think," and then at a wave of Mrs. Rover's hand she disappeared.

After this the evening passed quickly enough, for the boys wanted
to know all there was to be learned about their future boarding
school. Mr. Rover had a circular of the institution, and they
pored over this.

"Captain Victor Putnam is the head master," said Dick, as he read.
"He has two assistants, Josiah Crabtree and George Strong, besides
two teacher's who come in to give instructions in French and
German if desired, also in music. Uncle Randolph, are we to take
up these branches?"

"I am going to leave you to select your own studies outside of the
regular course, Richard. What would be the use of taking up
music, for instance, if you were not musically inclined."

"I'd like to play a banjo," said Tom, and grinned as well as the
bandage on his head, would permit.

"I doubt if the, professor of music teaches that plantation
instrument," smiled Mrs. Rover. Then she patted Tom's shoulder
affectionately.

Now the boys were really to leave her, she was sorry to think of
their going.

"They will not take more than a hundred pupils," said Dick,
referring to the circular again. "I should say that was enough.
The pupils are divided into two companies, A and B, of about fifty