At last came the time for the boys to leave the farm. Jack Ness took all the trunks and suit cases to the depot and then transported the boys in the family carriage, with Aleck on the seat beside him. "Good-bye to Valley Brook farm!" cried Tomb waving his hat. "Take good care of yourselves, boys!" shouted Anderson Rover. "Don't get drowned," put in the aunt. And then with final adieux they were off. The drive to Oak Run was a quick one, and ten minutes later the train came in and they went aboard. The run to Pittsburg was to occupy several hours, so the boys made themselves as comfortable as possible. They had dinner on the train and ordered the best of everything to be had. It had been arranged that all bound for the houseboat trip should meet at the American House, and thither the boys made their way on reaching the Smoky City, as Pittsburg is often called, on account of its numerous manufactories. "Here we are!" cried a voice, as soon as they entered, and Songbird Powell hurried up to them. "I thought you'd get here about this time." "Have you seen anything of the ladies?" queried Dick. "Yes, they are all in the ladies' parlor. I told them I'd keep a lookout for you." They made their way to the parlor, where a great handshaking took place. Mrs. Stanhope and Dora were there, and also Grace and Nellie with Mrs. Laning. The latter was not used to traveling and was in quite a flutter. "The girls insisted upon my coming," said Mrs. Laning. "I didn't think I could do it at first, but they wouldn't take no for an answer." "And we are real glad to have you," answered Dick. Aleck had been sent off to hunt up Captain Starr and the houseboat, and in the meantime all of the party obtained rooms for the night and then went to supper. "This puts me in mind of the time we took dinner at Ithaca," said Dick to Dora, on the way to the dining hall. "Do you remember?" "Indeed I do," she answered, with a pretty blush. "But please do not steer me into the smoking room again," she added, mischievously. "Don't you think we are going to have a good time, Dora?" "If I hadn't thought that I shouldn't have come," answered the miss. It was a happy gathering, and Hans Mueller kept the young folks convulsed by his odd speeches. "And you ton't vos put no salt py mine coffee in dis dime, Tom," said Hans, referring to a trick which had once been played on him. "All right, Hansy," answered Tom. "And please don't you pour any coffee down my back," he added, for he had not forgotten how he had been paid back for that joke. The supper lasted a long time, and after it was over all went to one of the rooms upstairs, where they spent a couple of hours very agreeably. "We can be thankful that it is such pleasant weather," said Mrs. Stanhope. "An outing on a houseboat during a wet spell would not be so nice." "Oh, we'd try to make things pleasant," said Tom. "There is a piano on board, and we could have music and singing--"