"So I think," her father answered with a smile; adding, "and that being the case we ought to be the best people in all the world. Don't you think so, daughter?" "Yes, indeed, papa; and I mean to try." "Why not go to Fishkill to-morrow?" asked Sydney. "All in favor of so doing may say aye," said the captain, glancing around upon the small crowd of hearers, big and little. "Aye!" exclaimed every voice, and that was followed by a ripple of laughter. As that died down, "We seem to be of one mind," remarked the captain pleasantly. "Well, the yacht will be ready to start immediately after breakfast, if the weather is pleasant. We would hardly wish to go in a storm." "Oh, no!" exclaimed several voices; "especially as we have plenty of time to wait for a pleasant day." "Yes," the captain said; "but there is every indication that we will not have to do so--that to-morrow will prove as fine a day as we could wish; and I suggest that our young people--and all older ones who desire plenty of sleep--should retire pretty soon; for we will need to rise early if we want abundance of time for our expedition. The trip on the river will be short, but we will probably want to spend at least half the day on shore." Everyone followed the captain's good advice; they were all up early next morning and ready to start on their proposed trip in good season. The weather proved pleasant, no accident befell any of them, and all enjoyed very thoroughly their visit to Fishkill and its vicinity. They visited the Verplanck House--interesting as having been the headquarters of Baron Steuben when the American Army was encamped near Newburgh, and also as the place where the celebrated Society of the Cincinnati was organized in 1783. "Won't you please tell us something about Baron Steuben, papa?" asked Elsie Raymond as they were returning from their visit to the Verplanck House. "Yes," replied the captain. "He was a German soldier, born in Magdeburg, Prussia. His full name was Frederick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand von Steuben. His father was a captain in the army, and he became a soldier when a mere lad. He saw and took part in a great deal of fighting, and in 1762 was made aide to Frederick the Great. He took part in the siege of Schweidnitz, and that closed his military career in his own land. He retired from the army, and was living most comfortably on a salary, while we were struggling for our freedom. In December, 1777, he went to Paris, on his way to visit some English noblemen who were friends of his. In Paris he met the French minister of war, who seems to have been a good friend to America, for, knowing that the great weakness of our army lay in the fact that the men lacked discipline and knew little or nothing of military tactics, he tried to persuade Steuben to come to this country and teach them.