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diff --git a/old/69463-0.txt b/old/69463-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3ecf40d..0000000 --- a/old/69463-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8625 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rover Boys winning a fortune, by -Arthur M. Winfield - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Rover Boys winning a fortune - or, Strenuous days ashore and afloat - -Author: Arthur M. Winfield - -Illustrator: Walter S. Rogers - -Release Date: December 3, 2022 [eBook #69463] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A -FORTUNE *** - - - - - -[Illustration: THE WRECK WAS BLOWN COMPLETELY APART.] - - - - - THE ROVER BOYS - WINNING A FORTUNE - - OR - - _STRENUOUS DAYS ASHORE - AND AFLOAT_ - - - BY - ARTHUR M. WINFIELD - (Edward Stratemeyer) - - AUTHOR OF “THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL,” “THE ROVER BOYS - ON A TOUR,” “THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL,” - “THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES,” ETC. - - - _ILLUSTRATED_ - - - NEW YORK - GROSSET & DUNLAP - PUBLISHERS - - Made in the United States of America - - - - -BOOKS BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD - -(Edward Stratemeyer) - - -THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES - - THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE - THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS - THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP - THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS - THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM - THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE - THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE - THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR - THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK - THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA - THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS - THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR - - -THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES - - THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL - THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND - THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS - THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK - THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH - THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE - THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED - THE ROVER BOYS ON SUNSET TRAIL - THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE - - -THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES - - THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL - THE RIVALS OF PUTNAM HALL - THE CHAMPIONS OF PUTNAM HALL - THE REBELLION AT PUTNAM HALL - CAMPING OUT DAYS AT PUTNAM HALL - THE MYSTERY AT PUTNAM HALL - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated._ - -GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, New York - - - Copyright, 1926, by - EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - _The Rover Boys Winning a Fortune_ - - - - - INTRODUCTION - - -MY DEAR BOYS: This book is a complete story in itself but forms the -tenth volume in the line issued under the general title, “The Second -Rover Boys Series for Young Americans.” - -In the opening volume of the First Series, “The Rover Boys at School,” -I introduced my readers to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover and their friends -and relatives. That volume and those which followed related the -adventures of the three Rover boys at Putnam Hall Military Academy, -Brill College, and elsewhere. - -Leaving college, the three young men established themselves in business -in New York City and became married to their girl sweethearts. Dick -Rover became the father of a son and a daughter, as did likewise his -brother Sam, while Tom was blessed with a pair of lively twin boys. -The four youths were first sent to boarding school, as related in the -first volume of the Second Series, entitled “The Rover Boys at Colby -Hall,” where the lads made a host of friends. During their outings -they went with one of the older Rovers to establish oil wells in -Texas and Oklahoma and also went out on Sunset Trail, where we last -met them. Their school days had come to an end, and two of the boys -were preparing to join their fathers in business when a most disastrous -affair occurred. Then the lads went on an ocean trip in an endeavor to -aid the family fortunes, and what stirring times their outing led to I -leave for the pages which follow to narrate. - -Of the twenty-nine volumes issued in this line of “Rover Boys” stories -the publishers have already sold _over three and one-half million -copies_! To me this is as astonishing as it is pleasing, and I here -wish to thank all the young people, as well as the parents, who have -stood by me in my efforts to entertain