her idol might be brought home stretched on a shutter or bundled up in a
wheelbarrow. No limb though was broken, and there were some wonderful
developments of "muscle" (so the club thought). One day the new honorary
member made an offer.

"Boys, I can have the next Saturday afternoon that comes along, and Aunt
Stanshy says there is a garrison-house on the other side of the river.
Come, I'll hire a boat and take you over."

"O good!" "Yes, we'll go!" "Three cheers!" "Hurrah for Will Somers!" were
some of the outcries greeting the proposition.

"I think, boys, all the honorary members ought to be invited."

"Certainly," said Sid, and Aunt Stanshy was invited.

"See me going! The idea!" she exclaimed.

"What if the minister should see me going off with a parcel of boys!"

"He would say you were a very sensible woman," said Charlie, and Aunt
Stanshy went.

The club admired the rowing of Will Somers as he performed with bare arms
and showed a "fearful muscle." The boat was a very large one accommodating
all-the party, but the oars-man refused to have any help, and progress was
slow. At last the other side of the river was reached in safety. They
walked through a ship-yard, and then, turned into a country road, sweet
with wild flowers, nodding on either side. Beyond this they came to a
piece of road, bordered with stiff, stout pines.