It did suit all the young folks, and they immediately planned a fine automobile tour for the afternoon, hiring two autos large enough to accommodate all of the girls and boys. The morning was spent in and around the yacht, where Tom and some of the others amused themselves by shooting off their pistols and some firecrackers. Tom had purchased some things for the Fourth the day previous and he had one package which he was careful to keep out of sight. "I am going to have a barrel of fun with the girls," he said to his brothers. "But don't tell anybody about it." "What is it?" asked his younger brother. "Wait and see." It had been arranged that the whole party should have an early lunch, so that they might start on the automobile ride by one o'clock. Aleck was in charge of the dining room of the yacht and he had spread himself in trimming it with red, white and blue streamers and small flags. "Oh, how lovely!" cried Dora, as she came in and sat down. "I declare, Aleck, you deserve a great deal of credit." And she gave the colored man a smile which pleased him immensely. "Where is Tom?" asked Mr. Rover, after all the others were seated. "I ton't know," answered Hans. "Tidn't he know ve vos to eat a leetle early to tay?" "He's coming," answered Sam. Just then Tom came into the dining room holding something in his hand covered with a long paper bag. From under the bag smoke was curling. "In honor of the Fourth of July!" cried the fun-loving Rover and placed the object upright in the center of the long table. Then he took off the bag with a flourish. There was revealed a big cannon cracker, fully a foot and a half high and several inches in diameter. The fuse was spluttering away at a great rate. "Tom!" Yelled Mr. Rover in alarm. "Throw that thing out!" "We'll be blown to pieces!" yelled Fred. "That's too big to shoot off indoors," added songbird, preparing to run. "Ve peen knocked to bieces!" groaned Hans, and slid under the table out of sight. The ladies shrieked and so did the girls. Mrs. Stanhope looked ready to faint, but Tom whispered hastily into her ear and she recovered. Mr. Rover wanted to throw the cannon cracker through a window, but Tom held him back. The long fuse continued to splutter and all watched it as if fascinated, and the girls put their hands to their ears in anticipation of a fearful explosion. Then came a tiny flash, a strange clicking, and off flew the top of the cannon cracker, sending a shower of confetti of various colors in all directions. "Oh!" shrieked the girls, and then everybody but Hans set up a laugh. The German youth looked suspiciously out from under the table. "Vot's der madder--did he go off?" he questioned. "Yes, he did, Hans," answered Grace. "It was nothing but a cracker full of colored paper instead of powder."