them. - -Affectionately and sincerely yours, - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I FRED HAS A SECRET 1 - II THE ROVERS AND SOME OTHERS 12 - III AN ODD DISAPPEARANCE 22 - IV ALECK SEES A GHOST 32 - V A GLIMPSE OF ENEMIES 42 - VI HOW THE RACE WAS DECIDED 52 - VII ABOUT SOME INVESTMENTS 63 - VIII OFF ON AN OUTING 73 - IX THE CABIN IN THE WOODS 83 - X AN UNEXPECTED BLAZE 92 - XI WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD 102 - XII FRED TELLS HIS STORY 113 - XIII STARTLING NEWS 125 - XIV A DARING HOLD-UP 136 - XV HOW THE ROVER COMPANY WAS HELD UP 147 - XVI A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 157 - XVII REAL FRIENDS 166 - XVIII FOLLOWING KEN GREENE 177 - XIX CAPTAIN CORNING’S STORY 188 - XX THE DOTS IN A TRIANGLE 197 - XXI THE BOYS REACH A DECISION 207 - XXII BOUND FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO 217 - XXIII CAUGHT IN A STORM 227 - XXIV A MESSAGE OF IMPORTANCE 237 - XXV SAM MAKES A DISCOVERY 247 - XXVI HIDDEN EVIDENCE 257 - XXVII THE MAN ON HORSEBACK 267 - XXVIII THE MAN IN THE HAMMOCK 276 - XXIX THE EXPLOSION 285 - XXX HOME AGAIN――CONCLUSION 296 - - - - - THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE - - - - - CHAPTER I - - FRED HAS A SECRET - - -“Say, Fred, what is this secret you’re keeping from us?” demanded Jack -Rover, as he walked out on the piazza of the old farmhouse where his -cousin sat reading a magazine. - -“Who said I had a secret?” questioned the youngest of the Rover boys, -as he laid down the magazine. “I’m sure I didn’t say a word about it.” - -“Nonsense, Fred, you’ve got something up your sleeve, and you know it!” - -“Of course he’s got something up his sleeve,” put in Andy Rover, who -sat on the steps munching an apple. “It’s his arm.” - -“We know well enough, Fred, that you’re not roaming around this farm -singing ‘Down on the Ocean Bottom’ day and night for nothing,” added -Andy’s twin brother, Randy. - -“What are you talking about――‘ocean bottom?’ I don’t know any such -song.” But there was a twinkle in Fred Rover’s eyes as he spoke. - -“We ought to pound the secret out of him――that’s what we ought to do,” -announced Randy. “Come on, you old reprobate, let us in on this, and be -quick about it!” and, reaching over, he caught hold of Fred’s foot and -attempted to drag his cousin from the chair. - -“Hi! Let up!” cried Fred, and aimed the magazine at Randy’s head. -Then he leaped up, broke away from his cousin, and vaulted the piazza -railing. An instant later he was dashing across the lawn with the -others in pursuit. - -As the four boys tore over the grass at Valley Brook Farm three girls -came from the house to witness what was going on. They were Mary and -Martha Rover and their old school chum, Ruth Stevenson. - -“Is it a race?” questioned Mary, Fred’s sister. - -“No; I think they’re teasing Fred,” answered Martha. “They said -something about Fred having a secret.” - -“And he has a secret, too,” answered Ruth Stevenson. - -“What is it, Ruth?” demanded the other girls quickly. - -“Oh, I can’t tell you that――at least, not yet. Fred told me not to say -a word about it.” - -Across the lawn and down the lane shaded with big trees tore Fred Rover -with his three cousins in close pursuit. Then Fred reached the barn, -passed through an open doorway, and quickly rolled the door shut behind -him. - -“Hi, you! Let us in!” cried Jack. - -“You keep out of here!” answered Fred merrily. “If you don’t I’ll go -for a ride on Carrots.” - -“Don’t you dare touch Carrots!” exclaimed Jack, in alarm. “You leave -that horse alone!” - -“Maybe he can put some pep in Carrots, Jack, so you’ll win the race,” -suggested Andy. - -“Carrots has got pep enough,” answered the oldest of the Rover boys. -“And, anyway, what exercise he needs he’s going to get from me.” - -“Oh, it’s too hot to run any more, anyway,” came from Randy. “Let’s -call it off.” - -“Fred, don’t touch that horse, do you hear?” cried Jack. - -“Will you promise to leave me alone?” questioned his cousin through the -closed door. - -“Yes. Just the same, I think you ought to let us in on that secret of -yours.” - -“Oh, I’m holding back for your own good,” answered Fred, and then he -allowed the others to pull the door open and they came into the barn. - -It was a perfect midsummer day, with a bright blue sky overhead and -a gentle breeze blowing from the west. One end of the big barn was -already half filled with sweet-scented hay and beyond the building -could be seen many acres of growing fields and orchards, all in the -best condition. - -It was Jack who led the way to where the horse stalls were located. -Here, in a box stall, stood a small, wiry, sorrel horse with a white -blaze on his forehead. The horse gave a look of recognition as Jack -approached and stretched out his head in expectation of some tidbit, -and Jack handed him half an apple which he munched contentedly. - -“He certainly is a fine-looking animal,” was Randy’s comment, as the -four boys gazed at Carrots. “You