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Title: The Rover Boys on the Ocean
or, A Chase for a Fortune
Author: Arthur M. Winfield
Posting Date: May 31, 2012 [EBook #5875]
Release Date: June, 2004
First Posted: September 15, 2002
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN ***
Produced by John Pobuda
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
OR A CHASE FOR A FORTUNE
BY Arthur M. Winfield
(Edward Stratemeyer)
INTRODUCTION
My dear Boys: "The Rover Boys on the Ocean" is a complete tale in
itself, but forms a companion volume to "The Rover Boys at
School," which preceded it.
In the former volume I tried to give my young readers a glimpse
of life as it actually is in one of our famous military boarding
schools, with its brightness and shadows, its trials and
triumphs, its little plots and counterplots, its mental and
physical contests, and all that goes to make up such an
existence; in the present tale I have given a little more of
this, and also related the particulars of an ocean trip, which,
from a small and unpretentious beginning, developed into
something entirely unlooked for an outing calculated to test the
nerves of the bravest of American youths. How Dick, Tom, and
Sam, and their friends stood it, and how they triumphed over
their enemies, I will leave for the story itself to explain.
This volume will be followed by another, to be entitled, "The
Rover Boys in the jungle," telling of curious adventures in the
heart of Africa.
As the first volume of the series was so I well received, my one
wish is that the present tale may find equal favor at your hands.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
September 20, 1899
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
CHAPTER I
SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS
"Luff up a little, Sam, or the _Spray_ will run on the rocks."
"All right, Dick. I haven't got sailing down quite as fine as you
yet. How far do you suppose we are from Albany?"
"Not over eight or nine miles. If this wind holds out we'll make
that city by six o'clock. I'll tell you what, sailing on the
Hudson suits me first-rate."
"And it suits me, too," put in Tom Rover, addressing both of
his brothers. "I like it ten times better than staying on Uncle
Randolph's farm."
"But I can't say that I like it better than life at Putnam Hall,"
smiled Sam Rover, as he threw over the tiller of the little
yacht. "I'm quite anxious to meet Captain Putnam and Fred,
Frank, and Larry again."
"Oh, so am I," answered Tom Rover. "But an outing on the Hudson
is just the best of a vacation. By the way, I wonder if all of
our old friends will be back?"
"Most of them will be."
"And our enemies?"
"Dan Baxter won't come back," answered Dick seriously. "He ran
away to Chicago with two hundred dollars belonging to his father,
and I guess that's the end of him--so far as Putnam Hall and we
are concerned. What a bully he was!"
"I feel it in my bones, Dick, that we'll meet Dan Baxter again,"
came from Sam Rover.
"Don't you remember that in that note he left when he ran away he
said he would take pains to get square with us some day?"
"He was a big blower, Sam," put in Tom. "I am not afraid of him.
An his chum, Mumps, was a regular sneak coward. I hope Putnam
Hall will be free from all such fellows during the next term.
But we--Hold hard, Sam--there is another yacht bearing down
upon us!"
Tom Rover leaped to his feet and so did Dick. Tom was right;
another craft, considerably larger than their own, was headed
directly for them.
"Throw her over to starboard!" sang out, Dick Rover. "And be
quick about it--or we'll have a smash-up sure!" And he leaped
to his brother's, assistance, while Tom did the same.
The Rover brothers were three in number--Dick, the oldest and
most studious; Tom next, is full of fun as an egg is full of
meat, and Sam the youngest.
In a former volume of this series, entitled, "The Rover Boys at
School," I related how the three youths had been sent by their
uncle, Randolph Rover, to Putnam Hall, a military boarding
school, situated upon Cayuga Lake, in New York State.
Whether the three boys were orphans or not was a question that
could not be answered. Their father, Anderson Rover, had been a
geological expert and rich mine owner, and, returning from the
West, had set sail for Africa, with the intention of exploring
the central region of that country in the hope of locating some
valuable gold mines. The boys and their uncle knew that he had
journeyed from the western coast toward the interior with a
number of natives, and that was all they did know, although they
had made numerous inquiries, and hoped for the best. The lads'
mother was dead; and all these things had happened years before
they had been sent to boarding school.
Randolph Rover was an eccentric but kind hearted man, given over
entirely to scientific farming, of which, so far, sad to relate,
he had made a rather costly failure. He spent all of his time
over his agricultural books and in the fields, and was glad
enough to get the boys off his hands by sending them to the
military school.
When vacation came he wondered what he should do with them during
the summer, but the problem was solved by the boys, who hated to
think of remaining on the farm, and who proposed a trip up and down
the Hudson River and through Long Island Sound, providing their
guardian would furnish the boat and bear the expense of the outing.
The outcome was the chartering of the yacht _Spray_, and all of the
boys took lessons in sailing from an old tar who knew exactly how
such a craft should be handled.
At Putnam Hall the boys had made a number of friends, and also
several enemies, and had had several surprising adventures, as my
old readers already know. Who their friends and their enemies
were, and what further adventures were in store for the three
brothers, I will leave for the pages following to reveal. At
present let us turn our attention to the boat which seemed on
the point of running down the _Spray_.
Like their own craft, the other boat carried but a single mast.
But the stick was at least ten feet longer than the mast of the
_Spray_, and the boat was correspondingly larger in every respect.
As she came nearer the Rover boys saw that she contained two
occupants, a boy and a somewhat elderly man.
"Sheer off there!" cried Dick, at the top of his lungs. "Do you
want to run us down?"
"Get out of the way yourself!" came back the answer from the boy
in the other boat.
"We can't get out--we are almost on the rocks now!" yelled Tom.
Then he gave a start of surprise. "Why, it's Mumps!"
"By jinks, it is John Fenwick!" muttered Dick. "I remember now
that he came from the Hudson River and that his folks owned a
boat." He raised his voice, "Are you going to sheer off or not?"
By this time the two boats were nearly bowsprit to bowsprit, and
Sam Rover's heart almost stopped beating. But now Mumps spoke to
the man with him, and his craft, called the _Falcon_, sheered to
port, scraping the _Spray's_ side as she did so.
"Mumps, what do you mean by such work?" demanded Dick, when the
immediate danger was past.
"Ha! ha! I thought I would give you a scare," laughed the former
sneak of Putnam Hall.
"You needn't be afraid but what I and old Bill Goss here know how
to keep the _Falcon_ out of danger."
"It was foolishness to run so close," said Tom.
"Don't you talk to me, Tom Rover. I've had enough of you, mind
that."
"And I want you to mind and keep off next time, Mumps. If you
don't--"
"What will you do?"
"I'll be tempted to come aboard the _Falcon_ and give you a
thrashing."
"You'll never set foot on my boat, and I'm not afraid of you,"
roared Mumps. "You think you got the best of me at Putnam Hall,
but you didn't, and I want you to know it."
"How is your friend, Dan Baxter?" cried Sam. "Has he landed in
jail yet?"
"Never mind Dan Baxter," growled Mumps, growing red in the face;
and then the two yachts moved so far apart that further talk was
impossible.
"Well, I didn't expect to meet him," muttered Dick, after the
three brothers had cooled down a bit. "He must have known we
were in this boat."
"I saw his craft last night, down near Catskill," said Tom.
"I'll wager he has been following us up."
"He wouldn't do that unless he had some reason for it."
"I believe he would sink us if he could," put in Sam. "To my
mind he is almost as bad as Baxter."
"Hardly, Sam; Dan Baxter is a thief and the son of a thief," came
from Tom. "By the way, I wonder if Arnold Baxter is still in the
hospital at Ithaca."
"More than likely, since he was so badly hurt by that fall from
the train. If we--Look, Mumps has turned around and is
following us!"
Sam pointed to the _Falcon_, and his brothers saw that he was
right. Soon the larger craft was again within hailing distance.
"Hi, Mumps, what are you following us for?" demanded, Dick, as he
stepped up on the stern seat.
"Didn't know I was following you," was the sour rejoinder. "I
have a right to sail where I please."
"If you have any game in mind I advise you not to try it on."
"What game would I have, Dick Rover?"
"Some game to get yourself into trouble."
"I know my own business."
"Alright, you can go about your business. But don't try to step
on our toes--or you'll get the worst of it."
"So you're going to play the part of a bully?"
"No; I'm only giving you fair warning. If you let us alone we'll
let you alone."
"You have been watching the movements of the _Falcon_ since day
before yesterday," went on Mumps, slowly and distinctly, as
though he expected his words to have a great effect.
"Watching your boat--" began Dick and Tom simultaneously.
"Yes, watching my boat--and I don't like it," answered Fenwick,
and his face grew dark.
"Why should we watch your boat?" demanded Sam.
"Never mind why. You've been watching her, and that's enough."
"And why should we put ourselves out to that extent--when we are
merely out for pleasure," said Dick. "There is no fun in
watching a fellow like you, I'm sure."
"John is right; ye have been a-watchin' this boat," growled the
old sailor named Bill Goss, who, it may be as well to state here,
was thoroughly under his younger master's thumb for reasons best
known to himself. "If I had my way I'd wollop the lot on ye!"
And he shook his fist at the occupants of the _Spray_.
"You keep your oar out!" cried Dick sternly. "You are entirely
mistaken in your suspicions. We are not spying on you or
anybody, and if you--"
Dick was permitted to go no further. While Bill Goss was
speaking the _Spray_ had been caught by a sudden puff of wind
and sent over to starboard. Now the _Falcon_ came on swiftly, and
in an instant her sharp bow crashed into the Rover boy's boat.
The shock of the collision caused the _Spray_ to shiver from stem
to stern, and then, with a jagged hole in her side, she began to
slowly sink.
CHAPTER II
THE ENCOUNTER ON THE RIVER
For the instant after the collision occurred none of the Rover
boys uttered a word. Tom and Sam stared in amazement at Mumps,
while Dick gazed helplessly at the damage done.
"Pull her away, quick, Bill!" cried Mumps in a low voice to the
old sailor, who at once sprang forward and shoved the two yachts
apart with a long boathook. Then the rudder of the _Falcon_ was
put hard a port, and she swung, away for a distance of half a
dozen yards.
"We are sinking!" gasped Tom, who was the first of the three
brothers to find his voice.
"Mumps, you rascal, what do you mean by this work?" demanded
Dick. And then, without waiting for an answer, he turned to Sam.
"Steer for the shore and beach her--if you can."
"I don't believe we can make it, Dick. But we can try."
"We'll have you locked up for this, Mumps," shouted Tom.
"I couldn't help it--it was an accident," returned the former
sneak of Putnam Hall glibly. "You should have kept out of the
way."
"We'll see about that later on."
"Maybe you want us to help you."
"We shan't ask you for the favor," burst out Sam. "I'd rather
drown first." But Sam did not exactly mean this. He and his
brothers could all swim, and he felt certain that they were in no
immediate danger of their lives.
"You had better not ask any favors. I wouldn't pick you up for a
barrel of money."
"I think we'll have to settle this in court, Mumps," said Dick,
as quietly as he could.
"You can't prove I ran you down."
"Don't you dare to have us hauled up," put in Bill Goss. "It was
an accident, jest as John says. I reckon as how it will teach ye
a lesson not to follow us ag'in."
By this time the two yachts were once more so far apart that
talking from one to the other became difficult. Besides this,
the Rover boys felt that they must turn their whole attention to
the _Spray_, so no more was said.
The yacht had been struck just at the water line and the hole
made in her side was all of six inches in diameter. Through this
the water was pouring into the hold at a lively rate.
"We're going down as sure as guns," groaned Tom. "Steer her
right for the shore, Sam." This was done, and just as the _Spray_
began to settle they ran upon a muddy and rocky flat about thirty
feet from the river bank proper.
"There, we can't go down now," said Dick, with something of a
sigh of relief. "Let us lower the mainsail and jib before the
wind sends us over on our beam ends."
The others understood the value of the advice, and soon the
mainsail of the yacht came down with a bang, and the jib
followed. The _Spray_ seemed inclined to list to port, but stopped
settling when her deck line touched the surface of the river.
"That settles yachting for the present," said Dick in deep
disgust.
"And the worst of it is, we haven't even a small boat to go
ashore in," added Sam. "What's to do?"
"There is a rowboat putting out from the shore now," cried Tom.
"Hullo, there!" he shouted, and waved his hand.
The shout was returned, and the rowboat was headed, in their
direction. As it came closer they saw that its occupant was a
middle-aged man of pleasant appearance.
"So you had a smash-up, eh?" shouted the man, as soon as he came
near. "Anybody hurt?"
"Our boat is hurt," answered Tom dryly.
"Much of a hole?"
"Big enough to put us on the bottom."
"So I see. Want me to take you ashore?"
"Yes," put in Dick, "if you will be kind enough to do it."
"Certainly; always willing to aid anybody in distress. That
other craft run you down in short order, didn't she?"
"Did you see it?" burst out Sam eagerly.
"To be sure I did."
"Then you know it was her fault."
"I do. She had no right to follow you up as she did."
"I'm glad you saw the mix-up, Mr..."
"Martin Harris is my name. I'm an old boatman around here--keep boats
to hire, and the like. And who is this I'm to take ashore?"
"My name is Sam Rover. These are my two brothers, Dick and Tom."
"Do you know who it was ran into you?"
"It was the _Falcon_, a yacht owned by a Mr. Fenwick. His son and
a man he called Bill Goss were aboard."
At this Martin Harris drew down his mouth. "A bad set, those. I
know 'em well."
"And we know, Fenwick, too," put in Dick, "He's a regular sneak."
"That's right--takes after his father, who did his best to
defraud me in a boat deal. And that Bill Goss is a sneak, too,
and worse," and Martin Harris shook his head decidedly.
"Well, we can't talk about those people now," said Dick. "We're
in a mess and must get out of it the best way we can. As you are
an old boatman, what would you advise us to do?"
"Come ashore with me and then get Dan Haskett to take your boat
in charge and fix her up. He can stop that leak somehow and pump
her out and have her all right inside of twenty-four hours."
"Where can we find this Haskett?"
"Come into my boat and I'll take you to him."
The rowboat was now close at hand, and one after another the
Rover boys stowed themselves away in the craft. Then Martin
Harris took up the oars and started for the river bank. He
turned down the stream a bit and landed them at an old dock over
which hung the sign: "Daniel Haskett, Boat Builder and Repairer
jobs Promptly Attended to--Charges Small."
Dan Haskett proved to be an elderly man, who was somewhat deaf,
and it took the boys some time to make him understand the
situation.
"We've had a smash-up," began Dick.
"Cash up?" said the deaf man. "Cash up for what?"
"We've had a smash-up!" repeated the boy in a louder tone. "We
want our boat mended."
"What's ended?" asked the boat builder. "Your boat?"
"Almost ended," roared Tom. "We--want--you--to--fix--up--our--boat,"
he yelled.
"Oh, all right. Where is she?"
Dick pointed with his finger, and at once the boat builder
understood. "There's a hole in her side," bawled the boy. "We
want it patched up."
"All right; I can do that."
"Can we have her by tomorrow?"
"How's that?" And Dan Haskett placed his hand to his ear.
"Can--we--have--her--by--tomorrow?" yelled Dick.
"I guess so. I'll have to see how badly she is damaged first."
Haskett got out a small boat of his own and, taking Dick with
him, rowed over to the wreck. He pronounced the injury small and
said the boys could have their boat by noon the next day. The
charges would be twelve or fifteen dollars.
"We'll be getting off cheaper than I thought," said Tom, on
Dick's return. "Ought to come out of Mumps' pocket."
"That's so," added Sam. "By the way, I wonder what he meant by
saying we were dogging him?"
"I can't say," replied Dick. "But I've been thinking that he
can't be up to any good, or he wouldn't be so suspicious."
"Just exactly my idea!" burst out Tom. "Do you know what I half
imagine?"
"Well?"
"That Mumps is cruising around waiting for Dan Baxter to join
him."
"But Baxter went to Chicago."
"He won't stay there--not as long as his father is in the East.
He will be back before long, if he isn't back already."
"But he took that money belonging to his father."
"What of that? His father can't do anything against him, for he
himself is worse than his son, as we all know. Besides, his
father is most likely still in the hospital."
"If you young gentlemen want to sail around until tomorrow noon,
I can take you out in one of my boats," remarked Martin Harris.
"I've got a first-class yacht, the _Searchlight_, that I can let
you have reasonably."
"Thanks, but I would just as lief stay on shore until our boat is
mended," answered Dick. "But I want to pay you for what you did
for us," he added.
"Oh, that's all right."
But the boys thought otherwise, and in the end gave Martin Harris
two dollars, with which the boatman was highly pleased.
"Remember, I saw that accident," he said, on parting. "I can
prove it was the _Falcon's_ fault."
"We'll remember that," answered Dick.
From time to time they had watched the _Falcon's_ course until the
yacht had disappeared down the river.
After a short debate the brothers decided to put up at a hotel
which stood not far away, on a high cliff overlooking the noble
Hudson.
"We've been on the water for nearly two weeks now," said Dick,
"and to sleep in a real bed will be something of a novelty."
As it was in the height of the summer season the hotel was
crowded; but some guests were just departing, and they managed to
get a fairly good room on the second floor. This had a double
bed, and a cot was added, to accommodate Sam; Dick and Tom
sleeping together, as usual.
It was supper time when the boys arrived, and as soon as they had
registered and washed up and combed their hair, they descended to
the spacious dining room, where fully a score of tables were set.
"This way, please," said the head waiter, and showed them to a
table at one side, overlooking one of the wide verandas of the
hotel.
"I'm as hungry as a bear!" exclaimed Tom. "You can't serve us
any too quick," he added, to the waiter who came up to take their
orders.
"Yes, sah, do the best I can, sah," grinned the colored man.
"What kind of soup, please?"
"I'll have ox-tail--" began Tom, when he happened to glance out
of the window. As his gaze fell upon a man sitting in an easy
chair on the veranda he uttered a low whistle. "By jinks, boys,
look! Josiah Crabtree, as sure as you're born!" he whispered.
CHAPTER III
JOSIAH CRABTREE FREES HIS MIND
The individual to whom Tom referred had been a former master at
Putnam Hall, but his disagreeable ways had led to his dismissal
by Captain Putnam.
Josiah Crabtree was a tall, slim individual, with a sharp face
and a very long nose. During the past term at Putnam Hall he had
been very dictatorial to the Rover boys, and it must be confessed
that they had made life anything but a bed of roses for him.
Crabtree had been very desirous of marrying a certain widow by
the name of Stanhope, but the marriage was opposed by Dora, the
widow's daughter, and as Dick was rather sweet on Dora, he had
done all he could to aid the girl in breaking off the match, even
going so far as to send Crabtree a bogus letter which had taken
the teacher out to Chicago on a hunt for a position in a private
college that had never existed. Dick knew that Crabtree was
comparatively poor and wished to marry the widow so that he could
get his hands on the fortune which the lady held in trust for her
only child.
"It is Crabtree," said Dick, as he gave a look.
"I wonder how he liked his trip to Chicago?" laughed Sam.
"Perhaps the Mid-West National College didn't suit his lofty
ideas."
"Hush! don't let him hear you talk of that," returned Dick. "He
might get us into trouble."
"What kind of soup, sah?" interrupted the waiter, and then they
broke off to give their order, and the waiter hurried off to fill
it.
"I'd like to know if he has been around the Stanhope cottage
again," mused Dick, as he sipped his soup.
"Dick can't bear to think of anybody around Dora," laughed Tom.
"I don't want _him_ around," retorted the elder Rover, growing red
in the face. "He wants the Stanhopes' money and that's all he
does want. I don't believe he really loves Mrs. Stanhope."
"But why does she encourage him?" came from Sam. "Why don't she
send him about his business?"
"Oh, she is sickly, as you know, and he seems to have a peculiar
hypnotic influence over her, at least that's what Dora thinks."
"What are you laughing at, Tom?"
"I--I was thinking of the time we put the crabs in old
Crabtree's bed," answered the younger brother.
"No, you, weren't--"
"Well?" demanded Tom, as Dick paused.
"You were laughing because I mentioned Dora, and--"
"'Pon my honor I wasn't," smiled Tom, but his look belied his
words.
"You were. If I mention her cousins, Grace and Nellie Laning, I
guess the laugh will be on you and Sam--"
"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly.
"They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"
"To be sure. But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old
Crabtree's way?"
"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick.
"I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."
"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered
the youngest Rover.
"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him,"
grinned Tom.
The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll
around the grounds. They were just on the point of retiring when
Dick drew his brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing
through a nearby grove of trees.
"There goes Crabtree."
"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam. "Where does that path
lead to?"
"Down to the river," came from Tom. And then he added suddenly:
"Come, let us follow him."
"What's the good," grumbled Dick. "I'm tired out."
"There may be some chance for fun. Come on," and thus urged Dick
and Sam followed their fun-loving brother.
The path through the grove ran directly to the cliff overlooking
the Hudson, at a point where a series of stone steps led up from
the water's edge. As they gained a spot where they could look
down upon the river, Dick uttered a short cry.
"Look, boys, a yacht!" he said, pointing through the moonlight.
"I'll wager it is the _Falcon_!"
"And Mumps is coming to meet Josiah Crabtree," put in Sam.
"But what would he want to see Crabtree about?" demanded Tom.
"That remains to be seen. Remember at Putnam Hall the only friends
Josiah Crabtree had were Dan Baxter and Mumps."
"That is true, Dick. See, Crabtree has his handkerchief out and
is waving it as a signal."
"And here comes somebody up the steps. Mumps, sure enough,"
whispered Sam.
"Let us get behind the trees and learn what is going on," came
from Dick, and the three brothers lost no time in secreting
themselves in the immediate vicinity.
"Well, John, I've been waiting for you," said Josiah Crabtree, as
Mumps came forward and the two shook hands.
"So have I been waiting for you," returned the former sneak of
Putnam Hall. "Why didn't you come yesterday?"
"It was impossible to do so, my lad. Is that the _Falcon_ down
there?"
"It is."
"Who is in charge of her?"
"A sailor named Bill Goss."
"Is he a--ahem--a man to be trusted?"
"I guess I can trust him," snickered Mumps. "If he dared to give me
away, I could send him to jail."
"You mean that you--er--have him--ahem--in your power?"
"That's it, Mr. Crabtree."
"Very good. And is be, a good sailor?"
"As good as any on the river."
"Then he can sail the yacht down the river without mishap?"
"He can take her to Florida, if you wish to go that far."
"No, I don't want to go that far--at least, not at present."
"Don't you think you ought to let me in on your little game,"
went on Mumps earnestly. "So far I'm in the dark."
"You will know all very soon, John--and you shall be well paid
for what you do."
"That's all right. But if it isn't lawful--"
"I will protect you, never fear."
"Where is Dan Baxter?"
"Hush! It will be best not to mention his name, my lad."
"'But where is he?"
"I cannot say exactly."
"Is he around Lake Cayuga?"
"Well--ahem--more than likely he is. To tell the truth, he
is very anxious to see his father."
"To bone him for some more money?"
"I think not. Daniel thinks a great deal of his parent, and when
Mr. Baxter was so seriously injured--"
"Dan didn't care much for that. He isn't that kind."
"Daniel is a better boy than you think, John. He loves his
parent, and when that imp of a Rover got Mr. Baxter into trouble
Daniel was very much exercised over it."
"Gracious, but that's rich," murmured Dick. "_I_ got him into
trouble. I guess the rascal did that for himself."
"Well, we won't talk about that, professor," went on Mumps. "You
didn't stay in Chicago long."
"No, I--ahem--the position offered to me did not suit my
views, so I declined it."
"Gee-christopher!" came from Tom, and each of the Rovers could
scarcely keep from laughing.
"I think those Rover boys put up a job on you," said Mumps. "At
least, I got an inkling that way."
"Indeed. I would like to wring their necks, the imps!" burst out
Josiah Crabtree. "Oh, what have I not suffered at their hands!
At one hotel where I stopped they placed live crabs--But let
that pass, the subject is too painful. To come back to the
point. I can have the _Falcon_ at any time that I may need her?"
"Yes."
"And you will promise to say nothing to a soul about what is done
on the trip I propose?"
"I will."
"Very good, You see, this is a--er--a delicate matter."
"Are you going to marry Mrs. Stanhope and use the yacht for your
honeymoon?" said Mumps somewhat slyly.
"Hardly--although that would not be a bad idea, my lad. But
now I have a different deal on hand--something very much
different. If you do not object I'll take a look at your yacht
and interview this sailor you mention."
"All right, come ahead."
Mumps led the way down the rocky steps and Josiah Crabtree
followed, moving slowly that he might not fall. Creeping to the
edge of the cliff, the Rover boys saw the pair reach the _Falcon_
and go on board.
"Now what is in the wind?" said Dick, as soon as the pair were
out of hearing.
"That's a conundrum," replied Tom. "I'll wager one thing though--old
Crabtree is up to no good."
"I believe you are right. I wish we could hear the rest of what
is going on."
"Can't we get close to the yacht?" suggested Sam. "See, the sky
is clouding over. I don't believe they will see us going down
the stairs."
They talked the plan over for a moment, then began to descend the
steps, keeping as low down as possible and close to some brush
which grew up in the crevices of the stones. Soon the river bank
was gained at a point not over fifty feet from where the yacht
lay.
They halted behind a large stone close to the water's edge. By
straining their eyes in the darkness they saw Mumps, Crabtree,
and Bill Goss in earnest conversation in the stern of the vessel.
A low murmur came to their ears, but not a word could be
understood.
"We must get closer," was Dick's comment, when to the surprise of
all they saw the sailor hoist the mainsail of the _Falcon_. A
gentle breeze was blowing, and soon the yacht was leaving the
shore. They watched the craft until the gathering darkness hid
her entirely from view.
CHAPTER IV
THE DISASTROUS RESULT OF A TRICK
"She's gone!"
"Yes; and I wonder where to, Tom?"
"I don't believe the yacht will go very far," said Sam. "Maybe
old Crabtree merely wants to see what sort of a sailing craft she
is."
"We can watch here for a while," returned Dick.
They sat down on a rock and waited, in the meantime discussing
the strange situation. They could reach no conclusion but that
Josiah Crabtree had some plot he wanted to put into execution.
"And it's something underhand, too," was Dick's comment.
At last they grew tired of waiting and almost fell asleep. This
being the case they returned to the hotel and made their way to
the bed chamber. Soon each was sleeping soundly.
When they awoke the sun was shining brightly--and it was
half-past seven o'clock. "All up!" shouted Tom, and dragged Sam
out by the foot. Soon they were dressed and made their way to
the dining room.
They had scarcely seated themselves when Josiah Crabtree came in
and was shown to a seat directly opposite the boys. He did not
notice them at first and began to eat a dish of oatmeal silently
and rapidly.
Tom nudged Sam, and the younger Rover nudged his oldest brother,
and a snicker went up. At this Josiah Crabtree glanced at them
carelessly. Then he started back in amazement.
"Why--er--why--ahem--so it is you!" he stammered. "I--er--where did
you come from?"
"We came from our bedroom," answered Tom promptly. "Where did
you come from, Mr. Crabtree?"
"Why--er--don't be impertinent, Rover. I might say that I
came from my bedroom too."
"I thought you came from the river," remarked Dick carelessly.
"From the river?
"Yes."
"You are--ahem, mistaken, my lad. I have not been near the
river--at least, not since I came up from New York on the
boat."
"Stopping here for the summer?" put in Sam.
"I do not know as that is any of your business, Samuel. I am no
longer a master at Putnam Hall and when I left that place I
washed my hands of all those connected with that place."
"A good thing for the Hall, sir," came from Tom.
"Don't be insulting, Rover. You go your way and I'll go mine."
"As you please, sir. You spoke to us first."
"I'll take good care and not do it again. But this looks as if
you were following me up."
"That's what Mumps said," cried Sam, before he had stopped to
think twice.
"Ha! So you have met Mum--I mean John Fenwick?"
"We met him on the river."
"And he said you had been following him?"
"Never mind, Mr. Crabtree, we won't talk any more," put in Dick,
with a warning glance at Sam. He turned to the waiter. "Some
fish, please, trout; and see that the biscuits are warm."
