Mrs. Stanhope had come down in a carriage to see them off. She kissed all of the girls an affectionate good-by. "Have a good time," she said. "And be sure and come back safe and sound." "Don't ye worry but what I'll bring 'em back safe enough, ma'am," said Captain Jerry, as he tipped his cap respectfully. When the girls were safe on board, the boys waved an adieu to Mrs. Stanhope. Then they ranged up in a row in front of old Jerry and each touched his forelock and gave a hitch to his trowser leg. "Ready for orders, cap'n," they said, in unison, having practiced this little by-play in secret. "Wh--what?" stammered Captain Jerry, gazing at them in bewilderment. "Ready for orders, sir," they said. "Shall we shake out the mainsail?" asked Dick. "Shall I hoist the jib?" came from Tom. "Can I set the topsail, captain?" put in Sam. "Well, by the son o' Neptune!" gasped Captain Jerry. "Got a real, generwine crew, aint I? All right, my hearties, I'll set ye to work fast enough." And then followed a string of orders in true nautical style, and the Rover boys flew in one direction and another to execute them. Up went the mainsail and the jib, and the top-sail followed, and soon the Old Glory was standing off into Santa Barbara Channel, with Mrs. Stanhope in the carriage waving them an adieu, and the girls and the boys waving their handkerchiefs in return. It certainly was a glorious day, as Dora had said, and after the sails were set, there was nothing to do but to take it easy on the cushions of the rail seats. Captain Jerry was at the wheel, but he promised to let each of them "take a trick" in his place before the trip should come to an end. "I jest wish we had another yacht to race with," said the old sailor. "Then I could show ye what sort o' a clean pair o' heels the Old Glory could show the other craft." "It is easy to see the yacht is speedy," replied Dick. "She cuts the water like a thing of life. And you know just how to get her best speed out of her," he went on, a remark that pleased old Jerry very much. "Will we have more breeze, do you think?" asked Tom, later on, as he observed some in clouds to the westward. "Can't say as to that, lad. Those clouds may come this way and they may blow north'ard. If they come down here, we'll catch it putty lively." "I like a good, stiff breeze," came from Sam. "Oh, don't run us into a storm," cried Grace in alarm. "We might all get seasick." "Don't be alarmed," said Dick. "We are a very long way from a storm, to my way of thinking." The morning passed quickly enough, and at noon they ran into a small harbor on one of the islands and had dinner in true picnic style. At one o'clock they packed up once more, went on board of the Old Glory, and stood off to the westward, for all wanted a run "right on the ocean," as Tom expressed it.