One of them was rowing in a circle round the Dip; another was two circles of three boats each, pulling in opposite directions.

Then the boats were sent off in six different ways, forming a hexagon, with the tender in the center; after which they all came together so that their stems touched each other, in the shape of a star.
"Now, boys, we are ready for the voyage up Rippleton River," said Commodore Sedley.

"I need not tell you that the utmost caution must be used.

Watch the flags closely, and every coxswain be very prudent." "Ay, ay!" "Tony will lead in the Dip, and each boat will place a man in the bow to look out for buoys, which he will place over rocks and shoals." "Ay, ay," answered the coxswains.
"Now, Tony, you may go up and mark off the rocks at the mouth of the river." The little Dip, which had a picked crew for the occasion, darted away up the lake, leaving the rest of the fleet to follow.
"Form a line!" shouted Frank, and the boats backed out from their positions, and in a moment had obeyed the order.
"Ready--pull;" and the fleet moved slowly and grandly up the lake.
The boys were in high spirits.

There was something inspiring in the operations of the squadron that would have moved a more steady mind than that of a boy of twelve.