"Yes, sah," grinned the negro.
Tom at once took the cue. "It's going to be a warm day," he said
to Dick.
"I wonder how sailing was last night," put in Sam slyly.
At this Josiah Crabtree looked as black as a thundercloud.
"You boys have been playing the sneak on me!" he cried. "Take my
advice and beware of what you do in the future."
"I wasn't talking to you," retorted Sam. "Kindly keep your remarks to
yourself."
By this time others were coming to the table, consequently the
cross-fire of words had to come to an end. Josiah Crabtree
finished his repast as speedily as possible and strode out of the
dining room in high but suppressed anger.
"He's a corker," remarked Tom. "I believe he'd half kill us if
he dared."
"I guess he hasn't forgotten how I stopped him from maltreating
Dora Stanhope," said Dick. "I wish I knew if he had been around
their place since he came back from the West."
"Of course he has been back," said Tom. "And he'll marry Mrs.
Stanhope yet--see if he don't."
"Not if I can help Dora prevent it," said his elder brother
firmly.
Breakfast finished they walked out to learn what had become of
Crabtree. They were just in time to see him leaving the hotel,
valise in hand.
"He's off," said Tom. "I wonder where he is bound?"
"Let us follow him and find out," returned Dick,
This did not prove to be an easy matter, for at the foot of the
hotel grounds Josiah Crabtree jumped into a stage which was in
waiting, bound for the depot.
"He's off on the train, I guess," said Sam, and the others were
inclined to agree with him.
Down at the river shore nothing could be seen of the _Falcon_, and
they concluded that Mumps had also taken himself off.
The morning was spent around the hotel, in reading the
newspapers and taking it easy out on the beautiful lawn.
"Hullo, here's a novelty!" cried Tom presently, and pointed to an
Italian who was coming up to the hotel. The fellow had a small
hand organ and a trained bear and two monkeys. The monkeys were
dressed in red, white, and blue, and sat on the bear's back as he
trotted along.
"He's going to give us a performance," said Sam, as the Italian
came to a halt in the center of the grounds.
"There they go!"
The music started, and at once the bear reared himself on his
hind legs and began to dance. In the meantime the monkeys
climbed to the bear's head and began a little dance of their own.
"Now for a little sport," whispered Tom, and started for the
hotel.
"Be careful of yourself!" warned Dick; "That bear looks as if he
wasn't to be trifled with."
But Tom did not heed him, his whole mind being bent on having a
laugh at the expense of the Italian and his animals. Going
around to the kitchen of the hotel, he procured a couple of sugar
cakes, pierced them with pinholes, and filled them up with
pepper.
When he returned he found that a crowd had gathered and the
Italian was passing around the hat. While Sam and Dick
contributed several cents, Tom gave the bear one bun and divided
the other between the two monkeys.
"Cheep! cheep!" went the monkeys, as if highly pleased.
"You're right, they are cheap," grinned Tom. "Hope you like the
flavor."
The monkeys began to eat ravenously, for they were nearly
starved. But they had not swallowed many mouthfuls before they
noticed something wrong. Then one threw his bun at Tom in a
rage. A second later the other monkey leaped back on the bear's
head and began to dance and scratch wildly, in the meanwhile
scattering the bun crumbs in all directions.
"Hi! hi! whata you do to de monks?" demanded the Italian. "You
letta de monks alone!"
"I'm not touching the monks," replied Tom, and slipped out of
sight in the crowd.
By this time the bear had swallowed the larger portion of the bun
given to him. It was the more peppery of the two, and it brought
tears to the beast's eyes. With a roar of rage he, turned and
shook the monkey from his head and leaped away from his keeper,
dragging his chain after him.
The monkeys were evidently not used to seeing the bear in an ugly
mood, and at once they sought safety by getting out of his reach.
One leaped into a tree and ran like a cat to the top, while the
second pounced on the shoulder of an elderly damsel, who looked
exactly what she was, a hot-tempered old maid.
"Oh, dear!" screamed the elderly damsel. "Take the horrid thing
off! Take it off this minute!"
"Come here, Jocko!" roared the Italian. "Come, Jocko!" and he
held out his hands.
But Jocko had no intention of coming. Instead he clung the
closer, his two forefeet in the lady's hair. The hair was
largely false, and all of a sudden a long switch came loose and
fell to the ground.
At this the damsel screeched at the top of her lungs and, caught
at the hair. The monkey cried, too, in concert, and then a young
man rushed in to the rescue. But Jocko's blood was up, and,
leaping to the young man's shoulder, he tore off his straw hat
and began to pull it to bits. Then, with the hat still in his
possession, he made a leap to the tree and joined his brother at
the top.
By this time the uproar was general, and it seemed to anger the
bear still more. He had been rushing over the lawn, upsetting
easy chairs and benches, but now he charged straight for the
crowd.
"Look out for the bear!"
"The beast is going mad and will chew somebody up!"
"Shoot him, somebody, before we are all killed!"
Such were some of the cries which rang out. The Italian turned
pale with anger and alarm.
"No shootta Marcus!" he cried. "No shootta heem. He de goodda
bear!"
"Then catch him!" put in the proprietor of the hotel. "Catch him
and tie him up."
But this the Italian could not do, and when the bear headed for
him he ran as hard as anybody present. Around and around the
grounds fled the people, some rushing for the hotel and the
others to the stables and to a large summer house. The bear made
first for one and then another, but at last halted in front of
the stable, which now contained the Rover boys, two ladies and an
elderly man, and two colored hostlers.
"Shut the doors!" cried Dick, but his words were unnecessary, for
the colored men were already closing them. The bar had scarcely
been dropped into place when the bear hurled himself with all
force against the barrier.
"He is going to break in the door!" cried one of the ladies.
"Let us go upstairs," said the elderly gentleman, and lost no
time in leading the way.
There was a back door to close, and one of the negroes started
for this. But just as he got close to the door he saw the bear
coming, and, uttering a wild yell, he too made for the stairs.
Tom was close at hand, and it must be confessed that he felt
thoroughly sorry over what he had done. "I'm responsible for all
of it," he groaned. Then, as the bear stepped close to the back
door, he got behind the barrier and tried to shove it shut.
The result was a surprise for both boy and bear, for as the beast
made a leap the edge of the door caught him, and in a twinkle the
animal was held fast by the neck between the door and its frame.
CHAPTER V
A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN SWIM
"I've got him fast! Help! Help!"
"Tom's caught the bear!" shouted Sam. "Can you hold him, Tom?"
"I guess I can if some of you will help me!" panted the youth.
"Hurry up!"
Sam and Dick were on the stairs, but now both ran to their
brother's assistance, and all three pushed upon the door with all
of their strength.
The barrier groaned and creaked and it looked as if at any
instant it would burst from its hinges.
"Gracious, we can't hold him very long!" gasped Sam. "Can't
somebody hit the animal with a club?"
"I reckon I can do dat!" shouted one of the hostlers, and caught
up an ax-handle which stood in one corner. As he approached the
bear, the beast uttered a roar of commingled rage and fear, and
this was so terrorizing to the colored man that he dropped the
ax-handle and ran for his very life.
"Come back here!" cried Tom.
"Can't do it, boss; he's gwine ter chew me up!" howled the
hostler.
"Hold the door--I'll hit him," put in Sam and he picked up the
ax-handle. Stepping forward, struck out heavily, and the bear dropped
in a heap, completely dazed and more than half choked to death.
By this time the Italian was again at hand. In one pocket he carried a
thin but strong line, in a twinkle he had tied one fore and one hind
leg together, so that the bear, when he got up again, could do little
but hobble along. Then from another pocket he drew a leather muzzle,
which he buckled over the beast's head. But the bear had had all of
the ugliness knocked out him and was once more as docile as ever.
"Tom," whispered Dick. "I guess the best we can do is to get out
of this place. If folks discover the trick you played, they'll
mob you."
"I guess you're right. But who'll settle our bill?"
"I'll do that," said Sam. "They know I wasn't near the bear when
the rumpus started."
So it was agreed, and while Tom and Dick left the hotel grounds. Sam
strolled into the office to pay their bill. It was some time before
the clerk came to wait on him.
"Say, I believe, your brother started this kick-up," observed the
clerk.
"What?" demanded Sam, in pretended astonishment.
"I say, I think he started this kick-up."
"What kick-up?"
"The one with the bear, of course."
"Why, my brothers helped to catch the beast."
"I know that; but one of 'em started it. What do you want?"
"I want to pay our bill. How much is it?"
"Going to leave?"
"Yes."
"Think you had better, eh?"
"We only hired our room until this noon." Sam drew himself up.
"If you want your pay you be civil."
"Yes, but--" The clerk broke off short. "That will be six
dollars, please."
"All right, there you are," and Sam shoved the bills over. "Now don't
say we created a muss or I'll report you to the proprietor."
"Yes, but see here--"
"I've not got my glasses just now. Good-by, and--"
"That man hasn't got his monkeys yet, and--"
"What's that to you? Are you afraid the proprietor will put one
of 'em in here in your place?" And before the clerk could say
another word Sam ran off and joined his brothers at the river
bank.
Soon the three reached the dock where the _Spray_ lay undergoing
repairs. The deaf man was just finishing his work.
"She'll be about as good as ever," he said, in reply to Dick's
question. "She's a fine boat."
"I guess he says that of every boat that brings him in a job,"
murmured Sam. "Come on."
He went aboard and the others followed. Dan Haskett was paid
off, the mainsail was hoisted, and once more they stood up the
river in the direction of the State capital. It was their
intention to spend two days in Albany and then return to New York
with the yacht. This would wind up their vacation, for Putnam
Hall was to open on the following Monday.
The day proved an ideal one, but the wind was light and the yacht
scarcely moved even with the mainsail and jib set to their
fullest. This being so, the boys got out their fishing lines and
spent an hour in trolling, and succeeded in catching several
fair-sized fish.
"We'll have to cook our own dinner," remarked Dick. "Tom, since
you did us out of our meal at the hotel I reckon you are the one
to fall in for this work."
At this Tom cut a wry face, but still, seeing the justice of his
elder brother's remark, he went at the dinner-getting with a
will. The yacht boasted a kerosene stove, and over this he set
fish to frying and a pot of potatoes to boiling. As the river
was calm and the yacht steady the little stove worked very well.
They were still out of sight of Albany when the midday meal was
pronounced ready. In addition to the articles already mentioned,
they had coffee, bread and butter, and what was left of a
cocoanut pie purchased the day previous. The boys were all
hearty eaters, and the food disappeared as if by magic.
After dinner the breeze died out utterly, and Sam proposed that
they cast anchor close to shore and take a swim. The others were
willing, and soon they had disrobed and donned their bathing
trunks and were sporting in the water to their hearts' content.
The water was somewhat colder than they had anticipated, and the
effect upon Sam was disastrous. The youngest Rover had eaten
more heartily than either of his brothers and this made him sick
at the stomach. However, as he did not wish to alarm Dick and
Tom and so spoil their fun, he said nothing about his condition.
"Let us race each other," suggested Tom, and started off up the
shore, with Dick close beside him. Sam brought up in the rear,
but soon gave up the contest.
"Help!" The single cry reached the ears of Tom and Dick when
they were fully a hundred feet from the _Spray_. Both turned just
in time to behold Sam throw up his arms and sink from view.
"Great Caesar!" burst out Dick. "What can that mean?"
"Maybe he is only fooling," replied Tom. "Yet I wouldn't think he
would be so foolish."
"I don't think Sam is fooling," said Dick seriously, and at once
struck out to where the youngest Rover had gone down. Of course
Tom went with him.
To reach the spot was not an easy matter, and they were still
some distance away when they saw Sam come up again. Then there
was a wild circling of arms and the boy disappeared once more.
"He is drowning!" gasped Dick hoarsely.
"Come, we must save him, Tom!"
"Yes, yes," was the puffing answer, for Tom was swimming as never
before, and for a brief instant he remembered that awful
adventure Sam had had at Humpback Falls, the summer previous. At
that time the youngest Rover had nearly lost his life in the
water.
It was Dick who gained the spot first, just as Sam came up and
went down again--totally unconscious. Diving, the elder Rover
caught his brother around the chest, under the arms.
"Sam, Sam, what is it?" he questioned, and as no reply came back
his heart almost stopped beating. What if his brother was dead?
The agony of the thought was terrible beyond description.
"Can I help you?" The question came from Tom, who was now at the
side of the others.
"Catch hold of one arm, if you will," answered Dick. "He's a
dead weight."
"Oh!" The moan came so unexpectedly that both Tom and Dick were
amazed. Then of a sudden Sam opened his eyes and clutched Dick
by the throat. "Save me!"
Clearly the youngest Rover was out of his mind or he would not
have taken such a hold. As it was, Dick was nearly strangled and
had to unlock the fingers by sheer force. Then Sam grabbed him
again, and it looked as if both would go down to a watery grave.
But now Tom came to the rescue. Swimming up from behind, he
caught Sam first under one arm--and then under the other, in a
back-to-back fashion. Then he bent forward and began to tread
water, thus holding his brother's head well out of water.
"Push us ashore, Dick!" he panted, and understanding the movement
perfectly, the elder brother did as desired. Soon all three
gained a point from which Tom could wade to the river bank with
ease.
It was an anxious pair that bent over Sam, who rested on his back
with his eyes closed. But the youngest Rover was not allowed to
remain long in that position. Tom and Dick knew something of how
to handle a person who is nearly drowned, and they now made use
of this knowledge with all speed. Sam was rolled and hoisted up
by the ankles, and thus he got rid of a large quantity of the
water he had swallowed.
Yet even when he came to his senses he was too weak to walk, and
Tom had to bring the _Spray_ close to shore, and the sufferer had
to be carried on board, his brothers wading up to their waists
for that purpose.
"The first cramp I got was in the stomach," said Sam, when he
could talk. "Then it went all over me like an electric shock,
and I felt I was going to drown. What happened after that was
like some awful dream!" And he shuddered. It was a long while
before any of them got over that adventure.
CHAPTER VI
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
As just related, the boys had brought the _Spray_ as closely
inshore as possible. All were now in the cabin, Dick and Tom
attending to Sam's wants; and consequently no one noticed the
passage of one of the palatial steamers that make daily trips
between New York and the capital of the State.
These steamers, in running so fast, cast out long rollers on both
sides that go tumbling shoreward one after another. The rollers
now caught the _Spray_ and sent her dancing up and down like a
cork.
"Hullo, we're in danger!" shouted Tom, and rushed for the deck,
with Dick almost at his heels. The anchor was dragging, and
unless pushed off the yacht would soon be pounding on the rocks.
"I'll put up the sail!" roared Dick. "You bring up the anchor!"
"I guess you had better pole her off," replied Tom.
Nevertheless, he did as Dick requested, working like a beaver.
The wind was still faint, and when the mainsail was hoisted it
failed to fill. Seeing this, Dick seized a pole and Tom did the
same. They speedily found that they could not send the yacht out
any distance. But, with a pole at the bow and another at the
stern, they managed to keep her off the rocks until the rollers
began to go down. Then they shoved off with ease and moved slowly
up the river.
"I'll tell you what, in handling a boat you have got to have your
weather eye open all the time," observed Tom.
"Yes, and you want to have it open on all sides of you," smiled
Dick. "If you don't, you'll catch it before you are aware."
Sam lay on one of the tiny berths with which the _Spray_ was
provided. His face was deathly white, and, to use his own words,
he felt "as weak as a rag."
"I'm just beginning to realize how close to death I was," he
whispered to Tom. "It was awfully good of you and Dick to do
what you did."
"Pooh! you would do just as much for us, Sam," answered the
fun-loving brother. But, just the same, he gave Sam's hand a
tight squeeze on the quiet.
"What was that thumping, Tom?" asked the younger brother a bit
later.
"The rollers from a big steamer nearly put us on the rocks."
"Gracious, more perils! Don't you think we had better give up
our outing on the water?"
"It will come to an end in a few days, Sam. We'll make the trip
to Albany, and that will be the last of it."
It was nightfall by the time they came up to the capital city.
Getting the necessary permission to tie up at one of the private
wharves, they locked up the cabin of the _Spray_ and went ashore.
"Tom Rover, as I live! And Dick and Sam, too!"
The cry came from up the street, and soon a boy of Dick's age was
running to meet them. It was Frank Harrington, their old school
chum and room-mate of Dormitory No. 6.
"Frank!" came from the three, and a general handshaking followed.
"What brings you here?" asked Dick.
"Why, don't you know, my folks moved up to Albany from New
York--father's in the State Senate now, you know," returned Frank,
with pride.
"Oh, that's so--and you are a senator's son," put in Tom. "I
guess we'll have to tip our hats to you after this and call you
Mr. Harrington."
"Stow it, Tom, and keep your jokes until school opens,"
interrupted Frank. "Yes, we live here, and I thought you knew
all about it. I sent you a letter."
"We've been away from home for several weeks," explained Dick,
and told of their outing on the water.
"It must be jolly. My father owns a boat, but we seldom use it.
So you are going to stay in Albany over tomorrow? If that's the
case you must come up to our house. I won't hear of your going
to a hotel."
"Will that arrangement suit your folks?" questioned Dick.
"Oh, yes! The girls are all away--down to Asbury Park--and
so is mother; and father and I and the servants have the whole
mansion to ourselves. I can tell you, it's just a bit lonely at
times, and I'm real glad you came," concluded Frank.
"If your father is a senator perhaps you can get us a pass
through the Capitol building," put in Sam.
"You won't need a pass. I'll go with you. But, Sam, you look
sick."
Sam's tale had to be told to Frank, who, meanwhile, led the way to a
street car. Boarding this, the boys soon reached the Harrington
mansion, located on one of Albany's finest thoroughfares. Here they
met Senator Harrington and were speedily introduced.
"I've heard of you before," smiled the senator. He was a
pleasant-looking man of forty-five. "Frank says the Rover boys
were the whole school--or something like that."
At this there was a laugh. "I guess he must have been one of the
Rovers, then," rejoined Tom; "he was just as good as any of us."
And then there was another laugh, and the newcomers felt
perfectly at home.
There was a concert company in town, and, receiving permission
from his father to do so, Frank took his friends to see the
performance. The singing was very good; and, despite the fact
that it was still warm weather, the concert hall was packed.
The program was a long one, and, with the numerous encores, did
not come to an end until nearly eleven o'clock.
"That was immense," remarked Tom, when they were coming out. "I
wish I could sing like that tenor."
"We ought to get up a quartet at the Hall," put in Frank. "I
understand they had a singing club year before last."
"We're going to have a banjo club," said Dick.
"Larry Colby wrote to me about it. He has a new banjo that cost
fifteen dollars, and he--"
Dick broke off short as a slouchy-looking man brushed against him. The
eyes of the man and the boy met, and then the man disappeared in the
crowd as if by magic.
"Well, I never!"
"What's the matter, Dick?" came from all the others.
"Didn't you see him?"
"See who?"
"Buddy Girk, the tramp thief, the fellow who used to train with
Dan Baxter's father."
"What, the fellow who stole your watch and broke jail at
Rootville?" came from Tom.
"The same."
"Where is he now?" questioned Sam.
"I don't know. The instant he saw me he skipped."
"I'll wager he wasn't in the crowd for any good purpose," went on
Dick, as he remembered how he had suffered the loss of his
timepiece at Buddy Girk's hands. Dick had had a good deal of
trouble in recovering the article.
"He ought to be pointed out to the police," put in Frank. "It's
not safe to have such men at large."
"I wish I could collar him and make him talk about father's
affairs," grumbled Tom.
"Why, did he know anything of your father's affairs?" exclaimed
Frank Harrington, in astonishment.
"I think so. You see, Arnold Baxter tried to defraud my father
out of some western mining property, and this Buddy Girk was
mixed up in the affair--how, I don't exactly know."
"I see. By the way, Tom, have you heard anything of your father
yet?"
"Not a word," and Tom's face grew sober. "It does beat all what
has become of him, doesn't it?" he added.
"I should think you would want to go and hunt him up."
"We've talked about that already, but Uncle Randolph, who is our
guardian, thinks it would prove a wild-goose chase. He says the
interior of Africa is a big place to hunt any man in."
"He's right there. But still I would want to hunt for him, even
if I had to go into the very jungles to do it."
"We'll go some day--unless father turns up," put in Dick
decidedly. "If Uncle Randolph won't go, we'll go alone. But I
would like to meet this Buddy Girk," he continued, after a brief
pause.
The boys had to walk to the corner of the block to get aboard of
a street car, and while waiting there, somewhat in the shadow,
Sam pulled Dick by the coat sleeve.
"There he goes!"
"Who?"
"Buddy Girk. See him sneaking along the buildings over there?"
and the youngest Rover pointed with his hand.
All saw the figure, and Tom at once proposed that they follow the
fellow. Frank was willing, and away they went across the street
and also into the gloom.
Buddy Girk was making good time past a number of business
buildings which at this hour of the night were locked and barred
up and practically deserted.
"I wonder if he saw us start to follow him?" whispered Dick,
after several blocks had been passed.
"I don't think so. If he had, it's more than likely that he
would have legged it to get away. He--hullo, he's going into
that alleyway!"
As Tom spoke he pointed to an opening between two tall office
buildings. Reaching the spot they saw, at the foot of the
alleyway, a couple of tenement houses. Buddy Girk was ascending
the steps of one of the houses, and presently he disappeared
within the dark hall.
"He must be stopping here," remarked Sam.
"That is something worth knowing--if we want to put the police
on his track."
"I might have him arrested at once," suggested Dick. "He may not
be here in the morning."
"Why don't you go and have a talk with him?" came from Frank.
"He may get scared and tell you all you want to know about that
mining business."
"By jinks, there is something in that!" cried Dick.
"Don't you get into trouble," warned Tom. "He may prove an ugly
customer if you corner him."
"Let's all go in," said Sam. "He won't dare to do much with four
against him."
The subject was discussed for a few minutes, and they resolved to
follow Sam's advice, Dick to lead the way and learn just how the
land lay.
Then all walked down the alleyway and toward the tenement, little
dreaming of the surprise in store for them.
CHAPTER VII
DICK IS MADE A PRISONER
The hallway of the tenement was pitch-dark, the door standing
open for a foot or more. From a rear room came a thin stream of
light under a door and a low murmur of voices.
"I guess he went to the rear," whispered Dick. "You wait around
the corner till I see."
Noiselessly he entered the hallway and walked to the door of the
rear room. Listening, he heard an Irishman and his wife talking
over some factory work the man had been promised.
"Girk can't be there," he thought, when he heard an upper door
open.
"Hullo, Buddy, back again!" muttered a strangely familiar voice,
and then the upper door was closed and locked.
Wondering where he had heard that voice before, Dick came forward
again and ascended the rickety stairs. They creaked dismally,
and he fully expected to see somebody come out and demand what
was going on. But nobody came, and soon the upper hall was
gained, and he reached the door which he rightfully guessed had
just been opened and closed.
"Yes, everything is all okay," were the first words to reach his
ears. "But I had a sweet job to find Mooney. He's cracked on
music, it seems, and had gone to a concert instead of attending
to business."
"But he won't fail us tomorrow morning?" came in a second voice,
and now Dick recognized the speaker as Arnold Baxter, his
father's worst enemy, who had been left at the hospital in Ithaca
with a broken limb and several smashed ribs. Baxter had tackled
Dick while the two were on a moving train, and, while trying to
throw the boy off, had gotten the worst of the encounter by
tumbling off himself.
"Arnold Baxter! is it possible!" muttered Dick to himself. "He
must have a constitution like iron to get around so soon."
"No, Mooney won't fail us," said Buddy Girk. "I gave him a
mighty good talkin' to, I did."
"I can't afford to have him go back on us," growled Arnold
Baxter. "I'm not well enough yet to do this job alone."
"How does your chest feel?"
"Oh, the ribs seem to be all right. But my leg isn't. I
shouldn't wonder but what I'll have to limp more or less for the
rest of my life."
"That puts me in mind. Whom do you reckon I clapped eyes on down
at the concert hall tonight?"
"I'm sure I don't know. Any of our enemies?"
"Those three Rover boys."
"What!" Arnold Baxter pushed back his chair in amazement. "Can
they be--be following me?" he gasped.
"No. I saw 'em by accident. They had been to the concert."
"But they don't belong here. They live on a farm called Valley
Brook, near the village of Dexter's Corners."
"They were with another boy--a well-dressed chap. Maybe they
are paying him a visit."
Arnold Baxter shook his head. "I don't like this. If they have
got wind of anything..."
"But how could they get wind?" persisted Buddy Girk.
"That would remain to be found out. You must remember, Buddy,
that they are down on me because of that row I once had with
their father over that gold mine."
"I know it. And, by the way, I never got nothin' out of that
deal neither," growled Buddy Girk.
"Didn't I tell you that some papers were missing? I half believe
Anderson Rover took them with him when he set out for Africa."
"Then they are gone for good."
"Not if he comes back, Buddy. That man is like his boys--bound to turn
up when you least expect it. That gold mine was--What's that?"
Arnold Baxter stopped short and leaped to his feet. A wrangle in
the hallway just outside of the door had interrupted him.
"Vot vos you doin' here, hey?" came in a heavy German voice. "I
dink me you vos up to no goot, hey?"
"Let me go!" came from Dick. "I have done no harm."
"I dink you vos von sneak thief alretty! Stand still bis I find
owit."
"It's Dutch Jake!" cried Buddy Girk. "He has collared somebody
in the hall. I'll see who it is."
He threw open the door and allowed the light of a lamp to fall on
Dick and the burly man who had captured the youth.
"Great smoke! It's one of dem Rover boys!" he cried, dropping
into his old-time manner of speech. "Wot are you doin' here?"
"You know dot young feller?" demanded the man who had been
mentioned as Dutch Jake.
"Yes, I do, and he's up to no good here," replied Buddy Girk.
"Den maybe I best kick him owit kvick, hey?"
"Yes--no--wait a minute." Girk turned to Arnold Baxter. "Here is that
oldest Rover boy spying on us."
"Ha! I told you they were regular rats for that sort of work,"
fumed Arnold Baxter.
"Don't let him go."
"Why not?"
"He may know too much. Bring him in here till I question him."
"Not much!" burst out Dick. "Help! Help!"
His cries came to a sudden ending as Buddy Girk clapped a large
and somewhat dirty hand over his mouth.
"Run him in here, Jake," said the former tramp. "He is a fellow
we have an account to settle with."
"Is dot so? Vell, I ton't vont me no troubles," answered the
German doubtfully.
"It's all right--he--he stole some of our money. That's
right, in with him," and Dick was run into the room, after which
Dutch Jake retired as suddenly as he had appeared. He was an
elderly man, of a queer turn of mind, and, all by himself,
occupied a garret room of the tenement.
As soon as the door was locked Arnold Baxter faced Dick. "Now
will you keep quiet, or shall I knock you over with this?" he
demanded, and raised a heavy cane he had grown into the habit of
carrying since he had escaped from the hospital, on the very day
that the authorities were going to transfer him to the jail at
Ithaca.
"Don't you dare to touch me, Arnold Baxter!" cried the boy
boldly.
"Will you keep quiet?"
"That depends. What do you want of me?"
"You followed Girk to this place and were spying on us."
"I think I had a right to follow Girk. He is wanted by the
authorities, as you know."
"You heard us planning to do something."
"Perhaps I did."
"I know you did."
"All right, then; don't ask me about it."
"You think that you are a smart boy," growled Baxter uneasily.
"Thank you for nothing."
"Don't get impudent."
"That is what old Crabtree used to say."
"The Rovers always were too important for their own good, young
man."
"We know how to do the fair thing by others--and that is more
than you!"
"Shut up; I'm in no humor to listen to your preaching."
"Then open the door and let me go."
"Not just yet. I want to know how much you overheard of my talk
with Buddy Girk."
"I reckon he heard all of it," growled the fool.
"If I was you, Baxter, I wouldn't let him go at all."
"You would keep him a prisoner?"
Buddy Girk nodded.
"But we can't guard him, Buddy."
"We won't want to guard him. Just bind him hands and feet, and
stuff a gag in his mouth, and there you are."
