"It seems a long time since we were at the Hall," observed Dick, as they settled down in the train.
"And what a lot of things have happened since then!" exclaimed Sam. "I can tell you what, we'll have a story to tell to the others, won't we?"
"I guess Songbird, Fred, and Hans Mueller have already told everything," returned Tom. "More than likely Songbird has concocted some verses about it."
The run to Ithaca took several hours, and they lunched at noon in the dining car. It was a beautiful day, and the boys enjoyed the scenery as much as if they had never seen it before.
"I hope we can make a good connection for Cedarville," said Sam as they left the train and started for the dock from which the _Golden Star_ made her trips on the lake. But they were doomed to disappointment, the steamboat had had a break-down and would be delayed two hours or more.
As there was nothing to do but to wait, the boys checked their dress-suit cases and then started for a stroll through the city. They soon learned that a wild west show was giving an exhibition there and consequently the place was crowded with folks from the surrounding districts.
"I shouldn't mind going to the wild west show," observed Tom. "Do you think we have time?"
"We could spend an hour there anyway," answered Sam.
"It depends on where the show is to be held," came from Dick.
They soon ascertained that the show grounds were not far off, and made their way thither. The exhibition had already started, and they got inside the big tent-like enclosure as speedily as possible.
The show was a fairly good one, and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the trick riding by cowboys, and the fancy rifle shooting. Then came some wild riding by real Indians.
"Almost makes a fellow feel as if he'd like to be on a horse himself," said Tom. He liked horseback riding very well.
"Say, I want you to look over there," said Sam, pointing to the seats some distance away. "Do you see that man sitting near the bottom--right beside that boy with the basket of peanuts?"
Tom and Dick looked in the direction pointed out, and the eldest Rover gave a start.
"Sam, do you think it is the fellow called Merrick?" he exclaimed.
"He certainly does--now you speak of it," came from Tom. "And, by the way, don't you remember about that envelope picked up in the log cabin? It was postmarked Ithaca."