certainly ought to win that race, -Jack.” - -“Well, I’m going to try, anyway,” was the answer. - -“Jack has got to win that race,” put in Andy. “If he doesn’t he won’t -dare face Ruth again,” and he winked one eye suggestively. - -“Oh, say, Andy, you leave Ruth out of this race, will you?” burst out -Jack, his face growing red. - -“Humph! As if we didn’t all know that Joe Sedley is going to race you -solely on Ruth’s account,” went on Andy, who was the tease of the -crowd. - -“He’s going to race me because he thinks his Black Diamond is a better -horse than Carrots,” returned Jack, “and because he thinks he can ride -better than I can!” - -“Just the same, Jack, he’s got his eyes on Ruth,” broke in Randy. “I -guess he thinks it would be a grand thing to link the Sedley estate to -the new Stevenson estate.” - -“Oh, you fellows are talking nonsense!” answered their cousin, but at -the same time Jack’s face took on a look of concern. - -Valley Brook Farm, where the Rover boys were spending a vacation, was -located in the heart of New York State and was the property of their -great-uncle, Randolph Rover, after whom Randy had been named. The -neighborhood for miles around was exceedingly picturesque and since -a new state highway had been put through the land had been in active -demand for country residences, by people of means. Below the farm a -young man named Joe Sedley, who had inherited a large amount of money -from his parents, had purchased an estate of two hundred acres and -built himself rather pretentious bachelor’s quarters. Directly opposite -and adjoining Valley Brook Farm, Mr. Stevenson, the father of Ruth, had -purchased another two hundred acres and had now started to put up a -large country home. - -Because Ruth was so well acquainted with the Rover girls she had often -stopped at Valley Brook Farm and her parents had occasionally stayed -there overnight while inspecting the work done on the new place next -door. - -It was on one of her visits to the farm that Ruth one day met Joe -Sedley. He had proved himself an agreeable young man and had invited -Ruth and the other girls, as well as the boys, to visit his estate -and “give it the once over,” as he expressed it. Since that time he -had been exceedingly attentive to Ruth, much to Jack’s discomfiture, -for ever since he had known the girl the oldest of the Rover boys had -thought Ruth just the finest girl in all the world. - -Although Joe Sedley owned both an enclosed car and a sport model, he -also possessed several saddle horses, one of them, named Black Diamond, -being his especial favorite. - -“For a crosscountry racer, I’ll wager he can beat anything in this -neighborhood,” Sedley had once told the Rover boys and the girls. - -“Oh, I don’t know,” Jack had answered rather carelessly. “A few months -ago Uncle Randolph bought a fine sorrel called Carrots. And believe me, -that horse can make some speed!” - -“I don’t believe he could keep up with Black Diamond――not in a two-mile -race, anyway,” the young man from across the highway had replied. -“Your sorrel may be good enough for a half mile across the country, but -after that he’ll lag behind.” - -This talk had led to a spirited conversation in which not only the boys -but also the girls took part. Then Randy had suggested a race, and this -challenge had been quickly accepted by Sedley and as quickly agreed -to by Jack, who usually rode Carrots when he was at the farm and who -that morning had been rather nettled by Sedley’s constant attention to -Ruth. This had been three days before, and the race was to come off on -the morrow in the morning, Sedley in the meantime having to go away on -business to Rochester. - -“Why don’t you take Carrots out and exercise him?” said Andy. - -“That’s what I intend to do,” answered Jack. “But I won’t run him too -hard――just enough to make him feel active.” - -Jack Ness, the old man-of-all-work around the farm, had cleaned the -sorrel until Carrots fairly shone from the tip of his nose to the end -of his flowing tail. - -“He’s the best nag in these parts, barring none!” declared Jack Ness -emphatically, as he placed the saddle on the sorrel’s back. “You sure -are going to win that race, Jack.” - -“I certainly hope to,” was the reply. “By the way, has the news leaked -out to those living around here?” - -“It certainly has, Jack,” said the hired man. “Everybody at Dexter’s -Corners knows about it. Mr. Sedley was down to Woddie’s store before he -left and also at the railroad station and he told everybody how he was -going to put it over you. You’ll have quite a crowd to witness the run. -Some folks are putting quite some wagers on it,” added the old man. - -Joe Sedley, having perhaps more money than was good for him, had done -his best to draw Jack and his cousins into making a bet for a large -amount, but this the boys had declined. - -“He could clean us out easily enough,” was the way Fred had expressed -it, “while the loss of one or two thousand