"Just let them try it on!" cried Tom. "Yes, we must stick
together by all means." And the compact, so far as it concerned
the Rover boys and Fred Garrison, was made on the spot. Later on
Larry Colby and Frank Harrington joined them gladly.

It was not long before the Golden Star, a stanch little side-
wheeler, steamed up to the dock, and the waiting crowd rushed on
board and secured favorable places on deck. The baggage followed,
and soon they were off, with a whistle which awoke the echoes of
Cayuga Lake for miles around.

While waiting on the dock Dick had noticed three girls standing
near them. They were evidently from the rural district, but
pretty and well dressed. The boys took seats near the bow of the
boat, on the upper deck, and presently the girls sat down not far
away.

"He was awfully bold, Clara; I want nothing to do with him," Dick
heard the prettiest of the girls say. "He had no right to speak
to us."

"He had dropped his handkerchief, and he pretended I was stepping
on it," said another of the three. "Oh, here he comes now!" she
went on as a youth of seventeen came into view. He was large and
bold-looking, and it was easy to see that there was a good deal of
the bully about him. He was smoking a cigarette, but on seeing
the girls he threw the paper roll away.

"How do you do again?" he said, as he came up and tipped his hat.