"Would you leave him in this room?"
"I don't know." Girk scratched his tangled head of hair. "No, I
wouldn't. I'll tell you where to take him."
He finished by whispering into Arnold Baxter's ear. At once the
rascal's face brightened, and he nodded. "Just the thing!" he
muttered.
"It will serve him right."
"Are you going to let me go?" demanded Dick uneasily, for he saw
that the two were plotting to do him injury.
"No," came from both.
Without another word Dick leaped for the door. The key was in
the lock, but ere he could turn it Buddy Girk hauled him back. A
scuffle followed, which came to a sudden termination when Arnold
Baxter raised his heavy cane and struck the boy, on the back of
the head. With a million stars dancing before his eyes, poor
Dick went down completely dazed.
Girk lost no time in following up the advantage thus gained, and
by the time Dick felt like rising he found his hands bound behind
him and a gag of knotted cloth stuffed into his mouth. Then his
feet were fastened together, and he was rolled up in an old
blanket much the worse for wear and the want of washing.
"Now, come on, before anybody else spots us!" exclaimed Baxter.
"If you can lift him alone I'll bring the light. I'm no good on
the carry yet."
"All right, light the way," answered Buddy Girk, and took up the
form of the boy.
Taking up the smoky lamp, Arnold Baxter led the way out of a rear
door to a side hallway. Here two flights of stairs led to a low
and ill ventilated cellar. The underground apartment had never
been used for anything but old rubbish, and this was piled high
on all sides.
"Here we are," said Baxter, as he paused in front of what had
once been a stone coal bin. "Dump him in there and shut the door
on him. I don't believe he'll get out in any hurry."
Dick's form was dropped on a heap of dirty newspapers and straw.
Then Girk and Baxter left the bin. There was a heavy door to the
place, and this they closed and shoved the rusty bolt into the
socket. In a second more they were on their way upstairs again,
and Dick was left to his fate.
CHAPTER VIII
THE SEARCH FOR DICK
"Dick is taking his time, that's certain."
The remark came from Sam, after the boys who had been left in the
alleyway had waited the best part of half an hour for the elder
Rover's reappearance.
"Perhaps he has found something of interest," suggested Frank.
"And perhaps he has fallen into a trap," put In Tom. "I've a
good mind to hunt him up."
"If you go I'll go with you," said Sam.
"I don't want to be left out here alone," said Frank. "Let us
wait a little longer."
The best part of an hour passed, but of course nothing was seen
or heard of Dick.
"I shan't wait any longer," began Tom, when they saw the front
door of the tenement opened and two men hurried forth. Both had
their hats pulled far down over their eyes and had their coat
collars turned up, even though the night was warm.
"Out of sight!" cried Sam in a low voice, and they dropped down
behind the stoop of the second tenement.
"One of those men was Buddy Girk!" ejaculated Tom, when the pair
had passed up the alleyway.
"And don't you know who the other was?" demanded Sam. "It was
Dan Baxter's father!"
"Impossible, Sam. Arnold Baxter is in the hospital, and--"
"It was Dan Baxter's father, as true as I'm born, Tom. No wonder
he walked with a cane! Am I not right, Frank?"
"I don't know, I'm sure I don't remember Dan's father. But that
was Buddy Girk, beyond a doubt."
All of the boys were considerably excited and wondered if it
would be best to follow up the vanishing pair.
"I'd do it if I was certain Dick was safe!" cried Tom. "I'm
going to hunt for him," he added, and before the others could
stop him he entered the tenement. He stumbled around the lower
hallway for several minutes and then called out softly:
"Dick! Dick! Where are you?"
No answer came back, and he continued his search. Then, lighting
a match, he mounted the rickety stairs and called out again.
"Phat are ye a-raisin' such a row about?" demanded an Irish voice
suddenly, and a front room door was thrown open. "Can't ye let a
dasent family slape?"
"I'm looking for my brother," replied Tom. "Sorry to disturb
you. Have you seen anything of him?"
"Sure an' I don't know yer brother from the side av sole leather,
b'y. Go 'long an' let me an' me family slape," replied the
Irishman.
"I've got to find my brother, sir. I'm afraid he has met with
foul play. He came to see the men who just went out."
"Oh, is that so now? Foul play, is it? I thought them newcomers
was up to no good. I heard 'em carryin' on in their room a while
ago."
"Which room is it, please?"
"There ye are--the wan on the lift. Is the dure open?"
Tom tried the door. "No, it's locked--the two men just went
out." He raised his voice. "Dick! Where are you? Dick!"
"If yez call like that yez will have the wholt tiniment aroused,"
said the Irishman. "An' it's' a bad crowd on the nixt flure, I
kin tell ye that."
"I can't help it--I am bound to find my brother," replied Tom
desperately.
Disappearing for a moment, the Irishman came out half dressed and
with a lighted candle in his hand. By this time Sam and Frank
had followed Tom to the upper floor. Soon several men and women
put in an appearance, including Dutch Jake.
"Who vos dot poy you vos look for?" asked the aged German. "Vos
he der von vot was standin' by dis door apout an hour ago?"
"I guess so," said Tom.
"Dem mans vot got dis room open der door und took him inside."
"Took him inside!" burst out Sam and Tom simultaneously.
"Yah," replied Dutch Jake, but failed to add that he had had
anything to do with the capture.
"Von of dem say dot poy vos stole some money alretty."
"It was a cock-and-bull story to make him a prisoner," said Tom.
"I'm going to find him if I can," and he threw himself on the
door with all of his strength.
At first the barrier refused to budge, but when Sam and Frank
also pushed, it gave way with a bang, hurling the trio to the
floor inside.
By this time the excitement had been communicated to the next
tenement in which lived Caleb Yates, the landlord of the two
buildings. Yates, a sour-minded old man, lost no time dressing
and coming over, armed with a nightstick.
"What does this disturbance mean?" he demanded in a high-pitched
voice. "Who broke this door in?"
"We did," replied Tom boldly. "We want to find my brother," and
he related how Dick had disappeared.
"I know nothing of your trouble with my tenants," said Caleb
Yates. "But I won't have my property destroyed."
"I'm going to find my brother if I have to turn the house upside
down."
"And I am going to find him, too," put in Sam.
"Do you know that the men who have this room are thieves, and
that one of them broke jail at Rootville?"
"I don't believe your yarn, boy--they looked like very
respectable gentlemen, both of them. You had better go about
your business--after you have paid me for breaking down the
door. You shan't ransack their property."
"If you stop us, I'll call in the police and have you arrested,"
came promptly from Tom.
This threat nearly took away Caleb Yates' breath. "Arrested!" he
gasped.
"Yes, arrested. My brother came in here, and is missing. Those
two men are our enemies. If you want to keep out of trouble you
will help us to hunt up my brother."
"That is just what you had better do, sir," added Frank.
"And who are you?" demanded the irate landlord.
"I am Frank Harrington, son of Senator Harrington."
At this unexpected announcement the jaw of the landlord dropped
perceptibly. "Why--er--I didn't know you were Senator Harrington's
son," he stammered.
"I think if you wish to keep out of trouble you had best aid us
all you can. The young man we are after came in here a short
while ago and has utterly disappeared. I am afraid he has met
with foul play."
"But Mr. Arson and Mr. Noble are gone."
"Is that the names they were known under?"
"Yes."
"Their right names are Girk and Baxter. They left the building
just before we came up."
"What was your brother doing here?" asked Caleb Yates in a calmer
tone.
"He was not my brother, but my warmest friend. He was tracking
the short man, the fellow whose name is Girk. Girk once robbed
him of his watch."
"I see. And you are sure of your men? If you are, search away,
for I want no shady characters in these houses."
The search began immediately, several of the inmates of the
tenements taking part. Everything in the room Girk and Baxter
had occupied was turned topsy-turvy, but no trace of Dick was
brought to light until Tom looked under the table.
"Here's his pocket-knife!" he cried, and held the article up.
"This proves that he came in here beyond a doubt."
"Yes; but where is he now?" put in Sam.
"They couldn't have spirited him away."
"He can't be far off," said Frank.
Again was the search renewed. The men had had one large room and
one small apartment, where were located a dilapidated bed and a
small writing table. On the table lay some writing material and
several scraps of paper, but they were of no value.
The search through the rooms and hallways of the tenement lasted
fully an hour. By this time the tenants who had gathered began
to grow sleepy again, and one after another went back to their
apartments.
"I don't think you are going to find anything," remarked Caleb
Yates. "To my way of thinking, that boy must have followed the
two men when they left."
"He couldn't do that without our seeing him," said Sam.
"And why not? Here's a back door, remember, and it's pretty dark
outside."
"That may be so," returned Tom, shaking his curly head in perplexity.
"It's too bad we didn't follow Girk and Baxter up--at least as far as
the street."
"Perhaps Dick is at our house waiting for us to come back," put
in Frank. "Let us go home and see. We can come back early in
the morning." He looked at his watch. "Do you know that it is
after two o'clock? I'm afraid my father will worry about me."
They talked the matter over and decided to return to Frank's home
without further delay.
It was a silent trio that walked the streets, which were now
practically deserted. Tom and Sam were much worried and Frank
hardly less so, for the senator's son and Dick had been warm
friends for years.
When they reached the mansion they found Senator Harrington
pacing the library nervously.
"Well, here you are at last!" he cried. "I was wondering what
had become of you."
He listened to their tale with close attention.
"No, Dick has not come in," he said, "at least, I think not.
Run up to the bedrooms, Frank, and see."
Frank did as requested, and soon returned.
"No, he isn't about," he said disappointedly,
"It's mighty queer what became of him."
CHAPTER IX
A LOSS OF IMPORTANCE
Half stunned Dick lay for a long time on the newspapers and musty
straw in the disused coal bin of the tenement cellar.
"This is what I call tough luck," he muttered to himself, and
tried to force the somewhat loose gag from his mouth. But it
would not come.
As soon as he felt strong enough he began to work on the rope
which bound his hands together. But the rascals who had placed
him in the cellar had done their work well, and the cord refused
to budge.
With difficulty he managed to stand erect. The bin was not only
pitch-dark, but full of cobwebs and the latter brushed over his
face whenever he moved. Then a spider crawled on his neck,
greatly adding to his discomfort.
Hour after hour went by, and poor Dick was wondering what the end
of the adventure would be when he heard a footstep overhead and
then came the indistinct murmur of voice.
"Somebody is in the room overhead," he thought, and tried to make
himself heard. But before he could do this the footsteps moved
off and he heard the slamming of a door. Then all became as
quiet as before.
An hour more went by, and the youth began to grow desperate. He
was thirsty and his mouth and nose were filled with dust and
dirt, rendering him far from comfortable.
In moving around his foot came in contact with an empty tomato
can and this gave him an idea. He knelt down, and with the can
between his heels, tried to saw apart the rope which bound his
hands behind him.
The position was an awkward one and the job long and tiring, but
at last the rope gave way and he found his hands free. He lost
no further time in ridding himself of the gag and the rope which
bound his feet.
He was now free so far as his bodily movements went, but he soon
discovered that the coal bin was without any opening but a long,
narrow chute covered with an iron plate, and that the heavy door
was securely bolted. With all force he threw himself against the
door, but it refused to budge.
Presently he remembered that he had several loose matches in his
vest pocket, and, taking out one of these, he lit it and then set
fire to a thick shaving that was handy and which, being damp,
burnt slowly.
"Hullo, here's something of a trap-door!" he exclaimed, as he
gazed at the flooring above head. "I wonder if I can get out
that way?"
He dropped the lighted shaving in a safe spot and put up his
hands. The cut-out spot in the flooring went up with ease and
Dick saw a fairly well furnished room beyond. Through one of the
windows of the room he saw that daybreak was at hand.
"Great Caesar! I've been down here all night!" he ejaculated,
and, putting out the light, leaped up and drew himself through
the opening. Once in the room he put the trap down again and
rearranged the rag carpet he had shoved out of place.
The door to the room was locked, so the boy hurried to the
window. Throwing open the blinds, he was about to leap out into
the tenement alley when a woman suddenly confronted him. She was
tall and heavy and had a red, disagreeable face.
"What are you doing in my rooms, young fellow?" she demanded.
"I'm trying to get out of this house!"
"What are you--a thief?"
"No. I was locked up in the cellar by a couple of bad men and
got out by coming through a trap-door in your floor."
"A likely story!" sneered the woman, who had been away during the
night and had heard nothing of the search for Dick. "You look
like a sneak-thief. Anyway, you haven't any right in my rooms."
She came closer, and, as Dick leaped to the ground, clutched him
by the arm.
"Let me go, madam."
"I won't. I'm going to hand you over to the police."
"I don't think you will!" retorted Dick, and with a twist he
wrenched himself loose and started off on a run. The woman
attempted to follow him, but soon gave up the chase.
Dick did not stop running until he was several blocks away. Then
he dropped into a walk and looked about to see, if his brothers
or Frank were anywhere in sight.
"I suppose they couldn't make it out and went home," he mused.
"I had, better get to Frank's house without delay."
Dick was still a block away from Senator Harrington's residence
when he espied Tom, Sam, and Frank coming toward him.
"My gracious, where have you been?" burst out Tom, as he rushed
forward. "You look as if you'd been rolling around a dirty
cellar."
"And that is just about what I have been doing," answered Dick
with a sickly laugh. "Do you know anything of Buddy Girk?" he
added quickly.
"He ran away from the tenement, and Arnold Baxter was with him,"
replied Sam.
"Did you follow them?"
"No; we tried to find out what had become of you."
Each had to tell his story, and then Dick was led into the house.
He lost no time in brushing up and washing himself, and by that
time breakfast was ready in the dining room.
"It's a curious adventure, truly," said Senator Harrington, as he
sat down with the boys. "I am glad you got out of it so well.
The next time you see anything of those rascals you had better
lose no time in informing the police."
The senator was one of that class of busy men who eat breakfast
and read their morning newspaper at the same time. Having
listened to what Dick had to say, he unfolded his paper and
propped it up against a fruit dish before him.
"Excuse me, but I am in a hurry," he remarked apologetically. "I want
to catch a train for New York at eight-thirty-five, and--hullo, what's
this! Rush & Wilder, Brokers and Bankers, Robbed! Thieves enter the
office and loot the safe! This is news certainly."
"Rush & Wilder!" cried Frank. "Is that the firm you do business
with?"
"Yes, Frank. They have lost over sixty-five thousand dollars,
besides a lot of unregistered bonds. That's a big loss."
"Will you suffer?"
"I don't know but what I shall. I'll have to let that trip to
New York go and look into this." And Senator Harrington settled
back to read the account of the robbery in full.
"They haven't any trace of the thieves, have they?" asked Tom.
"No. It says a rear window was broken open and the iron bars
unscrewed. The safe door was found closed but unlocked."
"Then the thieves had the combination," put in Sam.
"More than likely."
"I wonder if Baxter and Girk committed that crime?" came from
Dick. "I think they would be equal to it. They were up to some
game."
"It might be," returned Senator Harrington, with interest. "But
how would those men obtain the combination of Rush & Wilder's
safe?"
"I'm sure I don't know, but--yes, they mentioned a man named
Mooney who was to assist them. Perhaps he is known around the
bankers' offices."
"We can soon find out. What were you boys going to do this
morning?"
"I was going back to the tenements to see if I couldn't have
Baxter and Girk arrested," said Dick.
"If they learn you have escaped, they will probably clear out."
"I suppose that's so. But I might go down and see."
"Yes, I'd do that. Later on you can come over to Rush & Wilder's
offices."
This was agreed to, and as soon as breakfast was over Dick and
the other boys hurried off to where Yates' tenements were
located.
Caleb Yates was on hand, and all visited the apartment Baxter and
Buddy Girk had occupied. It was found that the men had not
returned, and it did not look as if they intended to come back.
"They have skipped for good, take my word on it," muttered Tom,
and the others agreed with him.
Thinking it would be useless to remain around the alleyway any
longer, the four boys left the vicinity, and, boarding a street
car, made their way to the thoroughfare upon which were located
the offices of the bankers and brokers who had been robbed.
A crowd was collected about the place and two policemen were
keeping those outside in check.
"I want my money!" one old man was shouting. "This is a game of
Charley Rush to do us out of our cash. I don't believe the
office was robbed at all."
"You keep quiet, or I'll run you in," replied, one of the
policemen, and the old man lost no time in slinking out of sight.
"Can we go in?" asked Frank, and told who he was.
"I'll send in word and see," answered the policeman at the door.
"Oh, Frank!" came from the main office, and Senator Harrington
beckoned to his son; and all four of the boys went in.
They found half a dozen men present, including the members of the
firm, a detective, and the bookkeeper, a young man named
Fredericks.
"You are the only one who had the combination besides ourselves,
Fredericks," Charles Rush was saying to the bookkeeper. "I hate
to suspect you, but--"
"Mr. Rush, you can't think I took that money and those
securities!" gasped the bookkeeper, and fell back as if about to
faint.
"I don't know what to think."
"I can give you my word I was not near the offices from four
o'clock yesterday afternoon until I came this morning, after
you."
"Have you spoken of the safe combination to anybody?"
"No, sir."
"Did you put the combination down in writing?" asked Mr. Wilder.
"No, I never did anything of that sort. The combination was an
unusually easy one, as you know."
"Yes, far too easy for our good," groaned Mr. Rush. Then he
gazed at the four boys curiously.
"What brought you here?" he asked.
"We thought we might know something of this affair," said Dick,
and told his story.
"There may be something in that," said the detective.
"Especially if those men fail to turn up at that tenement again."
"Did you mention a man named Mooney?" cried Fredericks.
"I did."
"Do you know this Mooney?" put in Mr. Wilder to the bookkeeper.
"Subrug, the janitor, has a brother-in-law named Mooney--a wild
kind of a chap who used to hang around more or less."
"We'll call Subrug in and find out where this Mooney is now,"
said Charles Rush.
The janitor proved to be a very nervous old man. "I don't know
where Mooney is," he said. "He's been a constant worry to me.
He used to borrow money, but lately I wouldn't give him any more,
and so he stopped coming around."
"Was he ever in here?"
The janitor thought for a moment. "I think he was, sir--about
a month ago. He started to help me clean the windows, but he was
too clumsy and I made him give it up."
"I remember him!" cried the bookkeeper. "He was at the window,
Mr. Rush, while you were at the safe. He must have watched you
work the combination."
CHAPTER X
TOM, SAM, AND FARMER FOX
For an instant there was a dead silence in the bankers' offices.
Charles Rush looked blankly at his bookkeeper.
"I believe Fredericks is right," said Mr. Wilder, the first to
break the awkward pause. "I remember the fellow very well. I
thought at the time that he was watching Mr. Rush rather
closely."
"You had no business to bring in a man that was not to be
trusted," growled Charles Rush, turning to the janitor.
"Do you think he stole the stuff?" ejaculated Subrug. "Sure
Mooney wasn't smart enough for such a game."
"Perhaps not, but he got others to help him," said Dick. "He got
Buddy Girk and Arnold Baxter, I feel positive of it."
"The whole thing fits together pretty well," said the detective.
"If only we, can lay hands on these men the boy mentions, we'll
be all right."
A long conversation followed, and then Dick and the others went
to the police station.
The rooms at Yates' tenement were thoroughly searched once more,
and a watch was set for Girk and Arnold Baxter.
But the rascals had flown and the watch proved useless.
In the meantime two detectives tried to trace what had become of
Mooney, but this work also amounted to nothing, and it may be as
well to add here that Mooney was never heard of again, having
sailed for South America.
Upon an accounting it was learned that Rush & Wilder were by no
means in a good financial condition and that Senator Harrington
would lose a good sum of money should they fail.
"I'd give a thousand dollars to collar those thieves," said the
senator dismally.
"If Arnold Baxter and Girk got that money they'll live in high
clover for a while," remarked Dick, when the excitement was over
and they had returned to Frank's home. "My! what a villain
that Baxter is proving to be! No wonder Dan was bad! It must
run in the blood."
The robbery kept the boys in Albany several days, and this being
so, it was decided to abandon the trip on the river to New York.
"I'll send the _Spray_ down by somebody," said Dick, "and then we
can take a train from here direct to Oak Run," and so it was
arranged.
The trip to Oak Run proved to be uneventful. And at the railroad
station they were met by Jack Ness, the Rovers' hired man, who
had driven over with the carryall to take them home.
"Glad to see you all looking so well," grinned the hired man.
"Getting fat as butter, Master Tom."
"Thanks, Jack, I'm feeling fine. Any news?"
"No, sir, none exceptin' that your uncle has had a row with Joel
Fox, who has the farm next to ours."
"What was the row about?" questioned Dick.
"All about some fruit, sir. We had a tree hangin' over Fox's
fence--finest pear tree on the place, that was. Fox strips the
tree at night, sir--saw him with my own eyes."
"Oh, what cheek!" burst out Sam. "What did uncle do?"
"Tried to talk to him, and Fox told him to mind his own business,
that he could have what fruit hung over his fence. So he could,
but not half of it hung that way, and he took every blessed
pear."
"Fox always was a mean man," murmured Tom. "I'd like to square
accounts with him before I go back to Putnam Hall."
"I reckoned as how you might be up to something like that," said
Ness, with another grin. "But you want to be careful. Only
yesterday Fox shot off his gun at some boys who were after his
apples."
"Did he hit the boys?"
"I don't think he did."
"Who were they?"
"I don't know. And I reckon he don't either."
"Humph!" Tom mused for a moment.
"I'd like to scare the mean fellow by making him think one of the
boys was killed."
"That's an idea!" cried Sam, and winked at his brother. "Let's
do it!"
They were soon bowling over Swift River and along the road
leading to Valley Brook farm. At the farmhouse their Uncle
Randolph and Aunt Martha stood in the dooryard to greet them.
"Back again, safe and sound!" cried Randolph Rover. "I suppose
you feel like regular sailors."
"Well, we do feel a little that way," laughed Sam, and returned
the warm kiss his aunt bestowed upon him. "It's nice to be home
once more."
"Would you rather stay here than go back to Putnam Hall?" asked
his aunt quickly.
"Oh, no, I can't say that, Aunt Martha. But it's awfully nice
here, nevertheless."
A hot supper was awaiting them, and while they ate they told of
all that had happened since they had been away. Randolph Rover
shuddered over the way Dick had been treated.
"Be careful, my boy," he said. "Remember, even your father could
not bring this Arnold Baxter to justice. He is evidently a
thorough-paced scoundrel, and his companion is probably just as
bad."
"And how goes the scientific farming, Uncle Randolph?" asked Tom,
who knew how to touch his uncle in the right spot.
"Splendidly, my boy, splendidly! I am now working on a new
rotation of crops. It will, I am certain, prove a revelation to
the entire agricultural world."
"Did you make much money this season?" asked Sam dryly.
"Well--er--no; in fact, we ran a little behind. But we will do finely
next year--I am certain of it. I will have some strawberries and
celery which shall astonish our State agricultural committee,"
answered Randolph Rover. He was always enthusiastic, in spite of
almost constant failure. Thus far his hobby had netted him a loss of
several thousand dollars.
It was Friday, and Saturday was to be given over to packing up
for school. Yet on Saturday morning Tom managed to call Sam
aside.
"We'll go over to Fox's," said he. "Are you ready?"
"I am, Tom," answered the younger brother. "And be sure and pile
it on."
"Trust me for that," and Tom winked in a fashion that set Sam to
roaring.
They found Joel Fox at work along the roadside, mending a part of
a stone wall which had tumbled down. Fox was a Yankee, and
miserly and sour to the very core.
"Well, what do you want?" he demanded, as the boys came to a halt
in front of him.
"Why, Mr. Fox, I thought you had skipped out!" cried Tom in
pretended surprise.
"Skipped out?"
"Yes."
"Why should I skip out, boy?"
"On account of Harry Smith."
"Harry Smith? Who is he?"
"Harry Smith of Oak Run--the boy who was shot the other day.
Didn't you hear he was dead?"
At these words Joel Fox dropped the tools he was using and turned
pale.
"Is--er--is the boy--er--" He could not finish.
"It was a wicked thing to do," put in Sam. "Any man that would
shoot a boy ought to be lynched."
"Perhaps that crowd of men were coming up here," went on Tom.
"Didn't they have a rope with them?"
"To be sure they had a rope, Tom. And one of 'em said something
about hanging."
"What crowd are you talking about?" stammered Joel Fox, growing
paler and paler.
"The crowd at the depot. Did you shoot him, Mr. Fox? I can't
hardly believe it true, although I know you were mean enough to
take my uncle's pears."
"I--er--the pears were on my property. I er--I didn't shoot at any
boy. I--er--I shot at some crows in my cornfield," stammered Joel Fox.
"Did you say a crowd of men were coming over here with a rope?"
"You'll see fast enough, you bad man!" cried Tom, and ran off,
followed by Sam. In vain Fox tried to call them back.
The boys went as far as a turn in the road, then hid behind some
bushes. Soon they saw Fox pick up his tools and make for his
barn. Then he came out and hurried for his house.
"I guess he's pretty well rattled," laughed Tom. "Won't he be
mad when he learns how he has been fooled!"
They waited for a while, but as Fox did not reappear they hurried
back home by another road, that the man might not see them.
Tom was right when he said that the miserly old farmer was
"rattled," as it is commonly called.
All day long the coward remained in the house, as nervous as a
cat and afraid that a crowd of men would appear at any minute to
lynch him.
His wife did not know what to make of such actions and finally
demanded an explanation, and when it was not forthcoming
threatened him with the broom, which she had used as a weapon of
offense several times previously.
"They say he's dead!" finally burst out Joel. "They are goin'
ter lynch me for it. Hide me, Mandy, hide me!"
"Who is dead, Joel Fox?"
"The boy I shot at fer stealin' them apples. Oh, they'll lynch
me; I feel it in my bones!" groaned the old man.
"Who was it?"
"Harry Smith of Oak Run."
"And he is dead?"
"So they say. But I didn't calkerlate I hit him at all," whined
Joel.
"No more you did, for I saw him run away, and he went clear out
o' sight up the road. Who told you this?" demanded Mrs. Fox.
"Those Rover boys, Tom an' Sam."
"Those young imps! Joel, they are fooling you."
"Do you really think so, Mandy?" asked the man hopefully.
"I do. If I was you I'd go over to Oak Run and find out."
"No, no--if it's true they'll lynch me, I know they will!"
"Then I'll go over. I know Mrs. Smith. If he's dead there will
be crape on the door an' I won't go in," concluded Mrs. Fox.
And getting out a horse and buckboard, she drove over to Oak Run
and to the Smiths' place. She found no crape on the door. Harry
Smith sat on the porch, his arm in a sling. Plucking up courage
she drew rein, dismounted, and walked up to the boy, who was one
of the Rover brothers friends.
"How is your arm, Harry?" she began softly.
"It's pretty fair," answered the boy politely. "Won't you come
in, Mrs. Fox?"
"Well, I guess not. Harry, I'm sorry for this."
"So am I sorry, Mrs. Fox."
"I didn't think you would do it. Why didn't you come up to the
house an' ask for them apples?"
The boy looked puzzled, for the simple reason that he was
puzzled. "I don't understand you. What apples?"
"The ones you tried to steal."
"I didn't try to steal any apples, Mrs. Fox. What makes you
think that?"
"Didn't you try to git in our orchard when Joel fired on you?"
cried Mrs. Fox.
"Why, I haven't been anywhere near your orchard!"
"So?" Mrs. Fox looked bewildered. "Then--then how did you get
hurt?" she faltered.
"Why, Mr. Wicks and I were cleaning out pa's old shotgun when it
went off accidentally, and I got a couple of the shot in my
forearm," answered Harry Smith promptly.
The answer took away Mrs. Fox's breath.
"Drat them boys--I knowed it!" she muttered, and drove away
without another word. Harry Smith was much puzzled, but letters
which soon after passed between him and Tom cleared up the
mystery.