dollars――or even -more――wouldn’t make him wink.” - -“Well, I’m not in the betting business,” Jack had answered briefly. He -did not add that he had promised his father not to bet on horse races -of any kind. - -Early the next morning Joe Sedley telephoned over asking for Ruth and -then invited her and the girls to use his sporting car in following the -finish of the race, which was to take place on a road ending near the -two farms. The invitation rather pleased Ruth, but nevertheless she -declined, stating that she had already arranged to go out with Martha -and Mary. - -“He’s got a crust to telephone over to Ruth!” was the way Fred -expressed himself when he heard of this. “He knows well enough how -matters stand between her and Jack.” - -“Well, I guess he thinks it’s a case of the best man winning,” answered -Randy. “And you’ve got to admit that he’s rather a nice sort, too, -although I think his money is spoiling him a little.” - -Of course Jack was not present at this conversation. But he, too, heard -of how Sedley had telephoned, the news being conveyed to him by his -sister. - -“Jack, you’ve got to keep your eye on that fellow,” declared Martha. -“He’s doing everything he can to get into Ruth’s good graces.” - -“I know it, Martha, and it makes me mad to think of it! But what can I -do to prevent it?” - -“You don’t think Ruth cares for him, do you, Jack?” - -“I don’t know. He’s got a barrel of money――I know that!” - -“You don’t suppose Ruth would let that influence her, do you?” - -“You ought to know better than I do, Martha.” - -“Well, I wouldn’t if it was me!” answered the sister loyally. - -It was another perfect day, and when the time for the race came several -hundred people were found lining the course which led around several -roads in something of a circle, starting at the lower end of the Sedley -farm and finishing on a roadway between Valley Brook Farm and the new -Stevenson estate. - -Both of the horses, as well as their riders, looked in the best of -condition as they came forward to begin the race. The course had been -carefully mapped out and watchers were stationed along the route to -see that no short cuts might be taken by either participant. Even old -Uncle Randolph was present and likewise the old colored servitor of the -Rovers, Aleck Pop. - -“I done got a rabbit’s foot fur you, Massah Jack,” whispered Aleck just -before the race, and brought forth the foot in question, wrapped in a -handkerchief. “Dat am suah good luck fur you.” - -“Thank you, Aleck. I’ll be sure to win now,” answered Jack. - -But even though he spoke thus confidently, Jack realized that he had a -hard contest before him. Joe Sedley was an experienced rider and Black -Diamond a horse that had won more than one crosscountry contest. Jack -knew he could take two of the streams which were to be crossed and -also several hedges as well as any horse in that neighborhood. Carrots -could jump well also, but Jack relied more on his steed’s running than -anything else. - -“All ready?” shouted the starter presently, and then, an instant later, -came the report of a pistol and the two contestants were off. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - THE ROVERS AND SOME OTHERS - - -“They’re off!” - -“Ride for all you’re worth, Jack!” - -“You can win this race without half trying, Sedley!” - -“Don’t forget Heddon’s brook――it’s a bad one!” - -Such were some of the cries, mingled with cheers, as the two riders -dashed away on the two-mile race. Soon they were well on their way -down the road, followed for a short distance by a number of people in -automobiles and on motorcycles. - -“Sedley is ahead!” - -“Yes; but Jack Rover is a close second!” - -The first quarter mile of the race was over a level road and easy. Then -the two contestants turned into a side road and were lost to view among -the trees and bushes. Here the automobiles and motorcycles following -had to come to a halt. - -“Wish we could have followed them on horseback,” remarked Randy. - -“Well, that wasn’t to be permitted, so all we can do is to go back to -the finishing point and wait for ’em to come,” answered Fred. - -“Oh, Fred, do you think Jack will really win?” asked Ruth. - -“I don’t see why not. Of course, Joe Sedley has had lots of experience -in riding and his Black Diamond is sure a fine runner. But Jack has -just got to win, and that’s all there is to it!” - -The Rover girls and Ruth had brought their cameras with them, and all -had taken snapshots of the start of the race. Now they fixed their -cameras so that they might get other snapshots of the finish. - -“But I won’t want any snapshot if Jack comes in second!” declared -Martha. - -“Oh, well, I want a picture, anyhow,” said Ruth. “If Mr. Sedley wins -he’ll be glad to have a picture of the event.” - -In the meantime Jack and Sedley were riding for all they were worth, -cheered on by friends and neighbors lining the roadway of the race. - -Joe Sedley had taken the lead at the start and held