not get by merely
studying books, Dr. Wise having practical ideas on these points, and
having now a chance to carry them out through the generosity of Mr. Smith,
the shipping merchant, who had furnished the yacht.

His son, Jesse W., one of the youngest boys at the Academy, had been found
and brought home when lost on the mountains by one of the Hilltop boys by
the name of Jack Sheldon, a general favorite at the Academy, and it was in
recognition of this act that he had decided to give the boys this glorious
vacation.

As the three boys were complaining about the rough seas, and the chance of