"Tom, you're positively the worst boy ever!" said Nellie, but the way she spoke told she meant just the opposite. "I tell you vot ve vos do, Tom," suggested Hans. "Ve vos form a boetry association alretty, hey? Songpirt can be der bresident." "What will you be, secretary?" asked Fred. "No, I vos peen treasurer," answered Hans. "Hans wants the money," put in Dick. "Dot's it," answered the German youth calmly. "Ven dem udder fellers makes up pad verses I vos fine dem a tollar, und ven I gits enough tollars I skip me to Canada or Mexigo, hey?" And he said this so comically everybody had to laugh. The automobiles had been ordered down to the dock and were already in waiting. Each was in charge of a chauffeur, and soon the boys and girls went ashore and piled in. Dick and Dora, Sam and Grace, and Fred got in the first turnout and the others in the second. "Now do not go too far," said Mrs. Stanhope, "and be sure and keep on roads that are safe." "And do not stay out later than ten o'clock this evening," added Mrs. Laning. "Oh, we'll be back safe and sound and on time," cried Dick. "So don't worry about us." "Those are both powerful machines," was Mr. Rover's comment. "Be careful that you don't exceed the speed limits, or you may be arrested." "Providing they catch us," answered Tom, with a grin. It had been decided that they should go out into the country by the way of Germantown, and soon they were bowling along in fine fashion over the smooth city pavement. Here and there they met crowds shooting off pistols and firecrackers. "It is good we haven't horses," said Sam. "This racket might cause them to run away." "That is where the automobilist has the advantage over a horse driver, Sam," answered his big brother. "But I must say, some of the young fellows on the street are rather careless." Scarcely had Dick spoken when the big machine rounded a corner and speeded through a crowd of what were evidently factory hands. They were shooting off pistols and firecrackers and raised a great din. Then one ugly looking young fellow lighted a firecracker and sent it toward the automobile. It landed directly in Dora's lap. "Oh!" screamed Dora, and tried to draw away. As quick as a flash Dick leaned forward and caught up the firecracker. As he threw it out of the automobile it exploded close by. "Do that again, and I'll come back at you!" shouted the elder Rover, and shook his fist at the fellow in the street. "Dick, did it hurt you?" asked Dora, anxiously. "Oh, it burst my little finger a trifle, that's all," was the reply. The finger smarted quite some, but Dick did not want to show it. "We ought to go back and punch his head," was Sam's comment. "Wonder if they'll try that game on the other auto," said Fred, as he arose to look back.