it at the end of -the first half mile. Then the two contestants turned into another road -where the going was unusually rough, and here Jack gradually pulled up -until the two horses were neck and neck. - -“Here is where I’m going to pass you, Sedley!” cried Jack gayly. - -“It’s the last lap that counts, Rover!” yelled the rich young man in -return. - -A little further on they took the first of the two streams to be -crossed. Some days before Jack had inspected this carefully and now he -reined up Carrots at a point where the steed could get a good footing. -Over they went with ease, Black Diamond and his rider immediately -following. Then they took to a narrow road running to the rear of -Valley Brook Farm. - -By the time the first mile had been covered the pace was beginning to -tell on both horses. Then came the point where they had to take two -hedges in quick succession. Carrots took the first with scarcely an -effort, but for some unaccountable reason shied at the second. Black -Diamond and his rider shot ahead, and when Jack finally brought his -mount over he found himself a good fifty yards to the rear. - -“I’ve got to make it up! I’ve simply got to do it!” he muttered to -himself, and, setting his teeth hard, he urged Carrots forward in a -desperate effort to overtake Sedley. - -Then came another turn and the riders crossed the state highway and -came out on a stretch of road leading behind the Sedley estate. Here -going was again rough, but this seemed to please Carrots better than -it did Black Diamond and at a mile and a half Jack found himself only -a length behind his opponent. Then each rider settled himself for the -struggle on the homestretch. - -“Here they come!” yelled Andy, as he looked down the roadway. - -“Joe Sedley is in the lead! Hurrah!” shouted one of that young man’s -admirers. - -“Oh, don’t tell me Jack’s going to lose!” murmured Martha. - -“Come on, Jack! Come on! You’ve got to win!” shouted Fred. “Come on!” - -As the two riders drew closer there were all sorts of shouts and cries. -In the midst of this the girls, and also several other spectators, -prepared to take snapshot pictures of the finish. - -“Joe Sedley is still ahead! He wins the race!” - -“Jack Rover is crawling up!” - -“It’s neck and neck!” - -“Come on! Come on! Let the best man win!” - -By this time everybody was wildly excited and it was almost impossible -for those in charge to keep the spectators off the road. It was seen -that Joe Sedley was riding well, even though Black Diamond showed -evidences of the herculean exertions the steed had made. Only a few -feet behind came Carrots, his tail flying out and Jack bending well -over the sorrel’s neck. - -“It’s Sedley’s race!” - -“Not much! Rover will pass him!” - -“Here they come neck and neck!” - -“It’s a tie!” - -“That’s right――it’s a tie, sure enough!” came from a score of throats, -and then the two riders with their steeds flashed by and the race was -over. - -“Oh, Fred! was the race a tie?” asked Ruth, as she and the other girls -were putting their cameras away. - -“I’m afraid it was,” answered the youngest Rover boy. - -“I don’t think it was a tie,” declared Andy. “It looked to me as if -Jack was at least six inches ahead.” - -“That’s the way it looked to me, too,” said his twin. - -“Rover ahead? Nonsense!” cried one of the Sedley supporters. “If -anybody was ahead it was Joe.” - -“Oh, it was a tie, and that’s all there is to it,” put in a gentleman -who lived at Dexter’s Corners. “They’ll have to ride it over again.” - -It was the consensus of opinion among those who had seen the finish of -the race that it had been a tie. - -“We’ll let the photographs decide it,” declared Fred. “A whole lot of -pictures of the finish were snapped. They ought to tell the tale. Come, -what do you say?” he went on to the young man who had been managing the -race for Joe Sedley. - -“I’m willing to go by the photographs if they’re clear enough,” was the -reply. - -“Well, photographs don’t lie,” said the gentleman from Dexter’s Corners. - -And now while Jack and Joe Sedley are turning back to the finish line -to find out how the race was really decided let me take a few minutes -of the readers’ time in which to introduce my characters to those who -have not met the Rovers before. - -In the first volume of this line of books, entitled “The Rover Boys at -School,” I introduced three wideawake American lads, Dick, Tom and Sam -Rover, and told how they left their home at Valley Brook Farm to go to -school. From school they went through college, having many adventures -in the between-times, and then settled down in business in New York -City, forming The Rover Company, with offices in Wall Street. - -The three young men married the sweethearts of their school and college -days, and as a result of these unions Dick was blessed with a son and -a daughter, Jack and Martha, Sam followed with a son and a daughter, -named Fred and Mary, while the fun-loving Tom came forward with a -lively pair of twins, called Randy and Andy. - -At this time the three Rover families lived in three connecting houses -on Riverside Drive overlooking the Hudson River. At first the young -folks attended the local schools, but soon the boys’ propensity for fun -and “cutting up” became so pronounced their elders thought it would be -better to send them to some strict boarding school. - -Colonel Colby, a school chum of the older Rovers, had established a -first-class military academy, and in the first volume of our Second -Series, entitled “The Rover Boys at Colby Hall,” was related how Jack, -Fred and the twins went to that institution of learning and made many -friends, including Gif Garrison and Spouter Powell, the sons of their -father’s chums. At the same time Mary and Martha attended a nearby -boarding school where they became intimately acquainted with Ruth -Stevenson and May Powell, a cousin to Spouter. - -A number of years had passed since the younger Rovers had first -attended Colby Hall, and during that time they had had a number of -thrilling adventures on Snowshoe Island, under canvas, on a hunt, in -the oil fields, at Big Horn Ranch and at Big Bear Lake. They had also -been shipwrecked, and had been abducted and held for a heavy ransom, -as related in the volume preceding this, entitled “The Rover Boys on -Sunset Trail.” - -During the days at the military school and while on their numerous -outings the Rover boys had made a great number of friends and also a -number of bitter enemies. Some of their enemies had paid the penalty of -their misdeeds and were now in prison, but others were still at large -and eagerly awaiting an opportunity to do the Rovers an injury. - -While at Colby Hall Jack had worked his way up until he became the -major of the school battalion, while Fred became captain of Company C. -Andy and Randy had been too full of fun to go in for military honors, -but had taken their part in numerous sporting contests. When the time -came for graduating from the school all of the boys had passed with -flying colors, much to their parents’ delight. - -“The kids are all O. K., even if they’re full of fun,” said Tom Rover -proudly to his wife, Nellie. - -“Well, you can’t blame them for being full of fun, Tom,” returned his -wife, with a twinkle in her eye. “You were always chock-full of fun -yourself――you know you were,” and she poked him affectionately in the -ribs. - -“Indeed!” said Tom very innocently. “Why, I always thought I was a -model young man, as well as a model husband,” and then he ducked as -Nellie made a move as if to catch him by the hair. - -On leaving Colby Hall, the Rover boys had been undecided regarding what -to do next. There had been some talk of going to college, but both Jack -and Fred had intimated that they would like to go into business in Wall -Street with their fathers. Andy and Randy declared for a trip around -the world or “some kind of an outing somewhere.” - -“I think we might as well let the boys rest and think it over,” said -Dick Rover to his brothers. “They have been to school steadily for -years. It won’t hurt them to let them go their own way for a while.” - -So it had come about that the boys, as well as the girls, were allowed -to journey from New York City by automobile to the farm at Dexter’s -Corners where old Uncle Randolph, Aunt Martha, and Grandfather Rover -still resided. Grandfather Rover was now very old and did little but -sit in his chair and read the papers. - -From his first meeting with Ruth Stevenson some years before, Jack had -been greatly attracted by this young lady. She had been a good chum on -more than one occasion and he had awakened to his real feelings for -her when, through the actions of one of his enemies, Ruth had been in -danger of losing her eyesight. This feeling had grown in intensity, and -it was this which made Jack feel that he would like to settle down in -business so that he might be in a position to ask Ruth to become his -wife. He had thought it delightful that the Stevensons had purchased -the land adjoining Valley Brook Farm and were about to build a summer -residence there. But the entrance of Joe Sedley upon the scene had -caused him some misgivings. Sedley was handsome, as well as rich, -and owned a beautiful estate directly opposite that purchased by Mr. -Stevenson. More than this, the young man had a manner which seemed to -please Ruth not a little. - -“Well, I suppose he’s got as much right to her as I have,” Jack told -himself several times. But even as this thought coursed through his -mind he felt a sudden sinking of the heart, such as he had never -experienced before. