“You couldn’t hold us back if you tried.  Where shall we meet you?”

“That’s like Fred,” said Dick.  “I am awfully glad he is to be with us —­and glad Hans will come, too.”

The last telegram to come in was from Songbird Powell.  The reply of the would-be poet of Putnam Hall was characteristic: 

“Tell me where,
And I’ll be there,
On the run
For lots of fun.”

“If that isn’t Songbird!” exclaimed Sam, laughing, as he read the telegram.  “Had to talk in rhyme even over the telegraph wire!”

It was finally decided that the whole party should meet in Philadelphia about the Fourth of July, which was now less than a week off.  They should go directly to the steam yacht, and the voyage was to begin as soon as all arrangements were completed.

“I wish to stop off at New York for a day,” said Anderson Rover.  “If you boys want to go with me you may do so.”

“That will suit me,” answered Dick, and his brothers said the same.

It had been agreed that no outsiders should be told of the treasure hunt, so nothing was mentioned but a summer trip on a steam yacht.  The day the Rovers and Aleck Pop left the farm was a clear one, and all were in the best of spirits.  The colored man drove to the depot with Jack Ness and the trunks and dress suit cases, and all of the others went in the carryall, Randolph Rover driving and Mrs. Rover giving the boys final instructions about taking care of themselves.

“I shall miss you very much,” she said, with tears in her eyes.  Her lively nephews were as dear to her as if they were her own sons.

“You’d better go along, Aunt Martha,” said Dick.

“We’d like it first rate,” added Sam.

“It might help us to keep out of mischief,” came from Tom, with a bright smile.

“No, I’ll stay at home with your uncle, boys.  But do take care of yourselves, and come home safe.”

“Oh, there will be no danger in this trip,” said Dick, but he was mistaken—­there was to be great peril and of an unusual kind.  If the treasure hunters could have seen what was before them they would not have started off in such a confident frame of mind.

The train was a little late, but presently it rolled into the station and the trunks and other baggage were hoisted aboard.  Then came the final embraces and the boys climbed up the steps, followed by their father and Aleck.

“Hurrah, we are off at last!” cried Tom, and waved his cap enthusiastically.  The others did the same, and then the train started and Oak Run quickly faded from sight.  As the boys settled down in their seats a lad came from another car and moved swiftly toward them.

“Songbird, by all that’s lucky!” cried Dick, and caught the other by the hand.

“I thought you’d be on this train,” answered Songbird Powell.  “I got your wire last night that you would stop off at New York.  I am going to stop, too—­to see an uncle of mine on a little business.”