But the boys never heard of how Joel Fox fared when his wife got
home. The lady arrived "as mad as a hornet," to use a popular
saying. "You're the worst old fool ever was, Joel Fox!" were her
first words, and a bitter quarrel followed that ended only when
the man was driven out of the house with the ever-trustworthy
broom. Joel Fox wanted to go over to the Rover farm, to have it
out with Tom and Sam, but somehow he could not pluck up the
courage to make the move.
CHAPTER XI
FUN AT PUTNAM HALL
"Back to Putnam Hall at last!"
"Yes, boys, back at last! Hurrah for the dear old school, and
all the boys in it!"
Peleg Snuggers, the general utility man of the Hall, had just
brought the boys up from Cedarville, to which place they had
journeyed from Ithaca on the regular afternoon boat running up
Cayuga Lake. With the Rovers had come Fred Garrison, Larry
Colby, and several others of their old school chums.
(For the doings of the Putnam Hall students previous to the
arrival at that institution of the Rover boys, see The Putnam
Hall Series, the first volume of which is entitled, "The Putnam
Hall Cadets."--PUBLISHERS)
"Glad to welcome you back, boys!" exclaimed Captain Victor
Putnam, a pleasant smile on his face. He shook hands all around.
"Did you have a nice trip?"
"Splendid, sir," said Tom. "Oh, how do you do, Mr. Strong?" and
he ran to meet the head teacher. He could not help but think of
how different things were now to when he had first arrived at
Putnam Hall the year previous, and Josiah Crabtree had locked him
up in the guardroom for exploding a big firecracker in honor of
the occasion.
"Well, Thomas, I hope you have left all your pranks behind,"
observed George Strong. "How about it?" And his eyes twinkled.
"Oh, I'm going in for study this session," answered Tom demurely.
And then he winked at Larry on the sly. But his words did not
deceive George Strong, who understood only too well Tom's
propensity for mischief.
It was the first day of the term, but as the cadets kept on
arriving with every train and boat, no lessons were given out,
and the boys were allowed to do pretty much as they pleased.
They visited every nook and corner, including the classrooms, the
dormitories, the stables, and the gymnasium and boathouse, and
nearly bothered the life out of Peleg Snuggers, Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper, and Alexander Pop, the colored waiter of the mess
hall.
"Hullo, Aleck!" cried Tom rushing up and grabbing the colored man
by the hand. "How are you--pretty well? I'm first-rate,
never was better in my life!" And he gave the hand a hard
squeeze.
"Stop, wot yo' up to, Massah Rober!" roared the waiter, leaping
off his feet. "Wot yo' got in yo' hand?"
"Why, nothing, Aleck, my boy. Yes, I'm feeling fine. I've
gained fifteen pounds, and--"
"Yo' lemme go, sah-yo' is stickin' pins in my hand!" howled Pop.
"Oh, deah, now de term's dun begun we'll all be dead wid dat
boy's tricks!" he moaned, as Tom ran off, throwing away several
tiny tacks as he did so.
"So you've come back, have you?" observed Mrs. Green, as Tom
stopped at the kitchen door. "Well, just you mind your P's and
Q's, or there will be trouble, I can tell you that, Tom Rover."
"Why, we never had any trouble, Mrs. Green," he said soberly.
"Did we?"
"Oh, of course not! But who stole that can of peaches right
after the Christmas holidays, and who locked one of the cows in
the back hall and nearly scared the washwoman to death? Oh,
dear, you never did anything, never!" And Mrs. Green shook her
head warningly.
"Do you mean to say I would take a can of peaches, Mrs. Green?" asked
Tom, and then his face fell. "Oh, dear, you always did put me down as
the worst boy in the school, when--I--I--do--my--very best," and,
almost sobbing, Tom put his face up against his coat sleeve. Mrs.
Green was very tender-hearted in spite of her somewhat free tongue,
and she was all sympathy immediately.
"There, there, Tom, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," she
said soothingly. "I--I was only fooling. Will you have a
piece of hot mince pie? It's just out of the oven."
"I--I don't know!" sobbed Tom. "You treat me so awful meanly!"
"I didn't mean it--really I didn't. Come, sit down and have
the pie, that's a good boy. I'm glad you are back, and you are
better than lots of the other cadets, so there!" And Tom slid
into a seat and devoured the generous slice of pie dealt out to
him with keen relish.
"It's really like home," he murmured presently.
"Mrs. Green, when you die, they ought to erect an awfully big
monument over your grave."
"But I'm not dying just yet, Tom--pray don't speak of it."
"By the way, my aunt was dyeing when I left home," went on the
boy, as he moved toward the door.
"Indeed. Didn't you hate to leave her?"
"Not at all. She didn't seem to mind it."
"What was her trouble, Tom--consumption?"
"No, she had an old brown dress that had faded out green and she
was dyeing it black," was the soft answer, and then Tom ran for
his life. Mrs. Green did not speak to him for almost a week
after that. And yet with it all she couldn't help but like the
boy.
Of course Peleg Snuggers came in for his full share of attention,
and the utility man had all sorts of jokes played on him until he
was almost in despair.
"Don't, young gents, don't!" he would plead. "Oh, my! An' to
think the term's just begun!" And he mopped his brow with his
red bandanna handkerchief.
"Peleg, you are getting handsomer every day," remarked Sam.
"It's a wonder you don't go into the beauty show in New York."
"Wot kind of a joke is that, Master Rover?"
"Oh, it's no joke. You are handsome. Won't you let me take your
photograph?"
"Have you got a camera?"
"To be sure. Here it is." Sam drew a tiny box from his pocket.
"Now stand still and I'll take a snap shot."
Snuggers had wanted to have his picture taken for some time, to
send to a certain girl in Cedarville in whom he was much
interested. To have a photograph taken for nothing tickled him
greatly.
"Wait till I brush up a bit," he said, and got out a pocket comb,
with which he adjusted his hair and his stubby mustache.
"Now stand straight and look happy!" cried Sam as a crowd collected
around. "Raise you right hand to your breast, just as all statesmen
do. Up with your chin--don't drop your left eye--close your mouth.
Now then, don't budge on your life!"
Peleg Snuggers stood like a statue, his chin well up in the air
and his eyes set into a steady stare. Sam elevated the tiny box
and kept the man standing for fully half a minute, while the boys
behind Snuggers could scarcely keep from roaring.
"There you are," said Sam at last. "Now wait a minute and the
picture will be finished."
"Don't you have to print 'em in the sun?" asked Snuggers.
"No, this is a new patented process." Sam drew a square of tin
from the box. "There you are, Peleg, and all for nothing."
"I don't see any picture," growled Snuggers, looking at the
square blankly.
"You must breathe on it, Peleg; then the picture will come out
beautifully. It's a little fresh yet."
Peleg Snuggers breathed on the square of tin as directed, and
then there slowly came to view the picture of a donkey's head!
The boys gathered around set up a shout.
"Hurrah, Peleg, what a fine picture!"
"You've changed a little in your looks, Peleg, since you had the
last taken, eh?"
"Your girl will fall in love with that picture, Peleg, I'm
certain of it."
"Sam Rover, I'll git square, see if I don't!" roared the utility
man, as he dashed the square of tin to the ground. "I knowed you
was goin' to play a joke on me." And he started to walk off.
"Why, what's the matter?" demanded Sam innocently. "Isn't it a
good picture?'
"I'll picture you!"
"I thought I was doing my best."
"Show me off for a donkey! If it wasn't against the rules I'd--I'd
wollop you!"
"A donkey! Oh, Peleg, I did nothing of the kind! Here is your
picture, on my word of honor."
"It's a donkey's head, I say."
"And I say it's your picture. I'll leave it to anybody in the
crowd."
"I guess I know a donkey's head when I see it, Master Rover. I
didn't expect no such joke from you, though your brother Tom
might have played it."
"Boys, isn't this a good picture?" demanded Sam, showing up the
other side of the tin square.
"Why, splendid!" came from the crowd.
"Peleg, there is some mistake here."
"Oh, you can't joke me no more!" returned the utility man.
"But just look!" pleaded Sam. "Isn't that a good picture of you?
If you don't say so yourself I'll give you five dollars."
He handed the tin over again, this time with the opposite side
toward Snuggers. He had just breathed on it heavily.
"Now blow on it," he continued, and Snuggers did as directed.
The moisture cleared away, revealing the face of the utility man
in a bit of looking-glass!
"Oh, you're tremendously smart, you are!" muttered Snuggers, and
walked off. But he was not half as angry as he had been a few
minutes before.
CHAPTER XII
DICK VISITS DORA STANHOPE
"Battalion, fall in. Attention! Carry arms!"
It was several days later, and the cadets were out for their
first parade around the grounds. Dick still retained his
position as second lieutenant of Company A, having been
re-elected the term previous. Tom was first sergeant of Company
B, while Sam was still "a high private in the rear rank," as the
saying goes.
The day was an ideal one in the early autumn, and Captain Putnam
and George Strong were both on hand to watch the drilling. Major
Bart Conners had graduated the year before, and his place was now
filled by Harry Blossom, formerly captain of Company A.
"Shoulder arms!" came the next order. "Battalion, forward
march!"
Tap! tap! tap, tap, tap! went the drums, and then the bass drum
joined in, and the two companies moved off. Soon the fifers
struck up a lively air, and away went the cadets, down the road,
around grounds, and to the mess hall for supper.
The boys felt good to be in the ranks once more, and Captain
Putnam congratulated them on their soldierly appearance.
"It does me good to see that you have not forgotten your former
instructions in drilling and marching," he said. "I trust that
during the present term we shall see even better results, so that
the work done here may compare favorably with that done at West
Point."
The school had now begun to settle down, and inside of a few days
everything was working smoothly.
"What a difference it makes to have Dan Baxter and Mumps absent!"
observed Tom to Dick. "We don't have any of the old-fashion rows
any more."
"I'd like to know what Mumps and Josiah Crabtree were up to," put
in the elder Rover. "It's queer we didn't hear any more of them.
I'm going to get off soon and try and see Dora Stanhope. Perhaps
she knows what Crabtree is doing."
On that day Frank Harrington received a letter from his father,
in which the senator stated that nothing more had been heard of
the men who had looted Rush & Wilder's safe. "I fancy they have
left the State, if not the country," was Mr. Harrington's
comment.
The three Rover boys got off the next day and took a walk past
the cottages where resided the Lanings and the Stanhopes. At the
Lanings' place Nellie and Grace came out to greet them.
"So you are back!" cried Nellie, blushing sweetly. "Father said
you were. He saw you come in at Cedarville."
"Yes, back again, and glad to meet you," answered Tom, and gave
the girl's hand a tight squeeze, while Sam and Dick also shook
hands with both girls.
"And how do you feel?" asked Grace of Dick. "Wasn't that
dreadful the way Mr. Baxter treated you on that train?"
"Well, he got the worst of it," answered Dick.
"Oh, I know that! And now they suspect him of a robbery in
Albany. Papa was reading it in one of the Ithaca papers."
"Yes, and I guess he's guilty, Grace. But tell me, does Josiah
Crabtree worry Mrs. Stanhope any more?" continued the boy
seriously.
"Why to be sure he does! And, oh, let me tell you something!
Dora told me that he was terribly angry over having been sent to
Chicago on a wild-goose chase."
"I wish he had remained out there."
"So do all of us," said Nellie Laning. "He seems bound to marry
aunty, in spite of our opposition and Dora's."
"How is your aunt now?"
"She is not very well. Do you know, I think Mr. Crabtree
exercises some sort of a strange influence over her."
"I think that myself. If he could do it, I think he would
hypnotize her into marrying him. He is just rascal enough. Of
course he is after the money Mrs. Stanhope is holding in trust
for Dora."
"He can't touch that."
"He can--if he can get hold of it. I don't think Josiah
Crabtree cares much for the law. Is Dora home now?"
"I believe she is. She was this morning, I know."
"I'm going over to see her," went on Dick. "I promised to do all
I could for her in this matter of standing Crabtree off, and I'm
going to keep my word."
As Sam and Tom wished to converse with the Laning girls a bit
longer, Dick went on ahead, telling them to follow him when they
chose.
It did not take Dick long to reach the Stanhope homestead. As he
approached he heard loud talking on the front piazza.
"I want nothing to do with you, Dan Baxter, and I am astonished
that you should come here to see me," came in Dora Stanhope's
voice.
"That's all right, Dora; don't get ugly," was the reply from the
former bully of Putnam Hall. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I want you to go away and leave my mother and me alone."
"Will you come and see Mr. Crabtree, as he wanted?"
"No. If, Mr. Crabtree wants to see me let him come here."
"But you told him you didn't want him here," said Dan Baxter.
"Neither I do--to see mamma. But I won't go to see him; so
there! Now please leave me."
"You're a strong-minded miss, you are," sneered Dan Baxter. "You
want taking down."
"What's that you say?" demanded Dick, as he strode up. "Baxter,
you deserve to be knocked down for insulting this young lady."
"Oh, Dick, is that you?" burst out Dora, her pretty face
brightening instantly. "I'm glad you came."
"Dick Rover!" muttered the bully, and his face fell. "What
brought you here?"
"That is my business, Baxter, So Josiah Crabtree sent you to
annoy Miss Stanhope."
"It's none of your affair if he did."
"I say it is my affair."
"Do you want to get into another row with me, Dick Rover?" And
Dan Baxter clenched his fists.
"If we fought, the battle would end as it did before--you would
be knocked out," answered Dick. "You have no right to come here
if these people want you to stay away, and you had better take
yourself off."
"I'll go when I please. You can't make me go--nor the
Stanhopes neither," growled Dan Baxter.
At these words Dick grew white. Dora, as old readers know, was
his dearest friend, and he could not stand having her spoken of
so rudely. For a moment the two boys glared at each, other; then
Baxter aimed a blow at Dick's face.
The elder Rover ducked and hit out in return, landing upon
Baxter's neck. Dora gave a scream.
"Oh, Dick! Don't fight with him!"
"I won't--I'll run him out!" panted Dick, and leaping behind
the bully, he caught him by the collar and the back. "Out you
go, you brute!" he added, and began to run Baxter toward the open
gateway. In vain the bully tried to resist. Dick's blood was
up, and he did not release his hold or relinquish his efforts
until the bully had been pushed along the road for a distance of
fifty yards.
"Now you dare to come back!" said Dick, shaking his fist at the
fellow. "If you come, I'll have you locked up."
"We'll see about it, Dick Rover," snarled Dan Baxter. He paused
for an instant. "He laughs best who laughs last," he muttered,
and strode off as fast as his long legs would carry him, in the
direction of the lake.
When Dick returned to Dora he found that the girl had sunk down
on the piazza steps nearly overcome.
"Don't be afraid, Dora; he's gone," he said kindly.
"Oh, Dick, I'm so afraid of him!" she gasped.
"Was he here long before I came up?"
"About ten minutes. He brought a message from Mr. Crabtree, who
wants to see me in Cedarville. I told him I wouldn't go--and I
won't."
"I shouldn't either, Dora. Perhaps Crabtree only wants to get
you away from the house so that he can come here and see your
mother."
"I never thought of that."
"Where is your mother now?"
"Lying down with a headache. She is getting more nervous every
day. I wish Mr. Crabtree was--was--"
"In Halifax, I suppose," finished Dick.
"Yes, or some other place as far off. Every time he comes near
mamma she has the strangest spells."
"He is a bad man--no doubt of it, Dora. I almost wish we had
him back to the Hall. Then I could keep my eye on him."
"I'm glad you are back, Dick," said the girl softly. "If there
is any trouble, you'll let me call on you, won't you?"
"I shall expect you to call on me, Dora--the very first thing,"
he returned promptly. "I wouldn't have anything happen to you or
your mother for anything in the world."
By this time Sam and Tom were coming up, and they had to be told
about Dan Baxter.
"He and his father are a team," said Sam.
"I wonder if he knows what his father has done. If I meet him
I'll ask him."
Dick had expected to pay his respects to Mrs. Stanhope, but now
thought best not to disturb her. All the boys had a short chat
with Dora, and then set out on the return to school.
On the way the three boys discussed the situation, but could get
little satisfaction out of their talk.
"Something is in the wind," was Dick's comment. "But what it is
time alone will reveal."
And he was right, as events in the near future proved.
CHAPTER XIII
THE FIRE AT THE HALL
Sam had been right when he said that Dan Baxter was like his
father. Parent and son were thoroughly bad, but how bad the
Rover boys and their friends were still to learn.
On Saturday the cadets had a half-holiday, and some of them went
over to the lake to fish, Sam and Tom accompanying the party.
While the boys were waiting for bites they espied a large
sail-boat skimming along the lake shore. As it came closer Tom
and Sam were much astonished to see that the boat contained Dan
Baxter, Josiah Crabtree, and Mumps.
"By jinks, there is Mumps' yacht!" ejaculated Tom. "How in the
world did he get her up here?"
"Brought her by way of the canal and the river, I suppose,"
answered Sam.
"Hullo there!" called out Larry Colby, who was in the crowd.
"Mumps, you might be in better company."
"You keep your mouth shut!" retorted Fenwick.
"If you talk to me, I'll come ashore and give you a thrashing,"
put in Baxter.
"I dare you to come ashore!" burst out Tom. "You'll stay where
you are if you know when you are well off."
No more was said, and presently the boat sped out of sight around
a bend of the lake shore. Fishing proved to be good, and in the
excitement of the sport Baxter and the others were, for the time
being, forgotten.
It was late when the boys packed up. Sam had six fish, Tom as
many more, and all of the others a fair catch.
"We'll have fish tomorrow for breakfast, sure," said Larry.
"Hurry up, or we'll be late."
The party started off, but had only gone a short distance when
Sam remembered that he had left his knife sticking in the stump
of a tree, and ran back to get it, in the meantime turning his
fish over to Tom.
The fishing place was behind a grove of trees, and when Sam
reached it again he was much surprised to see Dan Baxter on
shore, he having just left the yacht, which was cruising some
distance away.
"Hullo! so you came back to have it out with me, eh?" cried
Baxter, and before Sam could say a word, he was hurled flat and
the bully came down on top of him.
Sam fought bravely, but was no match for the big fellow, who
began to hammer him unmercifully. Realizing how matters were
turning, the youngest Rover began to cry for help.
"You shut up!" stormed Dan Baxter. "Shut up, or I'll give it to
you worse than ever!"
But Sam had no intention of taking such a drubbing quietly, and
he yelled louder than ever. His cries reached Tom, who had
dropped behind to allow his brother to catch up.
"Something is wrong," he muttered, and hanging the fish on a
bush, he ran back at the top of his speed.
Dan Baxter heard him coming and tried to get away, but as Tom
called out, Sam's courage rose, and he grabbed the bully by the
foot and held him.
"Let go!" roared Dan Baxter, but Sam would not, and in a second
more Tom was at hand and hit the bully such a stinging blow in
the face that Baxter went down in a heap.
A rough-and-tumble scrimmage ensued, and it must be said that the
bully got by far the worst of it. Tom hit him again and again,
and Sam also, and when at last he staggered to his feet, one eye
was almost closed and his nose was bleeding profusely.
"Now I guess you won't tackle any of us again," said Tom.
"I'll get even--mark my words!" roared Baxter, and ran down the
lake shore in the direction the _Falcon_ had taken.
When Baxter reached the yacht he was so weak he could scarcely
stand. It was a long while before he could stop his nose from
bleeding, and his eye stung with a pain that was maddening.
"Did little Sam Rover do that?" asked Mumps, while Josiah
Crabtree looked on in curious silence.
"Sam Rover?" snorted Baxter. "Not much! Why, the whole crowd
piled on me six or seven of them at a time. They tried to kill
me!"
"Didn't you defend yourself, Daniel?" asked Crabtree.
"Of course I did. I knocked two of them down and another fellow
had two of his teeth broken. But I couldn't fight all six single
handed."
"Oh, I presume not--especially such brutes as Captain Putnam is
now raising."
"It's a pity we can't get square with them," said Mumps.
"Oh, I'll get square! You just wait," answered the bully
cunningly. "I'm not done with them yet by any means."
"What will you do?"
"Just you wait and see."
"I don't wish to have you interfere with our plans," put in
Josiah Crabtree.
"I won't interfere with the other plans. But I am going to get
square."
"We've had delay enough," continued Josiah Crabtree.
"Well, that wasn't my fault. Mumps got sick, and that's all
there is to it," growled Dan Baxter, and then went to dressing
his swollen eye once more.
In the meantime Sam and Tom had rejoined their fellows and told
their story. All of the others were indignant at Baxter's doing
and glad to learn he had been given a sound drubbing.
"I don't see why he hangs in this neighborhood," said Larry.
"It's a wonder he doesn't try to join his father."
"They are probably on the outs since Dan took that two hundred
dollars," answered Tom.
The boys were all tired that night, and the occupants of
Dormitory No. 6 retired early in consequence.
It was a little after midnight that Dick awoke with a cough. He
sat up in bed and opened his eyes to find the room almost filled
with smoke.
"For gracious sake!" he muttered. "What's the matter here? Sam!
Tom!"
"What's this?" came from Larry Colby. "Is the house on fire?"
He leaped from his bed, and so did Dick. By this time the smoke
in the dormitory was getting thicker and thicker. It was coming
through the door, which stood partly open.
"Wake up, boys; the Hall is on fire!"
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" came from all parts of the building.
One after another the cadets roused up. Some were completely
bewildered and did not know what to do.
"We had better get out as soon as we can!" exclaimed Dick, as he
slipped into his trousers. "Come, Tom! come, Sam!"
He ran for the hallway, to find it so thick with smoke that
escape in that direction seemed cut off.
"We can't go down that way!" came from Frank. "We'd be smothered
to death."
"Let's jump from the windows," put in Larry, who was more
frightened than any of the others.
"No, no; don't jump yet!" cried Tom "You'll break a leg, and
maybe your neck."
"But I don't want to be burnt up," returned Larry, his teeth
chattering.
"Hold on, we have that rope we used when we had the feast last
summer," said Sam. "Let us tie that to the window and get down
on it."
Sam ran to the closet and found the rope just where it had been
left, on a hook in the corner. Soon they had it out and fastened
to a bed-slat braced across the window frame.
"Down you go, Larry!" said Dick. "Be careful; I reckon we have
plenty of time."
Larry slid down in a jiffy, and one after another the others came
after him, Dick being the last. As the youth turned around on
the window sill he saw the fire creeping in at the door. Their
escape had taken place none too soon.
Down on the parade ground they found a motley collection of
half-dressed cadets, instructors, servants, and others who had
been sleeping in the burning Hall.
In the midst of the group was Captain Putnam, pale but
comparatively cool, considering the excitement under which he was
laboring.
"Are all the boys out?" he asked of George Strong. "Line them up
and call the roll."
The roll-call was put through in double-quick order. Only two
lads were missing, a boy named Harrison and another named Leeks.
"Here comes Harrison!" cried Harry Blossom, and the boy limped
forth from the opposite side of the burning building.
"I sprang from the east wing," he explained. "I guess my ankle
is sprained." And then he dropped down and was carried away from
the scene to a place of safety.
"Where can Leeks be?" questioned Captain Putnam. "Leeks! Leeks!
Where are you?" he cried with all the power of his lungs.
At first the only reply that came back was the roaring of the
flames, as they mounted from one section of the Hall to another.
Then, however, came a shriek from the rear end of the western
wing.
"Help me! Save me! I don't want to be burnt up!"
"It is Leeks!" cried Tom. "See, he is on the gutter of the
roof!"
He pointed in the direction, and all saw the cadet, dressed in
nothing but his white gown, clinging desperately to the slates of
the roof above the gutter. He had run from the second floor to
the third and sought safety by crawling out of a dormer window.
"Don't jump!" cried a dozen in concert. "Don't jump, Leeks!"
"What shall I do? The flames are coming up here as fast as they
can!" groaned the cadet. "Oh, save me, somebody!"
"Let's get the ladder," said Dick, and started for the barn, with
a score of cadets at his heels and George Strong with them. In
the meantime Captain Putnam again urged Leeks to remain where he
was. "We will save you, don't fear," he added.
The fire below now made the scene as bright as day, and already the
neighbors were rushing to the scene, followed by the Cedarville
volunteer fire department, with their hose cart and old style
hand-pump engine.
Soon the ladder was brought out of the barn and rushed to the
spot directly below where Leeks stood. Willing hands raised it
against the building. And then a loud groan went up. The ladder
was too short by ten feet--and it was the only ladder to be
had!
CHAPTER XIV
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DORA STANHOPE
"We can't reach him with that! He'll be burnt up before we can
get to him. See, the flames are already coming out of the
window beside him!"
"Save me! Push the ladder up higher!" shrieked Leeks. "I can't
get down to it!"
"Wait, I've got an idea," put in Dick, and ran behind the barn to
the garden patch.
Soon he came back armed with a long and knotty beanpole. George
Strong was already on the ladder, and the beanpole was shoved up
to him.
"That's all right!" came the cry. "Leeks, can't you get hold?"
"I'll try," said the terrorized boy.
As quickly as he could George Strong mounted to the very top of
the ladder. Then the teacher raised the beanpole, heavy end
upward, until Leeks managed to grasp it.
"Can you steady it against the gutter?" asked the teacher.
"I--I don't know. If I had a cord--"
"There is a string on the window blind. Tie the end of the pole
to that."
With trembling hands Leeks did as directed. The cord was not a
stout one, but it was sufficiently strong to keep the beanpole in
position, and that was all that was required, since the teacher
steadied it and held it up from below.
But getting over the edge of the gutter was no easy movement, and
those on the ground held their breath as Leeks crawled to where
he could grasp the beanpole. Then the cadet came down on the run
to where his feet struck the top of the ladder. In a minute more
he and the head teacher came to the ground.
A cheer went up. "Hurrah! Leeks is safe! Good for Mr. Strong!"
In the midst of the cries Leeks fainted and had to be carried to
the gymnasium for treatment.
The fire had evidently started in the lower hallway of the
building, in a closet under the broad stairs. It was burning
furiously in all of the halls and toward the rear.
As soon as Captain Putnam felt assured that the scholars and all
others were safe he organized the boys into a bucket brigade. In
the meantime Mrs. Grow, with more forethought than seemed
possible to her nature, had turned on the water pipes leading
from the water tower on the Hall roof. Thus a dozen small
streams were thrown on the fire, to which the boys soon added
their buckets of water. Then the Cedarville fire department
added their services, and fighting the fire began in earnest,
while Captain Putnam directed the removal of all furniture and
other things which could be gotten out with safety.
"Say, but this is work!" panted Tom, as he struggled along with a
big bucket of water in each hand.
"I only hope we succeed in saving the building."
"We won't save all of it," replied Sam, who was laboring as hard
as anybody. "And I guess all of our clothing will be burnt up."
"Don't say a word about dat!" put in Alexander Pop. "I dun gone
an' buy me a new pair ob checked pants las' week--an' a new
silk hat, too!" And the negro was almost ready to cry with
vexation at the thought that those new clothes, with which he had
hoped to cut such a dash, would go down in the ruin.
It was a good two hours ere the fire was gotten under control,
and not until after sunrise was the last spark put out. Then
Captain Putnam and several of the others surveyed the damage that
had been done.
All of the stairways had been burned away, and the plastering
from top to bottom of the three hallways was down. In the rear,
two dormitories and the garret floor had been burned out.
"A nasty fire," said the captain to his head assistant. "I'm
afraid I will have to close down the school, at least for a
while."
"I don't know as I would do that, captain," replied George
Strong. "The classrooms are not touched, neither are some of the
dormitories. We can bunch the boys up a bit--and I think they
would rather be bunched up than be sent home."
The matter was talked over at some length, and in the end put to
the boys themselves, and all declared that they would rather
remain, and some added that during their spare hours they would
do all they could to put the place into shape again.
"That will be unnecessary," said Captain Putnam. "The insurance
companies will have to do the repairing, and I shall notify them
without delay. As to the clothing that has been lost, I will
make that good to each of you."
The fire was not yet out when Dora Stanhope appeared, in company
with John Laning and Nellie and Grace.
"I am so afraid somebody had been burnt up!" cried Dora to Dick.
"I'm awfully glad you and your brothers are all right!"
"We got out easily, answered Dick, but he gave Dora a bright
smile for the interest she had shown in him.