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - AN ODD DISAPPEARANCE - - -“We had better develop those pictures as soon as possible,” said Jack -after he had been told that the others had agreed to reserve a decision -on the race until the various photographs taken had been examined. - -“I’m afraid I didn’t get a very good picture,” declared Martha. “Just -as I got ready to snap it some man jumped up in front of me, waving his -hat.” - -“I was almost in line with the tape, so my picture ought to be a good -one,” declared Ruth. “I had the diaphragm wide open and the shutter set -for the fastest time possible.” - -“We’ll have to be very careful in developing those pictures――we don’t -want to spoil them,” put in Randy. - -Joe Sedley was plainly annoyed over the fact that most of the -spectators considered the race a tie. - -“I think I was a full head to the good,” he declared emphatically. -“Black Diamond was going as never before and in another fifty yards -he’d have been a length ahead.” - -“Well, we’ll have to see what the pictures have to say,” answered Jack. -“Then, if it really was a tie, we’ll have to run it over again.” - -“What do you think it was, Ruth?” questioned Sedley. - -“I can’t say exactly, Joe,” the girl answered. “You both went past so -very fast. But I snapped a picture, and so did the others, and perhaps -they’ll tell the real story.” - -“Well, I think it was up to the judges to render a decision and not -wait for those photos,” answered the rich young man. “But of course I’m -willing to do what Rover does,” and then Sedley rode away to join some -of his friends. - -The crowd, and especially those who had placed bets on the race, was -keenly disappointed and a number of arguments started, some ending -in wordy quarrels. The judges of the race asked that all photographs -snapped at the finish be submitted to them if possible by the following -morning. - -So far the day had been ideal, but now a sudden summer shower was -coming up and this caused the crowd to scatter rapidly, and the Rovers -and Ruth lost no time in getting back to Valley Brook Farm. - -Some years before the Rover boys had fitted up a developing and -printing room in the old farmhouse, using for that purpose a side -pantry which had running water. Randy and Fred were the two who had -most interested themselves in the photographic art, and they took the -exposed films to learn as quickly as possible what they might show. - -“You’ve got to be careful,” cautioned Jack. “If you spoil them Sedley -may say you did it on purpose, just to hide the fact that he won.” - -“Oh, Jack what a mean thing to say of Joe!” cried Ruth. - -“Well, I wouldn’t put it past him to say it,” declared Jack. “He thinks -he’s the king-pin of everything when he’s on Black Diamond,” he added -somewhat bitterly. - -“You wouldn’t want Joe to talk that way about you, would you?” went on -the girl earnestly. - -“Oh, I wouldn’t quarrel about it, Ruth,” put in Mary before she had -given a thought to what her words might lead. - -“I’m not quarreling,” and then, after a somewhat awkward pause, Ruth -turned, picked up a magazine from the center table, and sat down on the -piazza to read. - -“Mary! How could you?” whispered Martha. - -“Why, I――I――didn’t mean anything,” faltered Fred’s sister. - -“Yes, but don’t you see what Jack――” began Martha, and then suddenly -stopped. Then, as Jack and the others moved toward the pantry where the -pictures were to be developed, Martha went upstairs and Mary slowly -followed. - -The day had begun brightly enough, but now it seemed about as dismal in -the house as the shower was making it outside. Twice Jack thought of -joining Ruth on the piazza, to smooth out the difficulty between them, -but for some reason could not bring himself to do it. - -“She’s got Sedley in her mind,” he told himself bitterly. “For all I -know, she may hope he won.” Yet even as he thought this another thought -came that perhaps he was doing Ruth an injustice. - -When developed, it was found that Martha’s film had been completely -ruined by the man who had jumped up in front of her when she snapped -it. But those taken by Ruth and Mary, as well as by Fred and Randy, -were fairly clear. But all of the pictures were rather small and none -of them could be judged clearly in the dim red light of the developing -pantry. - -“We’ll have to dry them and get prints from them before we can be -sure of what they show,” declared Fred; and then this rather tedious -process was begun. - -After the race Jack Ness had ridden over to Dexter’s Corners to get the -mail. Now he came back with a handful of letters which were distributed -to the young people. - -“Here is something that you fellows will be interested in,” declared -Fred, as he read a letter from his father. “Dad says old Josiah -Crabtree is out of jail again.” - -“Out of jail again?” cried Jack. “I thought he was let out of jail some -years ago!” - -“So he was,” answered Randy. “But I guess you’ve forgotten that he -was put in again on account of some irregularities in connection with -selling some stock in a fake university out in St. Louis.” - -“Do you suppose old Crabtree will try to make trouble for our folks?” -went on Fred. - -“It’s more than likely,” answered Jack. He and his cousins had learned -a great deal concerning