As Little Paul expressed it, "they were tickled half to death"; and when they reached the grove it was a sad and bitter disappointment for them to get out and go home.
"I was thinking of something," said Charles, a little while after they had landed their passengers.
"What was it, Charley ?" replied the commodore.
"That we might invite the boys of Oaklawn to spend a day with us on the lake." "Capital!" "We could give them a picnic on Center Island." "We will do it; and now that we know the river we can easily come up as far as the grove after them." "Or up to the rapids; there is no danger this side of them." This plan was discussed in all its details, and everything was agreed upon by the time they reached the lake.

The passage down the river had been much quicker than the upward trip, and before sunset the boats were all housed, and the clubs had separated.
On the following week the courtesies of the club were extended to the boys of Oaklawn, as arranged by the commodore, and a very fine time they had of it.

Their guests, numbering over forty, were entertained in every conceivable manner--the day's sports concluding with a grand race, in which all the boats were entered, and in which the Butterfly won the honors.
A new program was made up every week during the vacation.

Lighthouses were built, channels surveyed, shores charted; indeed, everything which the ingenuity of the boys could devise was brought forward to add fresh interest to the sports of the lake.
And thus the season passed away, and winter came again.

The fleet was laid up, and the useful and pleasant recreations of the club rooms were substituted for the active excitement of boating.