"Pooh! you would do just as much for us, Sam," answered the fun-loving brother. But, just the same, he gave Sam's hand a tight squeeze on the quiet. "What was that thumping, Tom?" asked the younger brother a bit later. "The rollers from a big steamer nearly put us on the rocks." "Gracious, more perils! Don't you think we had better give up our outing on the water?" "It will come to an end in a few days, Sam. We'll make the trip to Albany, and that will be the last of it." It was nightfall by the time they came up to the capital city. Getting the necessary permission to tie up at one of the private wharves, they locked up the cabin of the _Spray_ and went ashore. "Tom Rover, as I live! And Dick and Sam, too!" The cry came from up the street, and soon a boy of Dick's age was running to meet them. It was Frank Harrington, their old school chum and room-mate of Dormitory No. 6. "Frank!" came from the three, and a general handshaking followed. "What brings you here?" asked Dick. "Why, don't you know, my folks moved up to Albany from New York--father's in the State Senate now, you know," returned Frank, with pride. "Oh, that's so--and you are a senator's son," put in Tom. "I guess we'll have to tip our hats to you after this and call you Mr. Harrington." "Stow it, Tom, and keep your jokes until school opens," interrupted Frank. "Yes, we live here, and I thought you knew all about it. I sent you a letter." "We've been away from home for several weeks," explained Dick, and told of their outing on the water. "It must be jolly. My father owns a boat, but we seldom use it. So you are going to stay in Albany over tomorrow? If that's the case you must come up to our house. I won't hear of your going to a hotel." "Will that arrangement suit your folks?" questioned Dick. "Oh, yes! The girls are all away--down to Asbury Park--and so is mother; and father and I and the servants have the whole mansion to ourselves. I can tell you, it's just a bit lonely at times, and I'm real glad you came," concluded Frank. "If your father is a senator perhaps you can get us a pass through the Capitol building," put in Sam. "You won't need a pass. I'll go with you. But, Sam, you look sick." Sam's tale had to be told to Frank, who, meanwhile, led the way to a street car. Boarding this, the boys soon reached the Harrington mansion, located on one of Albany's finest thoroughfares. Here they met Senator Harrington and were speedily introduced. "I've heard of you before," smiled the senator. He was a pleasant-looking man of forty-five. "Frank says the Rover boys were the whole school--or something like that." At this there was a laugh. "I guess he must have been one of the Rovers, then," rejoined Tom; "he was just as good as any of us." And then there was another laugh, and the newcomers felt perfectly at home.