The Outdoor Chums on the Gulf | Page 7

sincere affection
that bound this quartette of clean, manly fellows in common.
Neither Frank nor Jerry said a word to their parents about the heroic
part they had played in the rescue of Professor Smythe. Imagine the
astonishment of Frank's father when that gentleman, in company with
his brother, a respected business man of Centerville, called at the house,
the next morning after breakfast, and related the whole circumstance.
And when Frank and Jerry were called down from the den, where, in
company with the others, they were doing some packing, they blushed
under the hearty words of praise heaped upon them by the two
gentlemen.
"Why, I'm going South myself, boys," declared the balloonist, when he
heard of their contemplated trip, "and wouldn't it be a queer thing now
if we happened to come across one another down in Dixieland? I'm
heading for Atlanta, to steer my big balloon to the eastward at the first
favorable chance, in order to settle some questions about air currents
that have long been baffling us all. Depend on it, if I could do you any
sort of a favor I'd go far out of my way to try and even up the debt I
owe you."
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.
And when finally the parting moment came, there were hurried
good-byes, the bags were thrown into the baggage car, and as the train
pulled out those of their school friends who had come down to see
them off, as well as their relatives, waved a shower of handkerchiefs
amid a chorus of shouts.
"Hurrah!" cried Bluff, as he settled down in his seat, "we're on the way
to the greatest time