There would be the commodore in his “flag boat,” signalizing the fleet, now bidding them pull in “close order,” now ordering a boat out on service, and now sending one to examine a bay or a harbor.  And then, if they could only get leave to explore Rippleton River, how the commander of the squadron would send out a small craft to sound ahead of them, and to buoy off the rocks and shoals, and how the people on the banks of the stream would stare when they saw them moving in sections against the sluggish current!  Ah, a fleet of boats was such a brilliant ideal, that I will venture to say more than one of the boys lay awake nights to think about it.

I will not attempt to tell my young friends all the queer fancies concerning the squadron in which they indulged.  They were essentially air castles, very beautiful structures, it is true, but as yet they rested only on the clouds.  But the means of realizing this magnificent ideal was within their grasp.  They had the money to buy the boats, and the only question was, whether George Weston, the “director” of the club, would permit the purchase.

“What have you done about the fleet, Tony?” asked Joseph Hooper.

“I have spoken to my brother about it,” replied Tony, with a smile.

“What did he say?”

“He had no objection.”

“Hurrah!  We shall have the fleet then!  And Tony, we shall go in for having you commodore part of the time.”

“That we will!” echoed half a dozen voices.

“You would make as good a commodore as Frank,” added Joseph.

“I guess not,” answered Tony, modestly.  “Didn’t you see how slick Frank beat us in the race?  If I had followed his tactics, we might have stood some chance, at least.”

“Some chance!  Didn’t we keep ahead of him till we had got almost home?”

“Yes; but that was a part of Frank’s tactics.  He let us get tired out, and then beat us.  But we haven’t got the fleet yet, fellows, and we are a pack of fools to count the chickens before they are hatched.”

“You said George has no objections,” replied Joseph, glancing anxiously at Tony.

“He has not, but he wants to consult Captain Sedley before he consents.”

The boys looked a little disconcerted at this intelligence, and a momentary silence ensued.

“Do you think he will object, Tony?” asked one.

“I am pretty sure he will not.”

“Have you said anything to Frank about it?”

“Yes; and he says the Zephyrs will put their money with ours, if we get the fleet.”

“Hurrah!  I know his father will consent!”

“I have even got a hint from him that he should not object,” added Tony, very quietly.

“That is glorious!  We shall certainly have the fleet then!” shouted Joseph Hooper.

“I am pretty sure there will be no trouble about it.  Almost everybody is willing to admit now that the clubs are a good thing; that they keep the fellows out of mischief, and stimulate them to do their duty at home and at school.  So much for our strict regulations.  If we can get more boats, and form more clubs, everybody concerned will be the better for it.”