"For a trip on the broad and glorious Ohio River."

"Eh?"

"That's it, Dick. We are to sail the briny deep of that river in a
houseboat. Now, what do you think of that?"

"I'd like to know what put that into your head, Tom," came from the
tent opening, and Sam Rover, the youngest of the three brothers,
stepped into view.

"Uncle Randolph put it into my head, not over half an hour ago, Sam.
It's this way: You've heard of John V. Black of Jackville?"

"The man that owed Uncle Randolph some money?"

"Exactly. Well, Black is a bankrupt, or next door to it. He couldn't
pay Uncle Randolph what was coming to him, so he turned over a
houseboat instead. She's a beauty, so I am told, and she is called the
_Dora_--"

"After Dora Stanhope, of course," interrupted the youngest Rover, with
a quizzical look at his big brother Dick.

"Now look here, don't you start in like that, Sam," came quickly from
Dick, with a blush, for the girl mentioned was his dearest friend and
had been for some years. "Tell us about this houseboat, Tom," he went
on.