"How did the fire start?" questioned John Laning.
"Nobody knows," answered Tom. "Captain Putnam says it is a
complete mystery."
"I believe the Hall was set on fire," put in Sam. "And I believe
I can point out the party who is guilty."
"Dan Baxter?" put in Larry.
"Yes."
"Would he be wicked enough to do that?" cried Dora in horror.
"Yes, I guess Dan is bad enough to do anything," said Dick.
"He was terribly mad over the way we mauled him," came from Tom.
"He was just about ready to kill us."
"If that's the case Captain Putnam had better have Baxter
arrested," suggested John Laning. "He is a dangerous boy to be
at large."
Captain Putnam came up and was soon told of what had occurred.
He had not heard of the fight down at the lake, but was not
greatly surprised.
"I do not blame you boys, since Baxter began the attack," he
said. "And I agree, he is a thoroughly bad fellow. Yes, I'll
have him arrested--providing we can locate him."
Word had already been sent to a clothier, and a gentlemen's
outfitter, both of whom had stores in Cedarville, and before noon
these men came to the Hall, and the students were fitted out
temporarily--that is, the portion who had lost the majority of
their clothing. Then a gang of laborers and scrub-women were
sent to work to clean up the mess and make the classrooms and
unburned dormitories fit for occupation. In two days Putnam Hall
was once more in full sway, as though nothing out of the ordinary
had happened, the burnt section being boarded entirely off from
the other.
The search for Dan Baxter began at once, but nothing could be
ascertained concerning him. A search was also made for the
_Falcon_, but that craft had disappeared from the lake.
"Well, I hope we never hear or see anything more of Baxter," said
Sam. "I declare, he is worse than a snake in the grass."
"I'd rather see him locked up," answered Dick grimly. "Then I'd
know he was out of the way of harming us further."
Several days slipped by and the boys were deep in their studies,
when, late one afternoon, Dick was greatly astonished by being
told that Mrs. Stanhope was in the parlor waiting to see him.
"She seems very much agitated," said Captain Putnam. "I am
afraid something is wrong."
"Can you say what it is, Richard?"
"No, sir; excepting Dan Baxter or Josiah Crabtree may have been
worrying them again."
"Do you mean to tell me that Baxter goes to their house?"
"He has been there several times to my knowledge. He's as sweet on
Dora Stanhope as Josiah Crabtree is anxious over Mrs. Stanhope--and
neither person deserves any encouragement."
"I thought the engagement between Mrs. Stanhope and Crabtree was
off."
"It was--for the time being. But it seems Mr. Crabtree isn't
going to give her up--he is too anxious to get hold of Dora's
money," and with this remark Dick hurried to the parlor.
"Oh, Dick Rover!" cried Mrs. Stanhope, when he entered, "do tell
me what has become of Dora."
"Dora!" he repeated in bewilderment. "I don't know, I am sure.
Has she left home?"
"She hasn't been home since she answered your note yesterday
afternoon."
"My note? I sent her no note."
"But I found it lying on the dining-room table last evening, when
I came from my room. You see, I had been lying down with a
headache."
"Mrs. Stanhope, I sent Dora no note. If she got one that was
signed with my name it was a forgery."
"Oh, Dick Rover!" The lady had arisen on his entrance, now she
sank back into a faint.
The youth was greatly alarmed, and at once rang for one of the
servants and also for Captain Putnam.
"What is the matter?" asked the master of the Hall.
"Something is very much wrong, sir," replied Dick. "Dora
Stanhope has disappeared."
"Disappeared!"
"Yes, sir. She received some sort of a note signed with my name."
No more was said just then, Dick, the captain, and the servant
doing all they could to restore Mrs. Stanhope to consciousness.
When the lady finally came to her senses she could not keep from
crying bitterly.
"Oh, where can my Dora be?" she moaned. "Something dreadful has
happened to her--I feel certain of it."
"Where is that note?" asked Dick.
"I left it on the mantelpiece in our dining room. It said: 'Dear
Friend Dora: Meet me as soon as you can down at the old boathouse
on the lake. I have something important to tell you,' and it was
signed 'Richard Rover.'"
"Mrs. Stanhope, as true as I stand here, I never wrote that note
or sent it."
"I believe you, Dick. But who did send it?"
"Some enemy who wanted to get her away from the house--Dan
Baxter or--" Dick paused.
"Or who?"
"Well, Josiah Crabtree, if you must know. He hates her and he
wants to separate her from you."
At the mention of Josiah Crabtree's name a curious shiver passed
over Mrs. Stanhope. "We--we'll not talk about Mr. Crabtree,"
she faltered. "But, oh, I must have my Dora back!" And then she
came near to fainting again.
"I would like to go over to the Stanhope cottage and
investigate," said Dick, after the lady had been placed in Mrs.
Green's care. "To my mind it won't do to lose time, either."
"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam. "But be careful
and keep out of trouble."
"Can I take Tom and Sam with me?"
At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly. "Always like
to be together, eh? All right, I don't know but what it will be
safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and Dick
lost no time in telling his brothers. In a few minutes the trio
set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long
time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again.
CHAPTER XV
DICK'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD
The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to
find nobody in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some
clothing in the back yard.
Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went
inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned.
"I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said Dick slowly.
"It is," came from Sam. "I know it from the flourishes on the
capitals. He was always great on flourishes."
"We won't waste time here," went on Dick. "Let us go down to the
old boathouse."
They were soon on the way, along a road lined with brush and
scrubby cedars, the trees which in years gone by had given
Cedarville its name.
At the old boathouse everything was quiet and not a soul was in
sight. Walking to the end of the house float they gazed out on
the lake.
"Not a boat anywhere," murmured Dick. "Now, what could have
become of Dora, do you suppose?"
"It's ten to one that Baxter took her off in Mumps' boat!" cried
Tom. "By jinks, I think I see through this. Don't you remember
the plot Josiah Crabtree and Mumps were hatching? I'll wager
they are all in this, to get Dora away from her mother."
"I believe Tom is right," came from Sam. "And if that is true,
Dora was taken off on a boat beyond a doubt.'
"If she was it won't take very long to find her," returned Dick.
"Let us go to Cedarville and see if anybody has seen the _Falcon_."
Dick had scarcely spoken when a small steam tug hove into sight,
bound up the lake.
"There's a tug now!" exclaimed Tom. "Hi there! Hi!" he yelled.
"Stop!"
The captain of the tug heard him and saw him waving his hand,
and, slowing up, made a half circle toward shore.
"What's wanted, young man?" he asked. "Anything wrong?"
"Yes, a good deal is wrong," replied Tom. "Have you seen a yacht
named the _Falcon_ today?"
"No, but I saw her late yesterday afternoon," was the reply.
"Around here?"
"No, further down the lake. I think she was bound for Cayuga."
"Did you notice who was on board?"
"You seem to be very particular about it."
"We are particular. A young lady has disappeared, and we think
she was taken away on that yacht," explained Dick, as the steam
tug came to a halt.
"Is that so? Yes, I did see a young lady on board of her. She
called to our boat as we passed, but I thought it was only in
fun."
"I guess she wanted you to help her," said Dick bitterly. Then
he continued suddenly: "Have you anything to do just now?"
"No; I was going up to Ithaca to look for a tow."
"What will you charge to take us down to Cayuga?"
The captain of the tug thought for a moment. "Three dollars. It
ought to be worth that to find the young lady."
"We'll go you," answered Dick promptly. "Swing in and we'll jump
aboard."
Captain Lambert did as requested, and in a moment more the three
Rover boys were on board of the _Cedar Queen_, as the craft was
named. The captain proved to be a nice man and became thoroughly
interested in the story the lads had to tell.
"I hope we spot the rascals," he said. "I'll certainly do all I
can for you."
The _Cedar Queen_ was a little craft and somewhat slow, and the
boys fretted a good bit at the long time it took to reach Cayuga.
When they ran into the harbor of the town at the foot of the lake
they looked in vain for the _Falcon_.
"We'll take a sail around," said Captain Lambert; and this they
did, continuing the hunt until long after dark.
"It's no use!" groaned Dick. "We've missed her."
It took nearly all the money the boys could scrape up between
them to pay off the captain of the tug, and when they had been
landed at one of the docks they wondered what they had best do
next.
"We've got to stay here over night," said Dick.
"We may as well telegraph to Captain Putnam for cash," and this
they did, and put up at one of the hotels.
The place was crowded, for there was a circus in the town and a
public auction of real estate had also taken place that day. The
boys could get only a small room, but over this they did not
complain. Their one thought was of Dora and of the rascals who had
carried her off.
"We must get on the track somehow," said Dick. But how, was the
question. He could not sleep and after the others had retired
took a long walk, just to settle his nerves.
Dick's walk brought him to the lot where the circus had held
forth, and for some time he watched the men as they worked under
the flaring gasoline torches, packing up what still remained on
the grounds. The tent men had to labor like slaves in rolling up
the huge stretches of canvas and in hoisting the long poles into
the wagons, and he shook his head grimly as he turned away.
"No circus life in mine," he mused, "at least, not that part of
it."
Dick had moved away from the grounds but a short distance when
his attention was attracted to the strange movements of two
rough-looking individuals who were hurrying off with a third man
between them.
"I don't want to go, I tell you," the middle man muttered; "I
don't want more to drink."
"That's all right, Mr. Castor," said one of the other men glibly.
"Just have one more glass, that's a good fellow."
"I won't take it, so there!" cried the man called Castor. "I
know when I've had enough."
"You've got to come along with us," put in the third man
savagely. "You owe us some money."
"I don't owe you a cent, Fusty."
"Yes, you do--and I'm bound to have it. Hold him, Mike, till I
go through him."
Of a sudden there was a struggle, and the man called Castor found
himself helpless, while the fellow called Fusty began to go
through his pockets with great rapidity.
The scene alarmed Dick, and he wondered what he had best do.
Then he made up his mind to go to Castor's assistance, and ran
forward.
"Here, let that man alone!" he cried, as he picked up a fence
picket which happened to lie handy. "Leave him alone, I say!"
"The Old Nick take the luck!" muttered one of the other men.
"Who's this?"
"Help! Help!" cried Castor.
"Let him alone, I say!" repeated Dick, and then struck at one of
the men and hit him on the arm.
Seeing himself thus re-enforced, Castor also struck out, and
continued to call for help.
"We might as well give it up, Fusty!" cried one of the rascals,
and took to his heels, and then there was nothing to do for the
other man but to follow him.
"Are you hurt?" asked Dick as he helped the man who had been
assaulted to his feet.
"Not much," was the slow reply. "Young man, you came in time and
no more."
"Do you know those fellows who just ran away?"
"I met them at the circus this afternoon. We had several drinks
and they became very friendly. I believe they were after my
money."
"I think so too, Mr."
"My name is George Castor. And who are you?"
"I am Dick Rover, sir."
"Rover, I must thank you for your services. I shan't forget you,
not me!" and George Castor held out his hand cordially. "I think
I made a mistake by drinking with those fellows."
"I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Castor."
"Do you reside in town?"
"No, sir; I am stopping at the hotel with my brothers. We just
came into town tonight on rather a curious errand."
"Indeed, and what was that?"
In a few words Dick explained the situation. He had not yet
finished when George Castor interrupted him.
"My boy, you have done me a good turn, and now I think I can
return the compliment."
"Do you mean to say you know something of this case?" demanded
Dick eagerly.
"Perhaps I do. Describe this Dan Baxter as well as you can, will
you?"
"Certainly." And Dick did so.
"It is the same fellow. I met him last night, down near the
lumber wharves. You see, I am a lumber merchant from Brooklyn,
and I have an interest in a lumber company up here."
"You saw Baxter? Was he alone?"
"No, there was another man with him, a tall, slim fellow, with an
unusually sour face."
"Josiah Crabtree to a T!" burst out Dick. "Did you notice where
they went?"
"I did not. But I overheard their talk. They spoke about a boat
on the Hudson River, the _Flyaway_. They were to join her at
Albany."
"Who was to join her?"
"This Baxter, if it was he, and somebody else--a man called
Muff, or something like that."
"Mumps! You struck them, sure enough! But did they say anything
about the girl?"
"The tall man said that he would see to it that she was
there--whatever he meant by that."
"I can't say any more than you, Mr. Castor. But I guess they are
going to carry Dora Stanhope through to Albany from all
appearances."
"Then perhaps you had better follow."
"I'd go at once if I had the money that I have telegraphed for.
You see, my brothers and I came away in a hurry, for the
Stanhopes are close friends of ours."
"Don't let the matter of money worry you. Do you know how much I
have with me?
"I haven't the slightest idea, sir."
"Nearly eleven hundred dollars--and if those rascals had had
the chance they would have robbed me of every dollar of it."
"I shouldn't think you would carry so much."
"I don't usually; but I was paid a large bill today, and went to
the circus instead of the bank--not having seen such a show in
years. But to come back to business. Will a hundred dollars see
you through?"
"You mean to say you will loan me that much?"
"Perhaps I had better give it to you, as a reward for your
services."
"I won't take it, for I don't want any reward. But I'll accept a
loan, if you'll make it, and be very much obliged to you,"
continued Dick.
"All right, then, we'll call it a loan," concluded George Castor,
and the transfer of the amount was made on the spot. Later on
Dick insisted upon returning the money.
CHAPTER XVI
THE SEARCH FOR THE "FLYAWAY"
"Tom! Sam! Get up at once!"
"What's the row now, Dick?" came sleepily from Tom. "Have you
discovered anything?"
"Yes! I've discovered a whole lot. Get up if you want to catch
the next train."
"The next train for where?" demanded Tom, as he hopped out of
bed.
"The next train for Albany."
"Have they taken Dora to Albany?" questioned Sam, as he too arose
and began to don his garments.
"I think so," was the elder brother's reply, and while the pair
dressed, Dick told of what had occurred and what he had heard.
"This is getting to be quite a chase," was Tom's remark. "But I
reckon you are right, and we'll land on them in the capital."
"If we aren't too late," answered Dick.
"I'd like to know how they are going to take Dora to Albany if
she doesn't want to go?" came from Tom, when they were dressed
and on their way to the railroad station.
No one could answer this question. "Josiah Crabtree is a queer
stick and can do lots of queer things," was what Dick said.
The train left at half past two in the morning, and they had not
long to wait. Once on board, they proceeded to make themselves
as comfortable as possible, each having a whole seat to himself,
and Sam and Tom went to sleep without much trouble. But Dick was
wide awake, wondering what would be the next move on reaching
Albany.
"Poor Dora!" he murmured. "Oh, but that crowd shall be punished
for this! If she comes to harm it will almost kill Mrs.
Stanhope." And his heart sank like a lump of lead as he thought
of his dearest friend in the power of her unscrupulous enemies.
It was just getting daylight when the long train rolled into the
spacious depot at the state capital. Only a few working people
and newsboys were stirring. Tom and Sam pulled themselves
together with long yawns.
"Sleeping in a seat doesn't come up to a bed, by any means,"
remarked Tom. "Which way now?"
"We'll go down to the river and look for the _Flyaway_," answered
his elder brother.
"It will be like looking for a needle in a hay-stack," said Sam.
"The boats are pretty thick here."
"That is true, but it is the best we can do," replied the elder
Rover.
Once along the river front they began a careful inquiry
concerning the boat of which they were in search.
"Not much progress," remarked Tom, after two hours had been spent
in vain. "This climbing from one dock to the next is decidedly
tiring."
"And I'm hungry," put in Sam. "I move we hunt up a restaurant."
An eating place was not far away, and, entering, they ordered a
morning meal of ham and eggs, rolls, and hot coffee.
While they were eating a man came in and sat down close by them.
It was Martin Harris, the fellow who had come to their assistance
after the collision between the _Spray_ and the _Falcon_.
"Hullo, how are you?" he said heartily. "Still cruising around
in your yacht?"
"No, we just got back to Albany," replied Dick. "We've been to
school since we left you."
"I see. How do you like going back to your studies?"
"We liked it well enough," put in Tom. "But we left in a hurry!"
he went on, thinking Martin Harris might give them some
information. "Have you been out on the river yet this morning?"
"Yes; just came up from our place below to do a little trading."
"Did you see anything of a yacht called the _Flyaway_?"
"The _Flyaway_? What sort of a looking craft is she?"
"I can't tell you that."
"One boat there attracted my attention," said Martin Harris
slowly. "I saw two boys and a girl on board of her."
"How was the girl dressed?" cried Dick.
"She had on a light-blue dress and a sailor hat."
"And the boys?"
"One was dressed in gray and the other in dark-blue or black."
"That was the boat! Where did she go?" ejaculated Dick, who
remembered well how Mumps and Baxter had been attired, and the
pretty dress and hat Dora was in the habit of wearing.
"She was bound straight down the river."
"We must follow her."
"That's the talk!" burst out Tom. "But how?"
"What do you want to follow the _Flyaway_ for?" asked Martin Harris
curiously.
"Those two boys are running away with that girl!"
"Impossible!"
"No, it isn't. One of the fellows--the fellow in dark clothing--is
the chap who ran into us that day."
"Well, now, do you know I thought it looked like him," was
Harris' comment. "And, come to think of it, that boat got as far
away from me as she could."
"Do you think you would know her again? I mean the _Flyaway_--if
we got anywhere near her?" asked Dick.
"I think I would, lad. She had a rather dirty mainsail and jib,
and each had a new patch of white near the top. Then, too, her
rig is a little different from what we have around here. Looked
like a Southern boat."
"Have you your boat handy?"
"Yes, she's right at the end of this street. Do you want me to
follow up that crowd?"
"Could your boat catch the _Flyaway_, do you think?"
"My boat, the _Searchlight_, is as good a yacht as there is
anywhere around, if I do say it myself," answered Martin Harris
promptly. "It you don't believe it, try her and see."
"We will try her," came promptly from Dick. "And the sooner you
begin the chase the better it will suit me."
"All right; we'll start as soon as I've swallowed this coffee,"
answered the skipper of the _Searchlight_. "But, hold on, this may
prove a long search."
"Do you want to make terms?"
"I wasn't thinking of that. I'll leave it to you as to what the
job is worth, after we're done. I was thinking that I haven't
any provender aboard my yacht, if we want to stay out any length
of time."
"I'll fix that," answered Dick. "Come, Sam. You say the yacht
is at the foot of the street?"
"Yes."
"We'll be there in less than five minutes."
"Where are you going--to buy provisions?"
"Yes."
Dick made off, followed not only by Sam, but likewise by Tom. He
found a large grocery close at hand, and here purchased some
coffee, sugar, canned meat and fish, a small quantity of
vegetables, and also several loaves of bread and some salt. To
this Tom added a box of crackers and Sam some cake and fruit, and
with their arms loaded down they hurried to the _Searchlight_.
Martin Harris was on hand, and ready to cast off. "Hullo, you
did lay in some things?" he grinned. "I reckon you calculate
this chase to last some time."
"We've got enough for several days, anyway--that is, all but--water,"
returned Dick.
"I've got a whole barrel full of that forward, lad."
"Then we are ready to leave. I hope, though, we run the _Flyaway_
down before noon," concluded the elder Rover, as he hopped on
board.
Leaving Sam to stow away the stores as he saw fit, Dick and Tom
sprang in to assist Martin Harris, and soon the mainsail and jib
were set, and they turned away from the dock and began the
journey down the Hudson. As soon as they were clear of the other
boats, the skipper set his topsail and flying jib, and they
bowled along at a merry gait, the wind being very nearly in their
favor and neither too strong nor too slack.
"Now I'd like to hear the particulars of this case," remarked
Martin Harris, as he proceeded to make himself comfortable at the
tiller. "You see, I want to know just what I am doing. I don't
want to get into any trouble with the law."
"You won't get into any trouble. Nobody has a right to run off
with a girl against her will," replied Dick.
"That's true. But why are they running off with her?"
"I think they have been hired to do it by a man who wants to
marry the girl's mother," went on Dick, and related the
particulars of what had occurred.
Martin Harris was deeply interested. "I reckon you have the best
end of it," he said, when the youth had finished. "And you say
this Dan Baxter is a son of the rascal who is suspected of
robbing Rush & Wilder?"
"Yes."
"Evidently a hard crowd."
"You are right--and they ought all of them to be in prison,"
observed Tom. "By the way, have they heard anything of those
robbers?"
"The detectives are following up one or two clues. One report was
that this Baxter and Girk had gone to some place on Staten
Island. But I don't think they know for certain."
CHAPTER XVII
IN WHICH DORA IS CARRIED OFF
Perhaps it will be as well to go back a bit and learn how poor
Dora was enticed into leaving home so unexpectedly, to the sorrow
of her mother and the anxiety of Dick and her other friends.
Dora was hard at work sweeping out the parlor of the Stanhope
cottage when she saw from the window a boy walking up the garden
path. The youth was a stranger to her and carried a letter in
his hand.
"Is this Mrs. Stanhope's place?" he questioned, as Dora
appeared.
"Yes."
"Here's a letter for Miss Dora Stanhope," and he held out the
missive.
"Whom is it from?"
"I don't know. A boy down by the lake gave it to me," was the
answer, and without further words the lad hurried off, having
received instructions that he must not tarry around the place
after the delivery of the communication.
Tearing open the letter Dora read it with deep interest.
"What can Dick have to tell me?" she mused. "Can it be something
about Mr. Crabtree? It must be."
Dropping her work, she ran upstairs, changed her dress, put on
her hat, and started for the boathouse.
It took her but a short while to reach the place, but to her
surprise nobody was in sight.
"Can I have made some mistake?" she murmured; when the _Falcon_
hove into view from around a bend in the shore line.
"Is that Miss Stanhope?" shouted a strange man, who seemed to be
the sole occupant of the craft.
"Yes, I am Dora Stanhope," answered the girl.
"Dick Rover sent me over from the other side of the lake. He
told me if I saw you to take you over to Nelson Point."
Nelson Point was a grove situated directly opposite Cedarville.
It was a place much used by excursionists and picnic parties.
"Thank you," said Dora, never suspecting that anything was wrong.
"If you'll come in a little closer I will go with you."
The _Falcon_ was brought in, and Dora leaped on board of the yacht.
She had scarcely done so when Mumps and Dan Baxter stepped from
the cabin.
"Oh, dear!" she gasped. "Where--where did you come from?"
"Didn't quite expect to see us here, did you?" grinned the former
bully of Putnam Hall.
"I did not," answered Dora coldly. "What--where is Dick
Rover?"
"Over to Nelson Point."
"Did he send you over here for me?"
"Of course he did," said Mumps.
"I do not believe it. This is some trick!" burst out the girl.
"I want you to put me on shore again."
"You can't go ashore now," answered Baxter.
"Ease her off, Goss."
"Right you are," answered Bill Goss. "What's the course now?"
"Straight down the lake."
"All right."
"You are not going to take me down the lake!" cried Dora in
increased alarm.
"Yes, we are."
"I--I won't go!"
"I don't see how you are to help yourself," responded Baxter
roughly.
"Dan Baxter, you are a brute!"
"If you can't say anything better than that, you had better say
nothing!" muttered Baxter.
"I will say what I please. You have no right to carry me off in
this fashion!"
"Well, I took the right."
"You shall be locked up for it."
"You'll have to place me in the law's hands first."
"I don't believe Dick Rover sent that letter at all!"
"You can believe what you please."
"You forged his name to it."
"Let us talk about something else."
"You are as bad as your father, and that is saying a good deal,"
went on the poor girl bitterly.
"See here, don't you dare to speak of my father!" roared the
bully in high anger. "My father is as good as anybody. This is
only a plot against him--gotten up by the Rovers and his other
enemies."
Dan Baxter's manner was so terrible that Dora sank back on a camp
stool nearly overcome. Then, seeing some men at a distance, on
the shore, she set up a scream for help.
"Here, none of that!" ejaculated Mumps, and clapped his hand over
her mouth.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "Help! Help!"
"We'll put her in the cabin," ordered Dan Baxter, and also caught
hold of Dora. She struggled with all the strength at her
command, but was as a baby in their grasp, and soon found herself
in the cabin with the door closed and locked behind her.
It was then that her nerves gave way, and, throwing herself on a
couch, she burst into tears.
"What will they do with me?" she moaned. "Oh, that I was home
again!"
It was a long while before she could compose herself sufficiently
to sit up. In the meantime the _Falcon_ was sailing down the lake
toward Cayuga with all speed.
"This must be some plan of Josiah Crabtree to get me away from
home," she thought. "Poor mother! I wonder what will happen to
her while I am away? If that man gets her to marry him what will
I do? I can never live with them--never!" And she heaved a
deep sigh.
Presently she arose and walked to the single window of which the
cabin boasted. It was open, but several little iron bars had
been screwed fast on the outside.
"They have me like a bird in a cage," she thought. "Where will
this dreadful adventure end?"
Hour after hour went by and she was not molested. Then came a
knock on the cabin door.
"Dora! Dora Stanhope!" came in Dan Baxter's voice.
"Well?"
"Will you behave yourself if I unlock the door?"
"It is you who ought to behave yourself," she retorted.
"Never mind about that. I have something for you to eat."
"I don't want a mouthful." And Dora spoke the truth, for the
food would have choked her.
"You had better have a sandwich and a glass of milk."
"If you want to do something, give me a glass of water," she said
finally, for she wished a drink badly, the cabin was so hot and
stuffy.
Baxter went away, and presently unlocked the door and handed her
the water, of which she drank eagerly.
"Where are you going to take me?" she questioned, as she passed
back the glass.
"You'll learn that all in good time, Dora. Come, why not take
the whole matter easy?" went on the bully, as he dropped into a
seat near her.
"How can I take it easy?"
"We won't hurt you--I'll give you my word on that."
She was about to say that his word was not worth giving, but
restrained herself. If she angered Baxter, there was no telling
what the fellow might do.
"Is this a plot of Josiah Crabtree's?" she asked sharply.
Baxter started. "How did you--" he began, and stopped short.
"You had better not ask any questions."
"Which means that you will not answer any?"
"You can take it that way if you want to, Dora."
"It was a mean trick you played on me."
"Let's talk of something else. We are going to leave the _Falcon_
soon, and I want to know if you are going with us quietly?"
"Leave the _Falcon_?"
"Yes, at Cayuga."
"Are we there already?" gasped Dora in dismay.
"We soon will be."
"I don't wish to go with you."
"But we want you to go. If you go quietly all will be well--and I'll
promise to see you safe home in less than twenty-four hours."
"You wish to keep me away from home that length of time?"
"If you must know, yes."
"And why? So Josiah Crabtree can--can--" She did not finish.
"So that Mr. Crabtree can interview your mother--yes," put in
Mumps, who had just appeared. "Baxter, there's no use in beating
around the bush. Crabtree is bound to marry Mrs. Stanhope, and
Dora may as well know it now as later."
CHAPTER XVIII
STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
"That man will never marry my mother with my consent!" burst out
the unhappy girl.
"She probably won't ask your consent," sneered Mumps.
"She would not marry him if I was with her. He only has an
influence over her when I am away."
"Exactly--and he knows that," put in Baxter.
"Do you mean to say Josiah Crabtree is going to marry her now?"
demanded Dora, springing to her feet.
"More than likely."
"Then he--he hired you to carry me off?"
"We'll talk about something else," said the bully. "Will you
leave the _Falcon_ quietly?"
"Where do you want me to go?"
"To the home of an old lady who will treat you as nicely as she
possibly can."
Dora shook her head. "I don't wish to go anywhere excepting
home, and I won't submit a bit longer than I have to."
"Don't be foolish!" exclaimed Mumps. "We might treat you a good
deal worse if we were of a mind to do so. Crabtree told us to
bind and gag you."
"He did?"
"Yes. He says you are a perfect minx."
A few words more followed, and then both of the boys left the
cabin.
"She won't submit," whispered Mumps.
"What had we best do?"
"Use the drug Crabtree gave us," answered Baxter. "It's a lucky
thing I brought that vial."
"Yes--if we don't have any trip-up in the matter," answered the
toady, with a doubtful shake of his head. Mumps had gone into
the whole scheme rather unwillingly, but now saw no way of
backing out.
