"say, bob, what'll we do with this money?"

the check had been received on the day following mr. golden's announcement, and as soon as the boys got into bed that night they began to talk about it.

"well, i'll tell you my idea. you remember what i said before i was kidnapped, about that prize of fifty thousand dollars for flying across the atlantic, don't you? well, tomorrow, let's ask dad about it and if he says we may try it, we can use it to buy an airplane next summer. what do you say?"

"what do i say? i say that, for a youth of your tender years, you have a mighty level head, and that last remark of yours is certainly a corker."

the next morning, at breakfast, they broached the subject to their father.

"well, i never!" declared uncle ben, "what in the name of common sense will you boys think of next? but of course, you are only fooling."200

"indeed we're not," declared bob, emphatically.

"but sober earnest now, bob, do you think the scheme is practical?" asked his father.

"i don't see why not. lots of aviators can stay in the air as long as their gasoline will hold out and the only reason they can't fly farther is because they can't carry enough fuel. now we could carry enough of those cylinders to take an airship round the world."

"well, well," said their father, as he rose from the table, "there's lots of time to think of that between now and next summer. i won't say yes, and i won't say no at present, but we'll see."

it was now the beginning of the last week in august and the boys spent the next few days delightfully, sailing in the sprite, fishing, swimming and playing tennis with the girls. to jack's secret delight mrs. golden invited evelyn nason to spend a week with them, and as she was a lively girl, they were a very jolly party, and mike declared that they made more noise than a barrel of monkeys.

september came around too soon, and uncle ben announced that the next day he and aunt lucy must start for home. all were very sorry to have them go, for they all loved them dearly.

"don't forget, boys, that you are to spend a week with us next christmas," was the last thing aunt lucy said, as they started off in their big car.

two days later, may and evelyn went home and 201the roost seemed quite deserted, and the goldens began to think about leaving the lake for the summer.

it was wednesday evening, and they were going to close the cottage the following friday. they were all sitting around the open fire in the living room, for the night was chilly.

"boys," said mr. golden, throwing down the paper he had been reading, "how would you like to be tin soldiers?"

"tin soldiers? what in the world do you mean?" asked jack, as they all laughed.

"well, i'll tell you. this afternoon a friend from philadelphia was in the bank and he was telling me about a military college near there, where his boy went last year, and he praised it so highly, that i thought it might be a good place for you. i believe in military training," he continued, "as it teaches, besides other things, alertness and efficiency. i have very much regretted that i did not have the advantage of such training, and i would like my boys to have it. what do you say?"

the boys thought for a moment and looked at each other. finally bob said:

"i think it would be bully; how about you, jack?"

"same here. do they teach cavalry there, dad?"

"yes, they give courses in infantry, cavalry and artillery."

"that'll be great," declared both boys.202

"then you think you would like to go, do you?"

"yes, sir, i think it will be just the place for us," answered bob and jack said the same.

"all right then, we'll consider it settled and i'll write to the president the first thing in the morning as the term opens the seventeenth."

the boys talked about it for a long time that night, after they were in bed, and the more they thought about it, the more anxious they were to go.

friday morning came, and after a final sail in the sprite, she was pulled into the boathouse and made snug for the winter. needless to say, the cells were taken to skowhegan for safe keeping. by noon, the roost was ready to be closed, and after lunch, they left for their town home, the boys on their motorcycles and the rest of the family in the car.

"this has been a splendid summer," declared bob, as they were about to start, "in spite of all the trouble we've had, and i've had more excitement than i expected to have all my life."

"that's so," agreed jack and then added soberly, "we certainly ought to be very thankful that everything turned out so well."

one day, about a week after they came down from the lake, mr. golden said, at the supper table:

"mr. jenkins was in the bank today and said that fred and will were coming home tomorrow, and that he had decided to send them to the same college where you're going."203

instantly the faces of the two boys fell.

"he said," continued their father, "that he wished you two were more intimate with them."

"i don't," said jack. "they're too mean and selfish and then you can't trust them. i'm mighty sorry they're going there."

"oh, well," declared bob, "i guess there'll be room enough for them and us, too."

it was thursday and they were to leave the following monday, and so we will leave them, busy and happy in their last minute preparations for their new life in college.

and so we shall take leave of them for a short time. their subsequent adventures will be found in a succeeding volume entitled "the golden boys at the fortress."