"The houseboat is now located on the Ohio River, at a place not many
miles from Pittsburg. Uncle Randolph says if we wish to we can use her
this summer, and float down to the Mississippi and further yet for that
matter. And we can take along half a dozen of our friends, too."

"Hurrah! that's splendid!" burst out Sam. "What a glorious way to spend
the best part of this summer! Let us go, and each take a chum along."

"Father says if we go we can take Alexander Pop along to do the cooking
and dirty work. The houseboat is now in charge of an old river-man
named Captain Starr, who knows the Ohio and Mississippi from end to
end, and we can keep him on board."

"It certainly looks inviting," mused Dick Rover. "It would take us
through a section of the country we haven't as yet seen, and we might
have lots of sport, fishing, and swimming, and maybe hunting. How many
will the houseboat accommodate?" he added.

"Twelve or fourteen, on a pinch."

"Then we could have a jolly crowd. The question is, who are you going
to take along? We can't take all of our friends, and it would seem a
shame to ask some and not others."

"We can decide that question later, Dick. Remember, some of the
fellows already have their arrangements made for this summer."

"I know Major Colby can't go," said Sam. "He is going to visit some
relatives in Maine."