In due time came the summer vacation, and as they had a couple of weeks to be together before going away to seashore or mountains with their parents, the boys arranged to spend this time in the Sunset Mountains, that lay ten miles back of Newtonport, which place was on the west shore of the lake, opposite Centerville.  The rumor of a ghost that was said to haunt Oak Ridge did much to draw the boys, and it can be readily understood that before they left their camp in the hills they had succeeded in discovering the astonishing truth about that same spectre.  Just how this was done, together with many other thrilling episodes, you will find in the record of the outing as given in the third volume, called:  “The Outdoor Chums in the Forest; or, Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge.”

By the time Will had run the gamut of these adventures, some of which caused him to shiver, while others brought a smile on his face, he heard the voices of his chums drawing near.

They soon joined him, each burdened with some more of the outfit in the way of blankets, and clothes-bags made of waterproof canvas.

These were hastily stowed away, after which the boys began to get busy.  Frank had, ere now, closely examined the engine of the launch, and even started it going so as to get “the hang of the thing,” as he said.  He felt that he had nothing to fear with regard to his ability to handle it.

“If anything does happen we will have to use the push-poles, and in that way float down on the swift current until we get to a town,” he said, laughingly; but not one of them had the slightest fear.

“All aboard for the gulf!” called Will, as he stood by the rail watching Jerry unwarp the hawser that held the nose of the boat down-stream, another securing the stern above.

Just as soon as this latter was unfastened the boat would begin to move with the rapid current, and at that time Frank wanted his engine to be working.

“Ready, Frank?” called Jerry from astern.

He could cast off there, recovering the rope as they moved along.

The engine began to whirr.

“Say, doesn’t that sound encouraging?” ventured Bluff, as the cheery cough smote the air, and announced the whole power of twelve horses to be at their disposal.

“I only hope she turns out one-half as good as she looks,” remarked Frank, who believed that the proof of the pudding lay in the eating of it.

A minute later, satisfied that everything was working, he shouted: 

“Let her go, Jerry!”

Immediately the motor-boat commenced to glide down-stream.  Frank found that his engine worked like a charm.  He could apparently do anything he wanted with it, and the whole apparatus seemed more like a plaything than a powerful motor.

“A good beginning.  Hope it keeps up,” remarked Bluff.

“Me for a life on the ocean wave,” sang Jerry as he coiled the rope ship-shape, and then going forward climbed up on the bow to look out for “snags.”