A little later the _Falcon_ ran into the harbor of Cayuga and came
to anchor close to one of the docks. Then Baxter appeared with
some sandwiches and a glass of milk.
"You might as well eat; it's foolish not to," he said, and set
the food on a little stand.
By this time Dora was very hungry, and as soon as the bully had
left she applied herself to what had been brought. Poor
creature, she did not know that both sandwiches and milk had been
doctored with a drug calculated to make her dull and sleepy!
She had hardly finished the scant meal when her eyes began to
grow heavy. Then her brain seemed to become clouded and she
could scarcely remember where she was.
"Here's news!" cried Baxter, coming in an hour later. "We are to
join your mother and Mr. Crabtree at Albany."
"At Albany?" she repeated slowly. "Have--have they gone
there?"
"Yes; they are going on a honeymoon on the yacht _Flyaway_. Your
mother wants you to join her and forgive her."
Dora heaved a long sigh. "I cannot! I cannot!" she sobbed, and
burst again into tears.
Nevertheless, she allowed herself to be led off the _Falcon_ and to
the depot. "Your face is full of tears," said Baxter. "Here,
put this veil over it," and she was glad enough to do as bidden,
that folks might not stare at her.
What happened afterward was very much like a dream to her. She
remembered entering the cars and crouching down in a seat, with
Baxter beside her. A long ride in the night followed, and she
slept part of the way, although troubled with a horrible
nightmare. She wanted to flee, but seemed to lack both the
physical and mental strength to do so.
The ride at an end, Baxter and Mumps almost carried her to the
river. Here the _Flyaway_ was in waiting. Bill Goss had gone on
ahead and notified his wife that she was wanted. It may as well
be added here that Mrs. Goss was as coarse and unprincipled as
her husband.
When Dora's mind was once more clear she found herself in a much
larger cabin than that she had formerly occupied. She lay on a
couch, and Mrs. Goss, a fat, ugly-looking creature, sat beside
her.
"Are you awake, dear?" asked the woman as smoothly as she could.
"Who--who are you?" asked Dora feebly.
"I am Mrs. Goss."
"I don't know you. Where--where is my mother--and Mr. Crabtree?"
"You'll have to ask Mr. Baxter or Mr. Fenwick about that."
"Do you belong on this boat?"
"I do, when I go out with my husband."
"Was he the man who was with those boys?"
"Yes."
"Where are we now?"
"On the Hudson River, just below Albany."
"Where are they going to take me next?"
"You had better ask Mr. Baxter. I was only brought on board to
wait on you."
"Then that means that they wish to take me quite a distance!"
cried Dora, and ran on deck.
Mumps and Baxter were talking earnestly together near the bow.
At once she ran to them.
"Where is my mother?"
"You'll see her soon," answered the former bully of Putnam Hall.
"It was another trick of yours!" burst out Dora. "And I think
you gave me something last night to make me sleepy."
"What if we did?" came from Mumps.
"You are all right now."
"I do not want to go another step with you." Dora looked around
and saw a strange boat passing. "Help! help!" she screamed.
At once there was another row, in which not only the boys, but
also Bill Goss and his wife, took a hand. In the end poor Dora
was marched to the cabin and put under lock and key.
If the girl had been disheartened before, she was now absolutely
downcast.
"They have me utterly in their power!" she moaned over and over
again. "Heaven alone knows where they will take me!" And then
she sank down on her knees and prayed that God might see her
safely through her perils.
Her prayer seemed to calm her, and she felt that there was at
least one Power that would never desert her.
"Poor, poor mamma, how I wish I knew what was happening to her!"
she murmured.
Slowly the hours went by. Mrs. Goss came and went, and Dora was
even allowed to go on deck whenever no other boat was close at
hand. Thus Martin Harris saw her; but, as we know, that meeting
amounted to nothing.
It was Mrs. Goss who served the meals, and as Dora could not
starve, she was compelled to eat what was set before her, the
fare being anything but elaborate.
"Sorry, but we haven't got a hotel chef on board," observed Dan
Baxter, as he came in during the supper hour. "But I'll try to
get something better on board at New York."
"Do you mean to say you intend to take me away down to that
city?" queried Dora.
"Humph! we are going further than that."
"And to where?"
"Wait and see."
"Are you afraid to tell me?"
"I don't think it would be a wise thing to do."
"We are just going to take a short ocean trip--" began Mumps, when
Baxter stopped him.
"Don't talk so much--you'll spoil everything," remarked the
bully.
"An ocean trip!" burst out Dora. "No! No! I do not wish to go
on the ocean."
"As I said before, I think you'll go where the yacht goes."
"Does my mother know anything of this?"
"She knows you are away," grinned Mumps.
"You need not tell me that!" exclaimed Dora. "You are a mean,
mean boy, so there!" And she turned on her heel and walked off.
She wished she had learned how to swim. They were running quite
close to shore, and she felt that a good swimmer could gain land
without much effort. Then a man came out from shore in a large
flatboat.
"Help! Help!" she cried. "Save me, and I will reward you well!
They are carrying me away from home!"
"What's that?" called out the man, and Dora repeated her words
before any of the others could stop her.
"All right, I'll do what I can for you," said the man, and
running up beside the yacht, which had become caught in a sudden
calm, he made fast with a boathook.
CHAPTER XIX
DORA TRIES TO ESCAPE
"Now we're in a pickle!" whispered Mumps. "That man may cause us
a whole lot of trouble."
"You let me do the talking," answered Dan Baxter. "Help Goss get
her back to the cabin."
"I won't go back!" screamed Dora. "Let me be!" And she ran for
the rail.
But Mumps caught hold of her and dragged her back. Then Bill
Goss approached, followed by his wife.
"You must go below, miss," said the sailor.
"Come, Nancy, give us a lift."
Poor Dora found herself at once surrounded and shoved back. She
tried to call out again, but Mumps checked her with that
ever-ready hand of his.
"Be careful!" shouted Baxter, for the benefit of the man on the
flatboat. "Treat her with care, poor girl."
"All right," grinned Mumps. "Come, down you go," he went on, to
Dora, and literally forced her down the companionway.
Once in the cabin she was left in Mrs. Goss' care. The door was
locked, and Goss and Mumps went on deck to learn what Baxter was
doing.
"What does this mean?" asked the man in the flatboat. He was a
farmer, who had just been taking a load of hay across the stream.
"Oh, it's all right," answered Baxter carelessly. "That's my
sister."
"Your sister?"
"Yes."
"What's the row?"
"No row at all--excepting that I am trying to get her back to
the asylum."
"Is she crazy?"
"A little bit; but not near as bad as she used to be. She got
out of the asylum in Brooklyn yesterday, and I've had my hands
full trying to get her back. She imagines she is a sea captain
and always runs off with my uncle's yacht."
"I see. That's putty bad for your family."
"Oh, yes; but we are getting used to it. Take care, we are going
to swing around."
Never suspecting that he had been regaled with a string of
falsehoods, the farmer let go with his boathook, and yacht and
flatboat speedily drifted apart.
It was with a big sigh of relief that Dan Baxter saw the flatboat
recede in the distance.
"That was a narrow shave," he muttered. "If that fellow had
insisted on talking to Dora there would have been a whole lot of
trouble."
In vain Dora waited for the man to come on board. He had said
that he would do what he could for her. Surely he would not
desert her!
But as the time slipped by her heart failed her and she gave
herself up to another crying spell. This caused Mumps and Goss
to withdraw, and she was left alone again with Mrs. Goss.
"Where are we now?" she asked at length.
"We are approaching New York," was the answer.
"And that man, what of him?"
"Oh, he didn't come an board."
It was night when the _Flyaway_ came to a landing near the upper
portion of the metropolis. The boys and Bill Goss went ashore,
leaving Dora in Mrs. Goss' care.
"Be careful and don't let her escape," cautioned Dan Baxter. "We
won't be gone very long."
Baxter had left for a telegraph office, expecting to receive a
message from Josiah Crabtree.
For half an hour Mrs. Goss sat in the cabin watching Dora, who
was pacing the floor impatiently.
"Make yourself comfortable, miss," said the woman. "It won't do
you any good to get all worked up over the matter."
"You do not understand my situation, Mrs. Goss," faltered Dora.
"If you did understand, I am sure you wouldn't keep me a prisoner
in this fashion."
"I am only obeying orders, miss. If I didn't my Bill would
almost kill me."
"Is he so harsh to you?"
"He is now. But he didn't used to be--when he didn't drink."
"Then he drinks now?"
"Yes; twice over what is good for him."
"Where have they gone?"
"To a telegraph office."
"Didn't they say they would be back soon?"
"Yes."
Dora said no more, but sank down on the couch. Then an idea came
to her mind, and lying back she closed her eyes and pretended to
go to sleep.
The woman watched her closely for a while; then, satisfied that
the girl had really dropped off, gave a long sigh of relief.
"I guess I can get a little sleep myself," she muttered. "I
think I deserve it."
She locked the cabin door carefully and placed the key in her
pocket. Then she stretched out in an easy chair with her feet
on a low stool.
Dora watched her out of the corner of her eye as a cat watches a
mouse.
Was the woman really sleeping?
Soon Mrs. Goss' breathing became loud and irregular.
"She must be asleep," thought Dora, and stirred slightly.
Mrs. Goss took no notice of this, and with her heart in her
throat the girl slipped noiselessly from her resting place and
stood up.
Still the woman took no notice, and now Dora found herself
confronted by a most difficult task.
Without the key to the cabin door she could do nothing, and how
to obtain the much coveted article was a problem.
With trembling hands she sought the pocket of Mrs. Goss' dress
only to find that the woman was sitting on the key!
"Oh, dear, this is the worst yet!" she murmured.
As she stood in the middle of the cabin in perplexity, her captor
gave a long sigh and turned partly over in her chair.
The pocket was now free and within easy reach, and with deft
fingers Dora drew the key forth and tiptoed her way to the cabin
door.
She was so agitated that she could hardly place the key in the
keyhole.
The lock had been used but seldom, and the action of the salt air
had rusted it greatly.
As the key turned there was a grating sound, which caused Mrs.
Goss to awaken with a start.
"What's the matter? Who is there?" she cried, and turned around
to face the cabin door.
"Come back here! Come back!"
She started after Dora, who now had the cabin door wide open.
Away went girl and woman up the low stairs. But Dora was the
more agile of the two, and terror lent speed to her limbs.
On the deck, however, she came to a pause. The _Flyaway_ was a
good six feet from the dock, and between lay a stretch of dark,
murky water the sight of which made her shiver. What if she
should fall in? She felt that she would surely be drowned.
But as Mrs. Goss came closer her terror increased. She felt that
if she was caught she would be treated more harshly than ever for
having attempted to run away.
"I'll take the chances!" she though, and leaped as best she
could. Her feet struck the very edge of the string piece beyond
and for an instant it looked as if she must go over. But she
clutched at a handy rail and quickly drew herself to a place of
safety.
And yet safety was but temporary, for Mrs. Goss followed her in
her leap and struck the dock directly behind her.
"Come back, you minx!" she cried, and caught Dora by the skirt.
"I won't come back! Let me be!" screamed the girl, and tore
herself loose, ripping her garment at the same time. Then she
started up the dock as swiftly as her trembling limbs would carry
her.
But fate was against her, for as she gained the very head of the
dock, Bill Goss appeared, followed by Baxter and Mumps.
"Hullo, who's this?" cried the sailor. "The gal, sure as you are
born!"
"She is running away!" called out Mrs. Goss. "Stop her!"
"Here, this will never do," roared Dan Baxter. "Come here, Dora
Stanhope!" and he made a clutch at her.
Soon the two boys were in pursuit, with the sailor close behind.
Fortunately for the evildoers the spot was practically deserted,
so that Dora could summon no assistance, even though she began to
call for help at the top of her lungs.
The girl had covered less than a half-block when Baxter ranged up
alongside of her.
"This won't work!" he said roughly. "Come back," and he held her
tight.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "Help! Help!"
"Close her mouth!" put in Mumps. "If this keeps on we'll have
the police down on us in no time!"
Again his hand was placed over Dora's mouth, while Baxter caught
her from behind. Then Goss came up.
"We'll have to carry her," said the former bully of Putnam Hall.
"Take her by the feet."
"Wot's the meanin' o' this?" cried a voice out of the darkness,
and the crowd found themselves confronted by a dirty-looking
tramp who had been sleeping behind a pile of empty hogsheads.
"Help me!" cried Dora. "Bring the police! Tell them I am Dora
Stanhope of Cedarville, and that I--"
She could get no further, for Mumps cut her short.
"Dora Stanhope," repeated the tramp.
"If you forget this, my man," said Baxter, "here's half a dollar
for you. This lady is my cousin who is crazy. She just escaped
from an asylum."
"T'anks!" came from the tramp, and he pocketed the money in a
hurry. Then he ran off in the darkness.
"He's going to tell the police anyway!" cried Goss. "You had
better get away from here."
"You are right," responded Mumps. "Hurry up; I don't want to be
arrested."
As quickly as it could be done they carried Dora aboard of the
yacht and bundled her into the cabin.
"Now keep her there!" cried Baxter to Mrs. Goss. "After we are
off you can explain how she got away."
"She hit me with a stick and knocked me down," said the woman
glibly. "She shan't get away a second time."
Once again poor Dora found herself a prisoner on board of the
_Flyaway_. Then the lines were cast off, the sails set, and they
stood off in the darkness, down New York Bay and straight for the
ocean beyond.
CHAPTER XX
A LONG CHASE BEGUN
As they journeyed down the Hudson the boys and Martin Harris
scanned the river eagerly for some sign of the _Flyaway_.
"It's ten to one she put down a pretty good distance," remarked
Dick. "They wouldn't bring Dora over here unless they were bound
for New York or some other place as far or further."
"I believe you," said Tom. "But she may be delayed, and if what
Harris says is true the _Searchlight_ ought to make better time
than Baxter's craft."
Several miles were covered, when, Sam, who had just come up from
the cabin, called attention to a farmer who was ferrying a load
of hay across the river.
"If he's been at that sort of work all day he may know something
of the _Flyaway_," he suggested.
"We'll hail him, anyway," said Tom. "It won't do any harm,
providing we don't lose any time."
So the farmer was hailed and asked if he had seen anything of the
craft.
"Waal now, I jest guess I did," he replied. "They war havin'
great times on board of her--a takin' care of that crazy gal."
"A crazy girl!" cried Dick. "Who said she was crazy?"
"One of the young men. He said she was his sister and had
escaped from some asylum. She called to me to help her. But I
don't want nuthin' to do with crazy gals. My wife's cousin was
out of his head and he cut up high jinks around the house,
a-threatenin' folks with a butcher knife."
"That girl was not crazy, though, as it happens," said Dick
coldly. "That villain was carrying her away from home against
her will. She was no relation to him."
"By gosh!" The farmer's face fell and he stared at the youth
blankly. "You are certain of this?"
"Yes. We are after the crowd now. If we catch them we'll put
them in prison, just as sure as you are the greatest greeny we
ever met," continued Dick, and motioned to Harris to continue the
journey.
The farmer wanted to "talk back," as the saying is, but could
find no words. "Well, maybe I deserved it," he muttered to
himself. "I was tuk in, no doubt on't." And he continued to
ferry his hay load along.
"Well, we are on the right track, that's one satisfaction," said
Tom. "That farmer couldn't have done much against a man and two
big boys."
"He could have gone ashore and got help," replied Dick. "But he
was so green he took in all that was told to him for simple
truth. How Dan Baxter must have laughed over the way his ruse
worked!"
"Yes, and Mumps too," added Sam. "Say, we ought to punch their
heads well for them when we catch them."
"Let us get our eggs before we cook them," said Tom. "By the
way, I'm getting hungry."
"Ditto," came from Harris. "Will you boys see what you can
offer? I don't like to leave the tiller, for I know just how to
get the best speed out of the _Searchlight_."
"I'll get up some kind of a meal," said Sam, who had played cook
on many previous occasions.
Inside of half an hour he had the table set and Harris was called
down, Dick taking his place. By the time all hands had been
served they were in sight of upper New York City.
"Now we had better take in some sail," said the old sailor. "The
yachts are pretty thick around here and we will miss the _Flyaway_
without half trying unless we are careful."
By the time it was dark they were pretty well down the water
front of the metropolis. A consultation was held, and it was
decided to lower the mainsail and topsail and leave only the jib
flying.
"We can't go much further tonight, anyway," said Harris. "I
don't know but what it may be as well to tie up somewhere."
"We'll have to do that unless we can catch some sort of clue,"
responded Dick gloomily. "If they have taken her to some place
in New York we'll have a big job to find her."
A half-hour passed, and they were on the point of turning in at a
dock when Tom gave a cry. "Look! Look!"
"What's up, Tom!" came from Dick and Sam simultaneously.
"Is that the _Flyaway_?"
All gave a look and saw a large yacht moving away from a dock
just below where they had thought to stop.
"Call Harris!" cried Dick, and Sam ran to the cabin for the
sailor, who had just gone below.
"I reckon that's our boat," said Martin Harris, after a quick
look.
"Hark!" cried Dick, and held up his hand. "That's Dan Baxter's
voice, just as sure as fate."
"I believe you," returned Sam. "Come, we can run her down in no
time."
As quickly as it could be accomplished the course of the
_Searchlight_ was changed. But the tall buildings of the city cut
off a good deal of wind, and it took several minutes before they
could get their sails filled.
"Boat ahoy!" shouted Tom, before Dick could stop him. "Is that
the _Flyaway_?"
"That's Tom Rover!" came back, in Mumps' voice. "They have
tracked us, after all!"
"Tom, what made you call?" demanded Dick in disgust. "We might
have sneaked upon them unawares."
"Never mind, I reckon we can catch them any how," returned Tom,
but he was crestfallen, nevertheless, as he realized the truth of
his elder brother's observation. "Crowd on the sail, Harris."
"That's what I am a-doin'," came from the sailor. "We'll catch
'em before they gain the Battery."
"Yes, but we must be careful," said Dick. "We don't want to have
a collision with some other boat."
"No, indeed," put in Sam. "Why, if one of those big ferryboats
ran into us there would be nothing left of the _Searchlight_."
"You jest trust me," came from Martin Harris, "I know my
business, and there won't be any accidents."
"The other yacht is making for the Jersey shore," cried Sam, a
little later. "If we don't look out we'll lose her. There she
goes behind a big ferryboat."
"She's going to try to bother us," grumbled Martin Harris, as he
received a warning whistle from the ferryboat and threw the yacht
over on the opposite tack. "The fellow who is sailing that boat
knows his business."
"It's that Bill Goss, I suppose," said Tom. "There they go behind
another ferryboat."
"It won't matter, so long as we keep her in sight," said Harris.
"We are bound to run her down sooner or later."
Inside of half an hour the two boats had passed the Statue of
Liberty. The course of the _Flyaway_ was now straight down the
bay, and the Rover boys began to wonder where Dan Baxter and his
crowd might be bound.
"They must have Dora a close prisoner," mused Dick, with a sad
shake of his head. "That is if they didn't leave her in New
York," he added suddenly.
"Do you suppose they did that?" asked Sam.
"Perhaps--there is no guessing what they did."
"We missed it by not telegraphing back to the authorities at
Cedarville to arrest Josiah Crabtree," said Tom. "I think we can
prove that he is in this game before the curtain falls on the
last act."
"We'll telegraph when we get back," answered Dick, never thinking
of all that was to happen ere they should see the metropolis
again.
Gradually the lights of the city faded from view and they found
themselves traveling down the bay at a rate of five to six knots
an hour.
"We don't seem to be gaining," remarked 'Tom, after a long
silence. "I can just about make her out and that's all."
"But we are gaining, and you'll find it so pretty soon," answered
Martin Harris. "They had the advantage in dodging among those
other boats, but now we've got a clear stretch before us."
On and on went the two yachts, until the _Flyaway_ was not over
five hundred feet ahead of the _Searchlight_.
"What did I tell you?" said Harris. "We'll overtake her in less
than quarter of an hour."
"This is a regular yacht race," smiled Dick grimly. "But it's
for more than the American Cup."
"Keep off!" came suddenly from ahead. "Keep off, or it will be
the worse for you!"
It was Dan Baxter who was shouting at them. The former bully of
Putnam Hall stood at the stern rail of the _Flyaway_ and was using
his hands like a trumpet.
"You had better give up the race, Baxter!" called Dick in return.
"You can't get away from us, no matter how hard you try."
"Keep off," repeated Baxter. "We won't stand any nonsense."
"We are not here for nonsense," put in Tom. "What have you done
with Dora Stanhope?"
"Don't know anything about Dora Stanhope," came back from Mumps.
"You have her on board of your boat."
"It's a falsehood."
"Then you left her somewhere in New York."
"We haven't seen her at all," put in Baxter. "If you are looking
for her you are on the wrong trail. She went away with Josiah
Crabtree."
"Did he take her to Albany?"
"No. They went West."
"We do not believe you, Baxter," said Dick warmly. "You are one of the
greatest rascals I ever met--not counting your father--and the best
thing you can do is to surrender. If you don't you'll have to take the
consequences."
"And we warn you to keep off. If you don't we'll shoot at you,"
was the somewhat surprising response.
"No, no; please don't shoot at them!" came in Dora's voice. "I
beg of you not to shoot!"
She had escaped from Mrs. Goss' custody and now ranged up
alongside of Dan Baxter and her other enemies who were handling
the _Flyaway_. Her hair was flying wildly over her shoulders and
she trembled so she could scarcely stand.
CHAPTER XXI
THE MEETING IN THE BAY
"There is Dora now!" cried Dick, and his heart leaped into his
throat at the sight of his dearest friend.
"Dick Rover, are you there?" came from the girl in nervous tones.
"Yes, Dora, I am here, with my brothers and a sailor friend."
"Save me, please!"
"We will!" came from all of the Rover boys in concert.
"Take her below!" roared Baxter angrily, as he turned to Mrs.
Goss, who had followed Dora to the dock. "Didn't I tell you to
keep a close eye on her?"
"She said she wished to speak to you," answered the woman. "I
thought she wanted to make terms with you."
Mrs. Goss caught Dora by the wrist and, assisted by Mumps,
carried her below. She struggled and tried to fight them off,
and her cries, reaching Dick, made the youth long to be at her
side.
"Let her alone, Baxter!" he cried hotly. "If you harm her you
shall pay dearly for it, remember that!"
"Talk is cheap, Dick Rover," came back with a sneer. "Now keep
off, or I'll do as I threatened."
"You won't dare to fire on us."
"Won't I? Just come a little closer and you'll see."
By this time the two yachts were not over a hundred feet apart,
the _Searchlight_ to the starboard of her rival. So, far the
countless stars had brightened up the bosom of the ocean, but now
Martin Harris noted a dark mass of clouds rolling up from the
westward.
"We'll have it pretty dark in a few minutes," he cautioned. "If
you want to haul up close, better do it at once."
"All right, run them down," ordered Dick, half recklessly. "I
don't care how much their boat is damaged, so long as I save the
girl. Mumps ran me down, remember."
"I reckon I can sheer 'em all right enough," grinned Harris, who
by this time had entered fully into the spirit of the adventure.
"But will they shoot?"
"I don't believe they have any firearms," said Tom. "And if they
have I don't think Baxter could hit the side of a house at fifty
yards."
"Are you going to keep off or not?" yelled Baxter. "I'll give
you just ten seconds in which to make up your mind."
"By jinks! He has got a gun!" whispered Sam, as he caught a
glint of the polished barrel. "The villain!"
"Baxter, you are playing a foolish game," answered Dick. "What
do you intend to do with Dora Stanhope?"
"That's my business. I shan't harm her--if you'll promise to
leave me alone."
"Did you run off with her on Crabtree's account?"
"It's none of your business," put in Mumps, who had just returned
to the deck, after making sure that Dora should not get away from
Mrs. Goss again for the time being.
"It is my business."
"You're awfully sweet on her, ain't you?"
"Do you know it's a State's prison offense to abduct anybody?"
"I haven't abducted anybody. She came of her own free will--at
first. It's not my fault if she's sick of her bargain now."
"I don't believe a word you say."
"Do as you please. But are you going to keep off or not?"
"We'll not keep off."
"Then I'll fire on you."
"If you do so, we'll fire in return," said Sam. "Maybe we can
scare him too," he added, in a whisper.
"I don't believe you've got any weapon," came from Mumps, in a
voice that the toady tried in vain to steady. If there was one
thing Mumps was afraid of it was a gun or a pistol.
"Try us and see," said Tom. Then he raised his voice. "Harris,
bring up that brace of pistols you said were in the locker."
"All right," answered the sailor, catching at the ruse at once;
and he hurried below, to return with two shining barrels, made of
the handles of a dipper and a tin pot. He held one of the tin
barrels out at arm's length. "Shall I fire on 'em now?" he
demanded at the top of his voice.
"Don't!" shrieked Mumps, and dropped out of sight behind the
mainmast of the _Flyaway_.
The toady had scarcely uttered the word when a loud report rang
out, and a pistol bullet cut its way through the mainsail of the
_Searchlight_. Baxter had fired his gun, but had taken good care to
point the weapon over the Rover boys' heads. The bully now ran
for the cabin, expecting to receive a shot in return, but of
course it did not come.
By this time the two yachts were almost side by side and running
along at a high rate of speed. Harris got out his boathook to
catch fast to the _Flyaway_, when a cry from Tom made him pause.
"Help me! Don't leave me behind!"
"Great Caesar!" gasped Sam. "Tom's overboard!"
"Down with the mainsail!" roared Harris.
"How did he fall over the side?"
"He tried to jump to the other boat," said Dick, who had seen the
action. "I was just thinking of doing it myself."
With all possible speed the big sheet of the _Searchlight_ was
lowered, and then they turned as fast as the wind would permit,
to the spot where unlucky Tom was bobbing up and down on the
swells like a peanut shell.
"Catch the line!" cried Dick, and let fly with a life preserver
attached to a fair-sized rope. His aim was a good one, and soon
Tom was being hauled aboard again with all possible speed.
"Oh, what a mess I made of it!" he panted when he could catch his
breath. "I'm not fit to hunt jack rabbits."
"It's lucky you weren't run down by the yacht and killed," said
Dick. "I was going to jump, but when I saw you go down I thought
better of it."
Ten minutes of precious time had been lost, and now the _Flyaway_
was once more far in the distance. She was heading for shore,
and soon the oncoming darkness hid her from view.
"Now what's to be done?" questioned Sam.
"She'll slip us sure."
"She can't go very far," answered Harris. "The water-line around
here is rather dangerous in the dark."
"Is that a storm coming up?" asked Dick.
"I wouldn't be surprised."
With care they continued on their way, taking the course they
surmised their enemies had pursued.
"There is some kind of land!" cried Sam, who was on the watch.
"What place is that, Harris?"
"Becker's Cove, so they call it," answered the old tar. "It's
not far from Staten Island."
"Do you think they came in here?"
"If they did I reckon they calculate to stay over night."
"Why?"
"Because they'll want a pilot otherwise. It's rather dangerous
sailing about here--especially in the dark."
Five minutes later found them close to shore, and the sails were
lowered and the anchor cast out.
"I'm going to land," said Dick, and, after a consultation, it was
decided that he should take Sam with him, leaving Tom and Martin
Harris to keep watch from the yacht. If either party discovered
anything, a double whistle twice repeated was to notify the
others.
Now that Dan Baxter had actually opened fire on them, Dick wished
he had a firearm of some sort. But none was at hand, nor did he
know where to obtain such a thing in that vicinity, and the best
he and Sam could do was to cut themselves clubs out of some brush
growing not far from the shore line.
The spot at which they had landed was by no means an inviting
one. It looked like a bit of dumping and meadow ground, and not
far away rested the remains of half a dozen partly decayed canal
boats which the tide had washed up high in the bogs years before.
"If they landed around here I'd like to know where they went to,"
grumbled Sam, after he and his big brother had trudged around for
half an hour without gaining any clue worth following. "It
begins to look as if we had missed it, doesn't it?"
"Never give up, Sam. We have got to find them, you know."
