"Instead, we'll cheer because we're free!"

concluded Tom.

"Say, that isn't half bad," broke out Songbird, enthusiastically. "I
was going to put in something about flee----"

"For gracious sake! What have fleas to do with this poetry?"
interposed Tom.

"Fleas! Who said anything about fleas?" snorted Songbird. "I said
'flee,' f-l-e-e."

"Oh, I see!" That's the flee that fled, not the flea who refuses to
flee," went on Tom. And at this sally, the other boys laughed.

"Never mind, give us the rest of it," put in Spud.

"There isn't any 'rest'-- not yet," answered the would-be poet. And
then the bays resumed the row up the river.

CHAPTER XIII

AT THE FARM

"All aboard who are going! We haven't any time to spare if you want to
catch that nine-fifteen train."

"Good-bye, Tom, don't forget to write."