"Have you sounded clear across?"
"I haven't had time to examine very thoroughly yet. If you let the boats lay off I will look farther."
"Very well; I will go with you in the Dart," replied the commodore, as he ordered up a white and a blue flag, which was the signal for the Dart to close up.
The signal was obeyed, and Frank followed the Dip. After half an hour's search, a clear channel was found close to the land; so close that the oars could not be used, and a party was sent on shore to drag them through with ropes.
The line was formed again, and the squadron slowly followed the Dip as she examined the river. For the next mile there were no obstructions.
"Twelve o'clock!" shouted Fred Harper from the Bluebird.
"Dinner time, then," replied Frank. "Here is a beautiful grove, and we will land and dine. Hoist the orange"—the signal to land.
CHAPTER XX.
THE HOSPITALITIES OF OAKLAWN.
The boys all had remarkably good appetites, and therefore dinner was no unimportant event in the experience of the day. Somehow, boys contrive to be hungry at almost all times of the day, even without the stimulus of pulling three hours at an oar. There was something, too, in the circumstance of dining in a beautiful grove, on the bank of the river, with their boats floating near them, which rendered the occasion peculiarly pleasant—which made their cold meat, doughnuts, and apple pie taste much better than usual.