"Yes, if we don't break our necks before that time comes, Dick,"
and as Sam spoke he went down into a meadow hole up to his knees.
Dick helped him out, and as he did so the sound of two voices
broke upon their ears.
"You needn't come if you don't want to, Mumps," came out of the
darkness, in Dan Baxter's voice. "I only thought you would be
glad of the chance."
"There they are," whispered Dick. "Lie down, and we'll see where
they are bound, and if Dora is with them."
He threw himself to earth, and Sam followed. In another moment
Baxter and his toady came into plain view, although still some
distance away.
"I'll come," came from Mumps. "But I didn't expect to meet your
father here."
"I did. He's been here for several days. That's the reason why
I had Goss bring the _Flyaway_ over. I'm going to kill two birds
with one stone."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to carry Dora Stanhope off, just as old Crabtree
wanted, and I'm going to give my father a lift."
"You mean that you are going to help him to escape from the
authorities?"
"I didn't put it that way. He wants to keep out of sight."
"It amounts to the same thing, Dan."
"As you will. Will you come, or do you want to go back to the
yacht?"
"I--er--I guess I'll come," faltered the toady. "But we must
be careful."
"To be sure. I reckon I have as much at stake as you."
The two passed out of hearing, and Dick touched his brother on
the arm.
"Did you hear that, Sam?" he asked excitedly.
"I did. What can it mean?"
"Mean? It means that Dan Baxter's father is in the neighborhood
and Dan is going to call on his parent."
"I know that, but--"
"You are surprised that father and son are equally bad? I'm not;
I thought it all along."
"What will you do?"
"Follow them."
"Will you whistle for Tom and Martin Harris?"
"No; that might arouse suspicion. Let us follow them alone.
When they return to their yacht we can tell the others,"
concluded Dick.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BAXTERS MAKE A NEW MOVE
As silently as possible Dick and Sam came after Baxter and his
toady John Fenwick. The pair of evildoers left the stretch of
meadow as fast as they could, and hurried up a narrow path
leading to a half-tumbled-down brick factory.
At the corner of the dilapidated building they paused, and Dan
Baxter emitted a long, low whistle. A silence of several seconds
followed, and then a man appeared out of the darkness.
"Who's dat?" came the question.
"It's me, Girk--Dan Baxter," replied the former bully of Putnam
Hall with small regard for the grammar that had been taught to
him.
"Who's dat with you?"
"Mumps. He's all right."
"I don't know about dat. Yer father t'ought yer would come
alone," growled the tramp thief.
"I've got a new movement on, Buddy. Take us to my father without
delay."
"Is dat fellow to be trusted?"
"Yes, you can trust me," replied Mumps with considerable
nervousness. His steps in the direction of wrong were beginning
to frighten him.
At the start he had thought of nothing but to aid Josiah Crabtree
in his suit with Mrs. Stanhope, and had calculated that after the
marriage the running off with Dora would be overlooked. But
here he was taking the girl miles from her home and associated
with two men who had robbed a firm of bankers of many thousands
of dollars. The outlook, consequently, worried him very
much.
"All right, den," muttered Buddy Girk. "Follow me."
He disappeared within the ruined factory, and Baxter and Mumps
went after him. Listening intently at a broken-out window, Dick
and Sam heard them ascend to an upper floor.
"I guess we have tracked Arnold Baxter," whispered Dick. "I
wonder if he and Girk have that stolen money and the securities
here?"
"More than likely, Dick. Thieves don't generally leave their
booty far out of their sight, so I've been told."
"I would like to make sure. I wonder if we can't go inside and
hear some more of their talk?"
"We would be running a big risk. If Arnold Baxter caught us he
would--would--Well, he wouldn't be very friendly, that's
all," and Sam gave a shiver.
"I'm going in. You can remain outside, on watch. If you want
me, whistle as we agreed."
"But be careful, Dick!" pleaded the younger brother.
"I will be."
"And don't stay too long," added Sam, who did not relish being
left alone in such a forlorn looking spot, and in the intense
darkness which had now settled down over them.
"I won't be any longer than necessary, you can depend on that,"
replied the big brother.
As silently as a cat after a mouse, Dick entered the gloomy
building and felt his way over the half-rotted floor to where the
stairs were located.
Ascending these, he found himself in something of a hallway, the
upper floor of the building being divided into several apartments
by wooden partitions nine or ten feet in height.
From one of the apartments shone a faint light. To this he made
his way, and, looking through a good-sized knot-hole in the
partition, he saw Arnold Baxter, Girk, and the two newcomers,
seated on several boxes and boards. On one box stood a candle
thrust in the neck of a bottle, some liquor and glasses, and a
pasteboard box containing a cold lunch.
"So you're glad I've come, eh?" Dan Baxter was saying to his
father.
"Yes, I am glad," was the slow reply, "that is--I want to get
away from here as soon as possible."
"Why don't you go?"
"I'm afraid to go up into the town. I would prefer to go away by
boat."
"To where?"
"To Searock, on the Jersey coast."
"Do you want us to take you there?"
"If you can do it, Dan. I'll give Mumps and your sailor friend
a nice little sum for your trouble."
"And don't I get anything?" cried the son sharply.
"To be sure, Dan."
"How much?"
"I'll give you a hundred dollars."
"Pooh! What's that? I want more."
"We'll arrange that later."
"You and Girk are making a fortune out of this deal."
"Not as much as you think."
"I've read the newspapers and I know how much was in the haul. I
want a thousand dollars."
"We'll arrange that afterward, Dan. Remember, in the future what
is mine is yours."
"Now you're talking, dad," was the bully's quick reply. "I like
the way you are doing things, and I'm going to stick to you as
soon as this little matter Mumps and I have on hand is settled."
"All right, you shall stay with me," responded the elder Baxter.
"Where is your boat?"
"Not over half a mile from here."
"All ready to sail?"
"Yes."
"Then let us make off at once."
"Dat's it," put in Buddy Girk. "I'm afraid the police will let
down on us any minit."
"The trouble is, that other boat I mentioned is after us."
"How many are on board?"
"The three Rover boys and an old sailor."
"Four, and we'll be five, not counting the woman you mentioned.
I don't think I am afraid of the Rovers," returned Arnold Baxter.
"Besides, can't we get away from them in the dark without their
knowing what is up?"
"Perhaps we can," said the son slowly. "The trouble is--What's that?"
Dan Baxter stopped short, as a cracking sound broke upon their
ears.
Dick had stepped on a rotten board, and it went down. His foot
was caught and held at the ankle, and before he could extricate
himself Arnold Baxter and Buddy Girk had him in their grasp.
"Dick Rover again!" ejaculated Arnold Baxter. "Where did you
come from?"
"Your son can tell you that," answered Dick. "Let go of me!"
"To be sure I will!" returned the elder Baxter sarcastically.
"Are you alone?"
"You can look for yourself."
"I don't see no buddy here," announced Girk, as he held up the
candle. "Maybe somebody is downstairs."
"I'll go down and see," put in Dan Baxter.
Fearful that Sam might be caught, Dick did his best to break
away. "Sam! Sam! look out for yourself!" he yelled. "Don't let
them catch you! Call Tom and Harris, and the police, quick!"
"Hang the luck!" muttered Arnold Baxter. "We must cut for it,
and be lively about it, too."
"Take de swag," said Girk, referring to a tin box hidden under
the flooring of the factory. In this was hidden the money and
securities stolen from Rush and Wilder.
He ran off to get the box. In the meantime Arnold Baxter stood
undecided as to what to do. Then he raised his fist and struck
Dick with an unexpected blow to the temple.
"Take that, you imp!" he cried, and the youth went down at full
length more than half stunned.
In the meantime Sam heard the rapid footsteps and the cry of
alarm, and his heart leapt to throat. Then, as Dan Baxter and
Mumps came towards him, he retreated in the direction of the
_Searchlight_, giving the danger signal as he ran.
"I've got de box!" shouted Buddy Girk to Arnold Baxter. "Wot's
de next move?"
"Follow me," said Dan Baxter. "And lose no time. That other boy
will soon have the whole neighborhood aroused."
Away went the crowd out of the factory, the bully leading. Once
down in the meadow, Dan Baxter hurried them off in the direction
of a tiny cove where the _Flyaway_ lay at anchor, with Bill Goss on
watch at the stern and Mrs. Goss in the cabin with Dora.
As quickly as they could do so, one after another tumbled on
board of the yacht. They heard cries in the distance, as Tom and
Martin Harris leaped ashore to join Sam.
"Up the mainsail!" roared Dan Baxter, and Goss obeyed the order
with alacrity. At the same time Dan Baxter and Mumps pulled up
the anchor; and in less than two minutes the _Flyaway_ was standing
out into the bay.
CHAPTER XXIII
DOWN THE STATEN ISLAND SHORE TO SANDY HOOK
"Dick! Dick! What ails you?"
"My head, Sam! Arnold Baxter struck me down," came with a groan.
"Can you get up? We want to follow them," cried Tom, as he
caught his brother by the arm. He had just reached the factory
on a dead run, lantern in hand, to find Dick.
"I guess I can stand, Tom. But I can't run yet."
"Here, take the lantern and I'll carry you," came quickly, and in
a moment more Tom Rover had Dick on his back and was running for
the _Searchlight_ as rapidly as the nature of the meadow land
permitted, Dick holding the light over his head so that both
might see.
The alarm had now become general, and by the time the yacht was
gained two police officers, who had been on the hunt for harbor
thieves, appeared.
"What's the row about?" demanded one of the officers of the law,
as he came into view.
"Is that an officer?" questioned Dick feebly,
"I am an officer--yes."
"We are after some thieves and some parties who have abducted a girl.
Will you help us?"
"Certainly, if what you say is true. Where is the crowd?"
"They ran off in that direction," came from Sam, as he loomed up
out of the darkness. "They have a yacht out there somewhere."
"Then we can't catch them--unless we get a boat," answered
Sergeant Brown.
"We have a boat, out this way," and Sam pointed with his hand.
"But I guess we had better make certain that they go out first."
"True for you, young man. Lead the way and we'll be with you."
All ran on again, Tom bringing up in the rear with Dick. Soon
the cove previously mentioned was gained. They were just in time
to see the _Flyaway_ disappearing in the darkness.
"Come back here!" cried Tom. "If you don't it will be the worse for
you!"
"Don't you attempt to follow us!" came savagely from Arnold
Baxter. "If you do, somebody will get shot!"
"By crickety, he's a bad one!" cried the second police officer.
"Stop! I order you to stop, in the name of the law!" shouted
Sergeant Brown.
"It's the police!" howled Mumps in sudden terror. "Oh, dear!
I knew we should catch it."
"Shut up," muttered Dan Baxter. "Run up the jib, Goss, and be
quick about it!"
"You do it--I'll have to steer here," answered the sailor, and
Dan Baxter leaped for the sheet mentioned.
"Are you going to stop?" cried Sergeant Brown, after a few
seconds' pause.
To this there was no answer. The sergeant drew his pistol, but
before he could use it, even if he so intended, the yacht was
nothing but an uncertain shadow in the gloom of the night.
"We had better get to your boat," said the police officer.
"All right; come on," said Sam, and showed the way, which was
decidedly uncertain. At one point there was a wide ditch to
cross, and Tom had his hands full getting Dick over.
Martin Harris was watching for them, and had all ready to cast
off should this be required.
"I'm mighty glad you found the police," he said to Dick, who now
felt able to do for himself once more. "Will they go with us?"
"You are certain those folks on the other boat are thieves?"
demanded Sergeant Brown. "Carter and I don't want to go off on
any wild goose chase."
"They are not only thieves, but abductors," said Dick. "We can
easily prove it. They must be caught if it is possible to do
so."
"All right then, we'll go with you. Come, Carter," and the two
officers hopped on board. Soon the mainsail was set, followed by
all the other available canvas, and the _Searchlight_ was
continuing the chase which had been so curiously broken off.
Martin Harris was in the dark so far as knowing what course the
_Flyaway_ had taken, and had to trust to luck to fall in with the
fleeing craft.
"If she's going outside of Staten Island, I reckon I can spot her
before long," he said.
"It looks to me as if the clouds were blowing away," said Tom.
"If they do, the starlight will help us a good deal."
As the yacht tore along through the water, the two police
officers listened with close attention to what the boys had to
tell them.
"If they are the men who robbed Rush & Wilder it will make a fine
haul to capture them," said Sergeant Brown.
"We want to save Dora Stanhope as much as we want to catch those
thieves," returned Dick. "I wonder if her disappearance has been
reported to the police?"
"I can't say. You see, Carter and I have been out all day
looking for a pair of harbor thieves who stole some clothing from
a pleasure yacht lying off the Staten Island shore."
"Did you see anything of your men?"
"We saw them; but they got away in a rowboat. Where they have
gone to is hard telling. But I don't imagine the theft amounted
to much--at least, it was nothing in comparison to the crimes
you are trying to run down."
On and on went the _Searchlight_ through the night, and slowly but
surely the clouds in the heavens cleared away, letting the stars
shine down once more on the silent waters.
Suddenly Martin Harris gave a murmur of satisfaction. "There she is."
"The _Flyaway_!" came from several of the others.
"Yes. Just as I thought; she is heading down the Staten Island
shore straight for Sandy Hook."
"They are bound for Searock!" cried Dick suddenly. "Mr. Baxter
mentioned the place just before they discovered that I was spying
on them."
"That's a good way down the New Jersey coast," said Sergeant
Brown. "Can this boat stand such a sail?"
"Can she?" snorted Harris. "She's strong enough to go to Europe
if you want to make the trip."
"Thank you; when I go to Europe I'll go in a steamer," laughed
the police officer. "I don't think you'd do much in a heavy
blow."
"The _Searchlight_ would hold her own," answered the old sailor
confidently.
The breeze was increasing, and they rounded the Narrows at a
lively rate. The swell from the ocean now struck them, and the
yacht occasionally dipped her nose a little deeper into it than
was expected.
"Here, I don't want, to get wet!" cried Carter. "I'm no sailor,
you know."
"You won't get much," laughed Harris. "This roll is just enough
to be pleasant."
"Perhaps--to some people," came from the policeman, who had
never cared for the rolling deep and who was beginning to feel a
trifle seasick. Fortunately for him, however, the sickness
proved mild and of short duration.
The _Flyaway_ was now in plain sight but too far off to be spoken.
She had every sail set to its fullest, and for the time being it
seemed impossible for the _Searchlight_ to gain upon her. Thus
mile after mile was covered, until Sandy Hook lighthouse could be
plainly seen but a short distance away.
"We are out in the ocean now," remarked Dick an hour later.
"Gracious, when I left Cedarville I didn't think that this was
going to develop into such a long chase!"
"Never mind how far we go, if only the chase proves a success,"
answered Tom. "If we succeed in not only rescuing Dora, but also
in bringing those thieves to justice, it will be a big feather in
our caps."
"I'm glad the police are along," came from Sam. "They must be
well armed, and I don't see how Arnold Baxter and the others will
dare resist them."
"They will dare a good deal to keep out of prison, Sam," remarked
Dick. "They know well enough that if they are caught it may mean
a long term for each of them."
On and on went the two yachts until Sandy Hook lighthouse was
left in the distance. Once it began to cloud over as if there
was a storm in sight, but soon the rising sun came out brightly
over the rim of the ocean.
When it came mealtime Sam prepared the repast, and all, even the
officers of the law enjoyed what was served to them. "It gives
one an appetite, this salt air," was Sergeant Brown's comment.
Soon they were standing down the New Jersey coast, but so far out
on the ocean that the shore line was little more than a dark
streak on the horizon.
"Are we gaining?" That was the question each asked, not once but
a score of times. Martin Harris felt sure that they were; but if
this was so, the advantage on the side of the _Searchlight_ was but
a slight one.
CHAPTER XXIV
SEARCHLIGHT AND LANTERN
"One thing is in our favor," remarked Dick, as the day wore away
and the distance between the two yachts seemed undiminished.
"Even if we don't succeed in catching them before tonight we know
where they are bound."
"Perhaps it might be as well to hang back!" burst in Tom. "If we
remain in sight they won't land as intended."
"The thing of it is, they may change their plans, especially if
they think your brother overheard their talk," put in the police
sergeant. "My idea is, they'll keep right on down the coast
until the darkness hides them from us. Then they'll try to sneak
in some cove or river and abandon the boat."
"They'll have a job taking Dora Stanhope along," was Sam's
remark. "I don't believe she'll go another step willingly."
"As if she has gone willingly!" said Dick.
"Well, I mean she'll be more on her guard than she was, and
they'll have more of a job to make her go along."
Night settled down gradually and found every heart full of
serious speculation. Dick was especially affected, for he had
hoped to see Dora rescued hours before.
"Goodness only knows where they will take her by morning!" he
groaned. "I'd give almost anything to be at her side!"
With the going down of the sun the wind died away and the sails
of the _Searchlight_ flapped idly to and fro.
"Now it's a waiting game," announced Martin Harris. "If we can't
move neither can they."
"Just the same, the _Flyaway_ is turning out to sea!" cried Tom.
"Now what can that mean?"
"That may be only a blind," said Carter.
"No, they are afraid of drifting on the sands," answered the
skipper of the _Searchlight_. "I reckon we'll have to turn out,
too," and he changed the course of the yacht.
Darkness found both boats far out on the Atlantic and almost out
of sight of each other.
"This is maddening!" cried Dick. "Can't we row, or do
something?"
"Rowing wouldn't count much, I'm afraid," laughed Martin Harris.
"But don't fret. Unless I am mistaken, we'll have a breeze
before midnight."
"And they may be out of sight long before that time!"
"That's to be seen, lad. I'll watch the thing closely, for I'm
as anxious to catch 'em as you are."
"I'd give a good deal for a small boat."
"So would I."
"I thought all yachts carried them."
"They do generally, but mine was stove in at a Catskill dock
about a week ago and is being repaired."
"Here comes the wind!" shouted Sam, half an hour later, and when
the _Flyaway_ was almost out of sight. "Now, Harris, let us make
the most of it."
"We will, and I hope there isn't too much of it," was the quick
reply.
Soon the breeze struck them, and, as it came from shore, it hit
the _Searchlight_ first and drove her fairly close to the other
yacht. But before anything could be said or done, the other
craft also moved; and then the chase began as before.
"We're getting all we want now," announced Tom, as the wind grew
heavier. "Just look how the yacht dips her nose into the brine!"
"We'll have to shorten sail before long," said Martin Harris.
"If we don't, a sudden gust might make us lose our stick."
"I'd like to see the _Flyaway_ lose her mast!" cried Tom. "It
would just serve the Baxters right if they went to the bottom."'
"No, we don't want to see that yacht harmed," put in Dick
quickly. "Remember, Dora is on board--and that stolen fortune,
too."
Swiftly both yachts flew on their outward course, the ocean
growing more tempestuous each minute. The police officers viewed
the turn of affairs with alarm.
"If it's not safe, let us turn back," whispered Carter.
"Don't get scared so soon," replied Harris, who overheard the
remark. "I've been' in a worse blow than this, twice over."
The sails were reefed, and they continued on their course. The
_Flyaway_ was now but a shadow in the gloom, and presently even
this died out.
"The chase is over," announced Harris with disgust. "Hang the
luck anyhow!"
"What do you, mean?" demanded Dick.
"She's out of sight, and there is no telling now how she will
turn."
"But she can't tack back in this wind."
"She can make a putty good try at it, lad."
"Not much of a one, lad. There is a little electric battery and
light in the cabin, one that was used by a professor that I took
out two years ago, when the yacht was built. He was interested
in electricity and he made the light himself. I never used it,
for I didn't understand how it worked."
"Let us look at the light; perhaps we can do something with it,"
said Dick.
"That's the talk," came from Tom. "Anything is better than
holding your hands and doing nothing."
Martin Harris was willing, and led the way into the cabin.
Battery and light were stored away in a couple of soap boxes, and
the boys brought them out and set them on the cabin table.
"I think I can fix these up," said Dick, after a long
examination. "The batteries are not in very good shape, but I
think they will do. They are meant to work on the same plan as
these new electric lights for bicycles, only they are, I reckon,
more powerful."
"Well, do what you please with the machine," said Martin Harris.
"In the meantime, I'll see what I can do with a lantern and a tin
reflector. Sometimes you can see a white sail putty good with a
tin reflector."
He hurried to the deck again, and Sam, who was not much
interested in electricity, followed him. One of the best of the
yacht's lanterns was polished up to the last degree, and they
also polished the metal reflector until it shone like a newly
coined silver piece.
"That's a good light!" cried Sam, when it was lit up. "Where
will you place it?"
"Up at the top of the mast," answered the old sailor. "I'll show
you."
It took some time to adjust the lantern just right, but this
accomplished they found that they could see for a distance of a
hundred yards or more.
"I see the sail!" announced Harris. "Don't you--just over our
port bow?"
"I see it," answered Sergeant Brown. "Not very far off either."
Without delay the course of the _Searchlight_ was changed so that
she was headed directly for the _Flyaway_.
"Keep off!" was the cry out of the darkness. "Keep off, or it
will be the worse for you!"
"You may as well give up," shouted back the police sergeant.
"You are bound to be caught sooner or later."
"We don't think go. If it comes to the worst, remember, we can
do a heap of fighting."
"We can fight too," was the grim response.
"Dora! Dora! Are you safe?" shouted Sam, with all the strength
of his youthful lungs.
"Save me!" came back the cry. "Don't let them carry me further
away."
"We'll do our best, don't fear."
Dora wanted to say more, but was prevented from doing so by
Mumps, who again hurried her below.
"You must lock her up," he said to Mrs. Goss, and once more the
unhappy girl found herself a prisoner in the cabin.
She had hoped for much during the chase along shore, but now her
heart sank like a lump of lead and she burst into tears.
"No use of crying," said Mrs. Goss. "It won't help you a bit."
"I want to be free!" sobbed Dora. "Where will they take me?"
"Never mind; you just be quiet and wait."
"But you are running directly out into the ocean!"
"What of that?"
"I don't wish to go."
"You'll have to take what comes, as I told you before."
"Mrs. Goss, have you no pity for me?"
"If I did have it wouldn't do you any good, Miss Dora. I've got
to do as the men folks want me to do. If I don't they'll make--"
The woman did not finish what she was saying. A loud report rang
out on deck, followed by the distant crash of glass. Then came a
yell, followed by another report and more crashing of glassware.
"What can that mean?" burst out Dora, but instead of answering
her, Mrs. Goss bounced out of the cabin, locking the door after
her, and hurried to the deck.
CHAPTER XXV
A SHOT FROM THE DARKNESS
The shots which had reached Dora's ears had come from a gun in
the hands of Arnold Baxter.
The man had been enraged at the sight of the lantern on the mast
of the _Searchlight_, and, taking careful aim, had sent a charge of
shot into the affair, smashing globe, reflector, and tin cup, and
scattering the oil in all directions.
"Hurrah, I struck it!" shouted Arnold Baxter gleefully. "Now
they won't see us quite so plainly."
"Knock out the other lantern, pop," put in Dan Baxter, and the
parent turned in the second barrel of the shotgun with equal
success.
For an instant the deck of the _Searchlight_ seemed to be in
darkness. Sam felt a bit of hot glass strike him on the cheek
and raised his hand to brush it off. Then he felt something warm
on the back of his leg. Looking down he saw to his horror that
some of the oil from the lantern had fallen on him and that it
was ablaze!
"Help! Help!" he shrieked. "I'm burning up!"
His cry alarmed everybody, and all, even Dick and Tom, came
rushing to his aid. But Sergeant Brown was first, and he
promptly threw the boy down flat and, whipping off his coat,
began to beat out the flames.
Another shot now rang out, aimed at a third lantern, but the
light was not struck. By this time Martin Harris made the
discovery that the mainsail was on fire in two places, while the
jib was also suffering.
"This is getting hot!" he cried, when Carter opened up fire at
random, determined to do what he could. A yell and a groan
followed, and then all became quiet, and firing on both sides was
over.
Fortunately for Sam, the flames upon his person were quickly
extinguished, and all the lad really suffered was the ruin of his
trousers and an ugly blister on the calf of his leg. But he was
badly scared, and when it was over he had almost to be carried to
the cabin.
In the meantime Martin Harris procured several pails of water and
a long-handled swab and with these did what he could to
extinguish the fire on the sails. Several of the others joined
in, and inside of ten minutes all danger of a conflagration was
past.
"That's the worst yet!" growled the old sailor, as he surveyed
the mainsail, which had two holes in it each is large as a
barrel. "I'd like to wring the neck of the fellow as did it, yes
I would," and he shook his head determinedly.
"That's the end of that light," said Sergeant Brown. "What are
you going to do next?"
"I think I can get that searchlight to work," put in Dick. "But
will it be of any use? They may start to shooting again."
"We've got to have some kind of a light, even if it's only a
tallow candle," grumbled Harris.
"If we haven't got a light some coastwise steamer may run us
down."
He set to work to rig up a temporary light, and in the meantime
Dick returned to the cabin to experiment with the electric light.
He found Sam on the couch, bathing his leg with oil to take away
the sting of the bum.
"How is it, Sam--hurt much?"
"I suppose it might be worse," was the younger brother's reply.
"I wonder who fired that shot?"
"One of the Baxters, more than likely. They are a cold-blooded
pair."
"One or more of us might have been killed if we had been directly
behind the lights."
"That is true. I don't suppose Arnold Baxter would care much if
we were. He was father's enemy, you must remember, and he said
he hated all of us."
Sam resumed his bathing and Dick turned to the cabin table, upon
which the battery and other portions of the searchlight rested.
Dick had always been greatly interested in electricity and
therefore the parts of the battery before him were not hard for
him to understand.
But there was one trouble with the battery which did not reach
his eye as he turned it around and started it up. That was that
a portion of the insulation of a main wire was worn off.
As he turned on the current there was a flash and the light
blazed up almost as bright as day.
"That's fine!" cried Sam. "We'll be able to see the _Flyaway_ a
long distance off now."
"Well, I only hope when we put this up it won't be knocked out
like the other lights were."
"Of course we'll have to run that risk."
In a minute more Dick started to carry the searchlight to the
deck.
He had turned off the light proper, consequently the way to the
companionway was rather dark.
He had almost reached the top of the steps when Sam heard a
scream, saw a flash of fire, and then Dick came tumbling to the
cabin floor in a heap, with the battery and light beside him.
"My gracious, he's been shocked!" burst out the youngest Rover;
and, forgetting all about his burn, ran to his brother's
assistance.
"What's that noise?" came from the deck.
"Dick's been shocked by the searchlight!" cried Sam. "Come down
here, somebody, and let us see what we can do for him."
"Shocked, is it!" cried Sergeant Brown. "If that's the case,
look out that somebody else don't catch it."
Tom came tumbling down, followed by both police officers, and
Dick was picked up and deposited on the couch. Then Sam kicked
the searchlight and batteries into a corner.
"They can stay there for all I care," said he.
"They are too dangerous, unless, a chap knows just how to handle
them."
Dick lay with his eyes wide open, but unable to move. Tom bent
down and announced that his heart was still beating.
But little in the way of restoratives were at hand, and the most
they could do was to rub the youth's body in an attempt to
restore the circulation.
"Oh, I hope he isn't permanently injured!" cried Tom. "If he
should turn out a cripple it would be awful!"
"That's so," answered Sam. "Poor Dick! He's as bad off as if
those rascals had shot him."
Slowly Dick came to his senses. But he was very weak, and soon
he discovered that he was powerless to move his left arm.
"It's all numb," he announced. "It feels as if it was dead."
"Let me shake it for you," said Tom, and both brothers went to
work, but with small success. The arm hung down as limp as a
rag, and the left leg was nearly as badly off, although Dick said
he could feel a slight sensation in it, like so many needles
sticking him.
"You see, I've been afraid of that battery right along," said
Martin Harris. "The professor got shocked once, and he limped
around for a long while after."
"But he got over it at last, didn't he?" questioned Tom eagerly.
"I can't say about that. He went off, and I haven't seen him
since," was the unsatisfactory reply.
