Little did any of them suspect under what strange conditions their next meeting would really be.

All Centerville was ringing with the story of the brave exploit of Frank and Jerry.  When the latter reached home that noon he was overwhelmed with hysterical words of praise from his mother; while his father had come home from his office, beset by a dozen acquaintances desirous of congratulating him on having a son of such heroic mould.

Jerry was very uneasy under all this favorable comment.  He did not like to be looked upon as differing in any degree from other boys.

“Any fellow would have done the same thing.  We were lucky enough to have the chance, that’s all,” he insisted, as his mother kissed him again and again, crying a little at the same time at the thought of what might have happened; while his father gripped his hand and patted him on the back affectionately.

By afternoon the boys decided that they had everything packed they could think of, and after that they began to try and possess their souls in patience.

“No sleep for me to-night, fellows,” declared Jerry, as he prepared to go home, as supper-time came around.

“I’d advise you to try and get a few winks if you can.  To-morrow night we’ll be on the train, and not much chance then.  It’s a lucky thing that all of us know something about machinery.  Our experience with our motor-cycles will come in good play now.  And here’s Jerry been studying up on the running of an automobile with that retired chauffeur, Garrison, who’s teaching Andy Lasher how to run a car.”

“Yes, but, Frank, how about you taking lessons about the engine of a motor-boat?  I know you’ve got several books on the subject since your father half promised to put a little craft on Lake Camalot next season,” remarked Jerry.

“Well,” laughed Frank, fairly caught, “between the lot of us it’ll be strange if we don’t know how to handle that dandy boat of Cousin Archie’s—­the Jessamine he calls her.”

“Three cheers for the Jessamine, then!” said Bluff.

They were given with a will, after which the boys separated.  Since this would be their last night at home for two weeks they had sensibly decided to spend it in the bosom of their families.  Everything was done, at any rate, so that it was useless to bother about that matter any more.

In spite of Frank’s warning it is very unlikely that any one of the four slept very soundly.  The near future beckoned to them with such grand possibilities concerning the sport they loved, that they could not get it out of their minds; and innumerable plans for the happy times ahead kept their brains busy the major portion of that last night under the parental roof-trees.

Finally the morning dawned, with a light snow falling.  There was a bustle in at least four homes that day, and presently the intending travelers gathered at the station long before the train was due that would take them on to Philadelphia, and then, with a change of cars, to the beckoning sunny Southland.