The injuries to Dick and to Sam had somewhat dampened Tom's
ardor, and he wondered what they had best do next, and spoke to
the police officers about it.
"I don't know of anything but to turn back to shore," said
Sergeant Brown. "We've lost them in the dark, and that is all
there is to it. If we go ashore we can send out an alarm, and as
soon as the _Flyaway_ is spotted, somebody will go out and arrest
everybody on board--I mean everybody but the young lady, of
course."
"But they may come ashore in the dark."
"And they may do that even if we stay out here--and then
they'll have more of an advantage than ever. No, I think the
best thing we can do is to turn back to the coast and make the
safest landing we can find."
When Dick heard of this, however, he shook his head. "Don't go
back yet," he pleaded. "See if you can't make out the _Flyaway_
somewhere. She won't dare to sail very far without a light."
"I don't go for giving up just yet," put in Martin Harris. "As
the lad says, she'll show a light very soon now--for there is a
coastwise steamer a-coming," and he pointed in the direction of
Sandy Hook.
He was right, and soon the many lights from the big steam vessel
could be plainly seen. She was heading almost directly for them,
but presently steered to the eastward.
"She must be almost in the track of the _Flyaway_," went on Martin
Harris. "Just wait and see if I ain't right."
They waited and watched eagerly, and thus five minutes passed.
Then from a distance they saw a light flash up.
"There she is!" cried Tom. "Let us head for her at once. They
won't keep that light out long--just long enough to let that
steamer go by."
Martin Harris was already at the tiller, and soon the _Searchlight_
was thrown over and was again dipping her nose in the long ocean
swells. The wind had died away only to freshen more than ever,
and the chase now became a lively one.
The enemy seemed to know that the exposure of their light had
given those on the _Searchlight_ the cue, and they were sailing as
rapidly as all of their canvas permitted. But Harris was now
handling his craft better than ever before, and slowly but surely
the distance between the two craft was diminished, until the
_Flyaway_ could be made out faintly even without a light.
"Don't lose her again," said Dick. "We must keep at it until we
run them down completely." And Harris promised to do his best.
It was now past midnight, and the police officers said they were
tired out and dropped into the cabin to take a nap. Dick
likewise remained below, trying to get up some circulation in the
lamed arm.
"Can't you feel anything?" queried Tom.
"I think I can," answered his big brother. "Yes, yes, it's
coming now!" he went on. "Thank God!" and he suddenly raised the
arm and bent the fingers of his hand. By daylight that member
of his body was nearly as well as ever. But this experience was
one which Dick has not forgotten to the present day.
Sam had bound up his burn with a rag saturated with oil and
flour, and announced that he felt quite comfortable. "But just
let me get hold of those Baxters," he added. "I shan't stand on
any ceremony with them."
"I don't believe any of us will," said Tom.
"But as anxious as I am to have this over, I would just as lief
have the chase last until morning. Then we'll be better able to
see what we are doing."
"Or trying to do," said Sam with a faint smile.
CHAPTER XXVI
A FLAG OF TRUCE
Sunrise found the two yachts far out on the ocean with land
nowhere in sight. The breeze was still stiff, but it was not as
heavy as it had been, and Martin Harris was unable to decrease
the space which separated his own craft from that of the enemy.
"You see, the _Searchlight_ is the better boat in a strong blow,"
he explained. "When the wind is light the _Flyaway_ has as good a
chance of making headway as we have."
"Well, one thing is certain," said Tom. "This chase can't last
forever."
"It may last longer than you imagine, lad."
"Hardly. We haven't more than enough provisions aboard to last
over today."
"Perhaps the other boat is even worse off," said Sergeant Brown
hopefully. "If that's the case we'll starve them out."
"I don't care what we do, so long as we rescue Dora and get that
stolen fortune," said Dick, as he dragged himself to the crowd,
followed by Sam.
"And how's Sam?" questioned Tom, turning to his younger brother.
"Oh, I'm all right--if it comes to fighting."
"And you, Dick?"
"I think I can do something--at least, I am willing to try."
Breakfast--a rather scant meal--had just been disposed of,
when Martin Harris uttered a shout.
"They want to do some talking," he announced.
"Why, what do you mean?" asked Dick.
"They are hoisting a white rag."
"Sure enough!" ejaculated Tom, as he pointed to a flag of truce
which Dan Baxter was holding aloft, fastened to an oar. "What do
you make of that?"
"They want to make terms," laughed Sergeant Brown. "I reckon
things are coming our way at last."
"Do we want to talk to them?" asked Tom.
"Let us make them surrender, and do the talking afterward," came
from Sam.
"It won't hurt to let them talk," said the police sergeant. "We
can do as we please, anyway, after they are done."
The matter was discussed for a moment, and then Tom tied his
handkerchief to a stick and held it up.
"Ahoy there!" came from Arnold Baxter. "Will you honor the flag
of truce?"
"Yes," yelled Sergeant Brown.
"And let us have our distance after our talk is over, if we can't
come to terms?"
"Yes."
"All right, then; we'll come close enough to talk to you."
Slowly and cautiously the _Flyaway_ drew nearer, until all on board
of Harris' yacht could see their enemies quite plainly.
Arnold Baxter was armed with a shotgun, while Buddy Girk and Dan
Baxter carried pistols. Mumps kept out of sight as much as
possible, while Bill Goss attended to the steering of the boat.
Dora and Mrs. Goss were below.
"Well, what have you got to say?" demanded Dick, as soon as the
others were within easy talking distance.
"How many on board of that yacht?" demanded Arnold Baxter, as he
looked at the police officers glumly.
"Enough," replied Dick. "Is that all you've got to say?"
"Don't grow impudent, boy. It won't set well."
"A person couldn't be impudent to such a rascal as you, Arnold
Baxter."
"Have a care, Dick Rover. What do you propose to do?"
"Land all of you in jail, rescue Dora Stanhope, and recover that
money you stole."
"Indeed!"
"Yes--indeed! Don't you think we are pretty close to doing
it?"
"No, you are a long way off. You won't dare to break this truce
while the flags fly. If you do, I'll shoot you just as sure as
you are born."
"I don't intend to dishonor any truce, Arnold Baxter. But,
nevertheless, you and your crowd are almost at the end of your
rope, and you know it."
"Feeling hungry, ain't you?" put in Martin Harris.
"You shut up!" roared Dan Baxter, for Harris had hit the nail
exactly on the head. "We'll settle this with the Rovers and the
police, not with you."
"You'll settle with me for burning my sails and breaking my
lanterns," retorted the skipper of the _Searchlight_ wrathfully.
"Let us come to terms," went on Arnold Baxter in a milder tone.
"I reckon what you want principally is to rescue Dora Stanhope?"
"Yes, I want that," said Dick quickly.
"If we hand her over to you, will you promise not to follow us
any longer?"
"Well--er--what of that money--" began Dick, glancing at those
around him.
"We can't let you go," interposed Sergeant Brown. "You are
wanted for that robbery in Albany."
"We deny the robbery," said Arnold Baxter.
"All right--you'll have a chance to clear yourself in court."
"We are not going to court, not by a jugful," put in Buddy Girk.
"If we give up the gal that's got to end it. Otherwise, we don't
give her up, see?"
"But you'll have to give her up later on," put in Tom. "And the
longer you keep her the more you will have to suffer for it, when
it comes to a settlement."
"Let's give her up," whispered Mumps to Dan Baxter. To the
credit of the toady let it be said that he was heartily sick of
the affair and wished he had never entered into it.
"You keep your mouth shut!" answered the former bully of Putnam
Hall. "My dad knows how to work this racket."
"Somebody said something about being hungry," continued Arnold
Baxter significantly, "I imagine Miss Stanhope is as hungry as
any of us, if not more so."
"Do you mean to say you are starving her!" cried Dick indignantly.
"I mean to say that she will have to starve just as much as we
do," was the unsatisfactory answer.
"And you have run out of provisions?"
"We have run out of provisions for her, yes."
"That means that you won't give her any more, even though you may
have some for yourselves? You are even bigger brutes than I took
you to be," concluded the elder Rover boy bitterly.
"We've got to look out for ourselves," said Dan Baxter. "If we
let you have the girl you ought to be satisfied."
"Let us talk to Dora," suggested Tom.
"No, you can't see her unless you agree to our terms," said
Arnold Baxter decidedly. "If we bring her up now she may try to
get away from us."
"You have got to submit to arrest and stand trial," said Sergeant
Brown. "There are no two ways about it. If you won't submit
quietly we'll have to fight. But let me tell you, if you fight
it will go hard with you."
"That's right; make them give up everything," put in Tom. "I'll
fight them if it comes to the worst."
"If only they don't harm Dora!" whispered Dick. "Think, they may
be starving her already!"
"I don't believe they would dare, Dick."
"Dare? I think the Baxters are cruel enough to do most anything."
"Officer, do you know that you are on the high seas and can't
touch us?" went on Arnold Baxter, after an awkward pause.
"I know nothing of the kind, and I'll risk what I am doing,"
retorted Sergeant Brown.
"Can't we compromise this matter?"
"What else have you to propose?"
"I'll tell you what I'll do. If you'll agree not to molest us
further I'll turn the girl over to you and make each of you a
present of one hundred dollars," went on Arnold Baxter nervously.
"Want to bribe us, eh?" cried Tom. "Thanks, but we are not in
that business."
"I never took a bribe yet, and I've been on the force six years,"
put in Carter.
"You can't bribe me," said the sergeant, in a tone that admitted
of no argument. "You must surrender absolutely or take the
consequences."
"All right, then; we'll take the consequences," was the reckless
response. "And remember, we hold that girl, and any harm you do
us will only counteract on her head."
"Don't you dare to harm her, you villain!" cried Dick, turning
pale. "Whatever you do you shall answer for in court."
"Humph, Dick Rover, don't be so smart," put in Dan Baxter. "This
game is still ours, and you know it."
"I know nothing of the kind. We will starve you out and fight
you, and you will see what the end will be, Dan Baxter," retorted
Dick; and then the two yachts began to drift apart once more.
As the _Flyaway_ moved off, Mumps, who had disappeared for a
minute, came into sight once more. In his hand he hold something
white, which he threw with all force at the _Searchlight's_
mainsail.
"Take that!" he cried. "Take that, and remember me!"
By this time the two yachts were so far apart that no more could
be said.
"What was that you threw on their boat?" demanded Baxter, turning
to his toady.
"A seashell," replied Mumps. "I thought I could hit Dick Rover
with it."
"Humph, you had better take some lessons in throwing," muttered
the bully. "You didn't come within a dozen feet of him."
"Never mind; I showed them I wasn't afraid of them," said Mumps,
and turned away. Then he looked back anxiously. "I hope they
pick it up and see what's inside!" he murmured. "Oh, but ain't I
tired of this crowd! If ever I get out of this, you can wager
I'll turn over a new leaf and cut Dan Baxter dead."
CHAPTER XXVII
THE COLLISION IN THE FOG
"Hullo! Mumps isn't keeping this flag of truce very good,"
remarked Sam, as the seashell dropped at his feet.
"There is something inside of the shell," said Tom. "A bit of
paper. Perhaps it's a message?"
"I'll soon see," returned his younger brother, and ran to where
he could not be seen from the other yacht.
He pulled from the seashell a small, square of paper, upon which
had been hastily scrawled the following in lead pencil:
"I will help you all I can and hope you won't prosecute me. I
will see that Dora S. gets something to eat, even if I give her
my share. They intend to go to Sand Haven if they can give you
the slip."
"Good for Mumps! He's coming to his senses," cried Sam, and
showed the others the message. Dick read the words with much
satisfaction.
"I hope he does stand by Dora," he said. "If so, I'll shield him
all I can when the crowd is brought up for trial."
"If he tells the truth we may as well put into harbor and make
for Sand Haven," said Martin Harris, who had now resumed the
chase once more.
"Yes; but he may not be telling the truth," was Sergeant Brown's
comment. "The whole thing may be a trick to get us to go to Sand
Haven while that crowd goes somewhere else."
"I think they are tired of carrying the girl around," said
Carter. "To give her up to us would have been no hardship."
"That's it," put in Martin Harris. "Well, I'm willing to do
whatever the crowd says."
The matter was talked over at some length, and it was finally
decided to cruise around after the _Flyaway_ for the best part of
the day. If, when night came on, the other craft should steer in
the direction of Sand Haven, they would do likewise, and land as
soon as darkness came to cover up their movements.
Slowly the day wore along and the two yachts kept at about the
same distance. They were both running due south, and land was
out of sight as before.
"This is developing into a regular ocean trip and no mistake,"
remarked Tom, as he dropped into a seat near the cabin. "Who
would have thought it when we left Cedarville in such a hurry?"
"I'd like to know how things are going up there," mused Dick.
"It will be too bad if Josiah Crabtree succeeds in marrying Mrs.
Stanhope while we are away."
"Let us hope for the best," put in Sam.
"Hullo, the _Flyaway_ is moving eastward!"
"What does that mean, Harris?" cried Dick.
"It means that they want to make the most of this wind,"
responded the skipper of the yacht grimly. "I'm learning a trick
or two on 'em, and I'll overreach 'em if they ain't careful."
"You can't do it any too quick," answered Dick. "When next we
meet there won't be quite so much talking. Instead, we'll have
some acting, and pretty lively at that."
Sergeant Brown was questioned concerning his weapons, and said he
had two pistols and Carter had the same. One of the extra
weapons was loaned to Dick and the second went to Tom. It was
decided that in case of a close brush Sam and Harris were to arm
themselves with anything that was handy, but otherwise they were
to attend to the sailing of the _Searchlight_.
Provisions, to use Tom's way of expressing it, were now "more
than low," and as they ate the scant food dealt around, Dick
could not help but think of how Dora might be faring.
"I'd willingly starve myself if only it would give her what she
needs," he thought. It made him sick at heart to think of how
she might be suffering.
Mile after mile was passed, until the sun began to descend over
to the westward. The yachts were now close on to quarter of a
mile apart.
"Here comes another steamer!" cried Tom presently. "Look here,
why can't we get some help from her?"
"Perhaps we can!" burst out Dick. "I never thought of that."
"Let us signal her anyway," suggested Sergeant Brown.
A flag was run up as high as the topmast permitted, and they
headed directly for the steamer's course.
As the ship came closer they made her out to be a big "tramp"
from the South American trade. For the benefit of those who do
not know, let me state that a tramp steamer is one going from one
port to another regardless of any regular route, the movements of
the craft depending entirely upon the freight to be picked up.
"She sees the signal!" exclaimed Dick, after an anxious wait of
several minutes.
Slowly the steamer came up to them, and then her ponderous
engines ceased to work.
"What is wanted?" came in Spanish from a dark-looking man on the
forward deck.
"Can't you talk English?" cried Dick.
"A leetle."
"We are after that other sail-boat. The men in her are thieves
and have abducted a girl, too. Will you help us catch them?"
At this the man on the steamer drew down his face and held a
consultation with several behind him.
"You are sure they are thieves?" he asked presently.
"Yes."
"Have they with them the money that was stolen?"
"We are pretty certain they have."
"And the girl?"
"Yes."
"And what is the reward for the girl, senor?"
"Well, I declare!" burst out Tom. "They are after a reward the
first thing."
"No reward yet," answered Dick. "But there may be."
At this the South American scowled. "We cannot lose time on a
hunt that is worth nothing," he said. "We must get to Brooklyn
by tomorrow morning."
"You won't help us bring them to justice?"
"We cannot afford to lose the time."
Without further words the big steamer's engines were started up
again and away she sped, leaving the _Searchlight_ to sink and rise
on the rollers left in her wake.
"My, but that fellow is accommodating!" groaned Dick. "He isn't
doing a single thing without pay."
"We might have bought some provisions from him," put in Martin
Harris. "I reckon he'd sell some for a round price--being so
near to the end of his voyage."
"I don't want his stuff," remarked Sam.
"I'm afraid it would choke me if I tried to eat it."
The stop had given the _Flyaway_ an advantage, and she was making
the most of it. But before the gun went down those on the other
yacht saw her head for the coast once more.
"I guess the note told the truth," said Harris.
"Is Sand Haven near here?" questioned Tom.
"It is not over half a mile further down the coast."
"And how far are we out?" was the police sergeant's question.
"Between five and six miles, as near as I can calculate."
"Will they be able to run in by dark?"
"I think so. You see, the wind is shifting, and it depends a
good bit on how much it veers around," concluded the old sailor.
Slowly the sun sank in the west. It was growing cloudy and a
mist was rising. The mist made Martin Harris shake his head;
but, not wishing to alarm the others, he said nothing.
But soon Dick noticed the mist and so did the rest. "Gracious,
supposing we get caught in a fog!" muttered Tom.
"I was just thinking of it," returned his elder brother. "There
will be no fun in it--if we are out of sight of land."
A quarter of an hour went by, and still no land appeared. It was
now so raw that the boys were glad enough to button their coats
tightly about them. Then, of a sudden, the fog came rolling over
them like a huge cloud, and they were unable to see a dozen yards
in any direction.
"This is the worst yet!" groaned Sam. "What's to do now?"
"Yes, what's to do now?" repeated Sergeant Brown. "Can you make
the coast, skipper?"
"To be sure I can," replied Harris, as he looked at the compass.
"But I don't know about landing. You see we might stick our nose
into a sandbank before we knowed it."
"Perhaps the fog will lift?" suggested Carter.
"A fog like this isn't lifting in a hurry," said Dick. "Like as
not it won't move until the sun comes up tomorrow morning," and
in this guess he was right.
A half-hour went by, and from a distance came the deep note of a
fog-horn, sounding apparently from up the shore.
"We ought to have a horn," said Sam. "Some big boat may come
along and run us down."
"There is a horn in the cabin pantry," replied Martin Harris.
"We might as well bring it out. If we are sunk one or more of us
will most likely be drowned."
"Oh, don't say that!" ejaculated Carter. "I'll get the horn,"
and, running below, he brought it up, and he and Sam took turns
at blowing it with all the strength of their lungs.
"One thing is comforting; those rascals are no better off than
we are," was Tom's comment.
"Yes; but if they founder, what will become of Dora?"
"I don't believe any one of them would put himself out to save
her."
"I guess you're right there, Dick. I never thought of her, poor
girl," replied the brother.
Dick and Sergeant Brown were well up in the bow, one watching to
starboard and the other to port, for anything which might appear
through the gloom. The horn was blowing constantly, and now from
a distance came the sounds of both horns and bells.
"We are getting close to some other ships," said Martin Harris.
"I reckon we had best take a few reefs in the mainsail and stow
away the jib," and these suggestions were carried out.
The minutes that followed were anxious ones, for all felt that a
collision might occur at any moment. The fog was growing thicker
each instant, and this, coupled with the coming of night, seemed
to shut them in as with a pall.
"A boat is dead ahead!" came suddenly from Dick, and Sergeant
Brown also gave a cry of warning. Then came a shock and a crash
and a splintering of wood, followed by the cries of men and boys
and the screams of a woman and a girl.
"We've struck the _Flyaway_!" called out Tom, and then he found
himself in the water, with Sam alongside of him.
CHAPTER XXVIII
HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION
When the collision came, Dick, to save himself from injury, gave
a leap up into the air, and Sergeant Brown did the same. The
shock sent the _Searchlight_ backward, and when the youth came down
he found himself sprawling on the _Flyaway's_ deck, close beside
Dan Baxter.
"Dick Rover!" gasped the former bully of Putnam Hall. "So it is
your boat that has run into us?"
"Baxter, where is Dora Stanhope?" panted Dick, as soon as he
could speak. He was afraid that one or both yachts were going
down and that Dora might be drowned. Even in this extreme moment
of peril his one thought was for his girl friend.
"Find out for yourself," burst out Baxter, and aimed a blow at
Dick's head with his fist. But the blow never reached its mark,
for Mumps hauled the bully backward.
"We've had enough of this--at least, I've had enough," said
Fenwick, astonishing himself at his own boldness. "Dick, Dora is
in the cabin--no, she's coming up."
"Save me!" came in a scream from the girl.
"Oh, Dick, is it really you!" and she ran right into Dick's arms.
By this time it was discovered that the two yachts were locked
together, the bowsprit of the _Flyaway_ having become entangled in
the rigging of the _Searchlight_. Both yachts were badly damaged,
but neither sufficiently so as to be in danger of sinking.
"Back with you!" came from Arnold Baxter, and fired his shotgun
at the police officer. But the rocking of the boats spoiled his
aim. Then Sergeant Brown fired, and the elder Baxter went down,
shot through the left leg.
By this time all of the evildoers realized that the final
struggle for freedom was at hand, and began to fight desperately,
Buddy Girk engaging Dick, Bill Goss facing Carter, and Mrs. Goss
beating Martin Harris back with a stew pan from the gallery. In
the meantime Tom and Sam swam back to the _Searchlight_, and
clambered on board as rapidly as possible.
They were in time to see Carter go down, hit over the head by
Bill Goss. But that was the last of the fight, so far as the
skipper of the _Flyaway_ was concerned, for two blows, delivered by
Tom and Sam simultaneously, stretched him senseless on the deck.
"You had better give up!" cried Tom to Dan Baxter, who was doing
what he could to get the two yachts apart. "This is our battle."
"Not much!" muttered the bully. "Stand back, or it will be the
worse for you!"
He sprang at Tom and shoved a pistol under the boy's very nose.
But before the weapon could be discharged, Dick, leaving Dora,
kicked the pistol from the bully's hand!
"You villain, take that!" cried Dick, and grappled with Baxter.
Both rolled over on the deck, and, shoved by somebody from
behind, Sam rolled on top of the pair. A second later all three
rolled down the cabin stairs in a heap.
"Oh, my back!" It was Baxter who uttered the cry, and not without
cause, for his backbone had received a hard crack on the bottom
step of the stairs.
"You lie still!" commanded Dick, as he leaped to his feet. "If
you dare to move I'll put you out of the fight altogether."
"Don't--don't shoot me!" panted Dan Baxter in sudden fear.
"Do you give in?"
"Yes."
"Then keep still. Sam, guard him, will you? I want to see how
matters are on deck."
"Yes, I'll guard him," answered the youngest Rover.
The fight on deck had been short and fierce, but our friends had
had the best of it from the very start, and when Dick came up he
found but little for him to do. Arnold Baxter lay where he had
fallen, moaning piteously, while Buddy Girk and Bill Goss were in
irons. Mrs. Goss still stood at bay, flourishing her stew pan
over her head, while Mumps remained at a distance, his arms
folded over his breast and an anxious look in his eyes.
"I won't go to prison!" shrieked Mrs. Goss. "You let me and my
husband go."
"Mrs. Goss, you had best give in--" began Sergeant Brown, when
Tom, sneaking up behind her, snatched the stew pan from her
grasp. As she turned on the boy, Carter ran in, and in a twinkle
she was held and her hands were bound behind her. Then the crowd
turned to Mumps.
"I submit," said the misguided boy. "Didn't I tell you in the
note that I would help you?"
"Yes, he has tried to do better," put in Dora.
"If it hadn't been for him I wouldn't have had a mouthful to eat
today."
"I guess we can trust him, then," said Dick. "But, Mumps, take
care that you don't go back on us."
"I won't go back on you," said the toady. "I'm going to cut that
crowd after this."
"You can't make a better move," was Dick's comment.
Now that affairs were in their own hands, our friends hardly knew
how to turn next. After a discussion it was agreed to place the
_Flyaway_ in charge of Dick and Tom, who were also to carry Dora
and Mumps. All of the others went aboard of the _Searchlight_,
Arnold Baxter being carried by the police officers, who attended
to his wound as well as the accommodations on board of the yacht
permitted.
So far nothing had been said about the money and securities
stolen by Baxter and Girk, but they were in a locker in the
_Flyaway's_ cabin, and easily brought to light.
"This is a big day for us," said Dick. "Won't folks at home be
astonished when they hear of what we have done?"
"I cannot get home fast enough," said Dora. "Poor mama, if only
I knew she was safe!"
"Josiah Crabtree shall suffer for this," said Dick. "Remember,
it was he who had you carried off by Mumps and Dan Baxter."
The _Searchlight_ was already on the way and the _Flyaway_ came behind
her. The course was due west, and they kept on until the breakers
could be heard in the distance. Then Martin Harris bore away to the
northward.
With the coming of daylight the fog disappeared as if by magic,
and they found themselves close to the seashore town of
Lightville. Here there was a small river, and they ran into this
and came to a safe anchor close to one of the docks.
On going ashore Dick's first movement was to send two telegraph
messages, one to Rush & Wilder, telling them that the stolen
securities and money had been recovered, and the second to
Captain Putnam, breaking the news of Dora's safety and requesting
the master of the Hall to acquaint Mrs. Stanhope with the fact
and take steps toward Josiah Crabtree's arrest. Later on another
message was sent to Randolph Rover so that the boys' uncle might
no longer be alarmed over their safety. Sergeant Brown also
telegraphed to his superiors.
Inside of an hour after landing, Arnold Baxter, Buddy Girk, Dan
Baxter, and the two Gosses were safely housed in the Lightville
jail. At first it was thought to arrest Mumps also, but he
begged for his liberty, and promised, if let go, to tell
everything. As some witness would be wanted when the others came
to trial he was taken at his word.
It was a happy party that started for Cedarville that evening.
No one could have been more attentive than Dick was to Dora, and
no one could have been more appreciative than the girl of what
the three Rover boys had done for her.
At Ithaca a surprise awaited the crowd. Frank, Fred, and Larry
were there to welcome them, and soon after Captain Putnam
appeared.
"I am very glad to see you all safe and sound," said the captain,
as he shook hands. "You have had a regular ocean chase, and no
mistake."
"And how is my mother?" questioned Dora quickly.
"She is happy, Miss Stanhope; but the shock of your sudden
disappearance has made her quite ill."
"And Josiah Crabtree?"
"Has disappeared. Your mother said he wanted to marry her after
you went away, but she would not listen to him. I imagine that
after this he will keep his distance."
"He had better keep his distance--if he wants to remain out of
jail," put in Dick.
The return of the boys to Putnam Hall was the signal for a
regular jollification, and my readers can rest assured that all
of the cadets made the most of it. Captain Putnam ordered an
extra dinner for them, and in the evening a huge bonfire was
started on the campus, and, as the boys gathered around Dick,
Tom, and Sam they sang "For he's a jolly good fellow!" until they
were hoarse. It was a celebration never to be forgotten. "Just
the right sort for a home coming," as Sam expressed it.
"Let them have it," said the master, as he looked on. "They
deserve it."
"You are right," returned George Strong.
"Those Rover boys have proved themselves regular heroes."
* * * * *
Here I will bring to a close the story of the Rover boys' doings
on the ocean while trying to rescue Dora Stanhope from her
abductors and while endeavoring to recover the fortune stolen
from Rush & Wilder.
Words cannot describe the happiness which mother and daughter
felt when Mrs. Stanhope and Dora found themselves together once
more. Tears were freely shed, and the widow blessed the boys who
had done so much for herself and her child. She declared that
her eyes were now open to the real wickedness of Josiah Crabtree,
never more would she have anything to do with the man.
Rush & Wilder were immensely pleased to recover what had been
taken from their safe, and when money and securities were
returned to them they rewarded the Rover boys and the others
handsomely for their work. But to this day Dick declares that
the recovery of the stolen fortune was "only a side issue." "We
were out to rescue Dora," he says. "And, thank God, we did it!"
In due course of time the evildoers were brought to trial, and
with Mumps and the others to testify against them, all were
sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Being wounded,
Arnold Baxter was taken, as before, to a hospital; but this time
the authorities kept a close watch on him.
With their enemies in custody the Rover boys imagined that life
at Putnam Hall would now run along smoothly. But in this they
were mistaken. They had hardly settled down to their studies
when a strange message from over the sea started them off on a
search for their father, the particulars of which will be related
in another volume, to be entitled: "The Rover Boys in the Jungle;
or, Stirring Adventures in Africa." In this book we will not
only meet Dick, Tom, and Sam again, but also Dan Baxter and
several others with whom we are already acquainted.
But for the time being all went well, and here we will leave the
three boys, wishing them the best of good luck in the future.
The End
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