this ex-teacher who had done so much harm to -the older Rovers in the past. - -“Why can’t he turn over a new leaf like Dan Baxter and his father did?” -was Randy’s comment. - -“The answer to that is that some people would rather be bad than be -good,” returned Fred, and then he added quickly: “Do you suppose -Crabtree would come after us, the same as Davenport did?” - -“There is no telling what a man of that calibre will do,” said Jack. -“The only thing for us to do is to be on our guard against him.” - -Then the boys turned again to their letters. - -“Here is news!” cried Andy. “Dad tells me that before long he’s going -to take another trip out to the Rolling Thunder gold mine.” - -“And my dad says he’s going to take another trip down to the oil fields -in Oklahoma,” came from Jack. “Gee, I’d like to go with him! We’d have -a chance to visit Phil Franklin and a lot of other people we know.” - -“And I’d like to go out to Sunset Trail again!” cried Randy. “We -certainly did have good times out there.” - -“Not while we were kept prisoners in that cave by Davenport and his -gang,” broke in his brother. - -“You fellows hold your horses about going down to Oklahoma or out to -Sunset Trail!” cried Fred. “Perhaps there will be something better -coming. Who knows?” And then he began to hum softly to himself. “Down -on the ocean bottom, boys! Down on the ocean bottom!” - -“Say, Fred, for cats’ sake, stop that singing and let us know what -you’ve got in your mind!” cried Andy. “You keep on that way, and -you’ll have us all bughousey.” - -“Let’s pound it out of him, boys!” exclaimed his twin, and caught Fred -by the arm. - -“No, you don’t!” shouted Fred. “I’ll tell you about my secret when I’m -ready, and not before.” And then, as the others tried to catch hold -of him, he squirmed away and ran through the dining room and then the -sitting room of the old farmhouse. - -“My land sakes, boys! what are you up to now?” shrilled old Aunt -Martha, who sat by a window shelling peas. - -“Fred’s got a secret and won’t let us in on it!” exclaimed Randy. - -“I think he’s got a barrel of prunes hid away somewhere and is eating -’em all by himself on the sly,” added Andy. - -“A barrel of prunes?” exclaimed Aunt Martha, in consternation. Then her -eyes began to twinkle. “Andy Rover, quit your foolishness and behave -yourself. If you continue to make such a noise, Grandfather Rover will -think another war has started.” - -“Well, we’ve got to make Fred talk up,” said Randy, and then he and -his twin, followed by Jack, raced after the youngest Rover boy, who -had disappeared through a doorway leading to a side piazza. The next -instant Fred had leaped out into the dooryard and, despite the rain -that was falling, was streaking it in the direction of the big barn. - -“Hi! You’ll get soaked!” yelled Jack. “Come back here!” - -“Not on your necktie! I’d rather be soaked than be pommeled.” - -“I’m going after him!” exclaimed Andy. - -“So am I!” added his twin, and away they dashed, and then there seemed -nothing for Jack to do but to follow. - -The sudden shower had caused the water to flow down the lane. Fred and -Randy crossed this in safety, but as Andy approached, his foot slipped -and down he went headlong, splashing mud in all directions. - -“For the love of Pete!” gasped Jack, as several drops of muddy water -hit him in the face, one landing in his eye. “What’s the idea? If you -want to swim why don’t you go down to the brook?” - -“Wow!” spluttered Andy, scrambling to his feet. His hands and his knees -were covered with mud, which was also sprinkled liberally over the -front of the suit he wore. “Now I’m going to catch him if I die for -it!” he went on, dashing forward. - -By this time Fred had reached one of the big sliding doors of the barn -and had passed inside, sliding the door shut after him. When the others -came up they found the door bolted on the inside. - -“Hi! Open that door――and be quick about it!” shouted Randy. “Do you -want us to get drowned?” for the rain was now coming down harder than -ever. - -“I’m not going to open the door!” shouted back Fred. “Go on back to the -house!” - -“Come on around to the other door,” said Jack. - -The three Rovers ran around a corner of the barn, but Fred was ahead of -them and just before they arrived he shot another bolt into position, -so they found this barrier also closed against them. - -“Hi, Fred! Have a heart and open up!” demanded Andy. “I need washing, -but I don’t want to take it out here in the open.” - -“Come on with me,” whispered Randy. “We’ll surprise him,” and then he -hurried the others around another corner of the barn where an opening -led to a small pit. From this pit a flight of steps ran up to the -main floor of the building. There was a trapdoor here, but this was -unfastened and thus the three boys gained entrance to the barn without -further trouble. - -“Now you’d better surrender!” cried Jack, rushing forward, followed by -the twins. - -Then, as Fred was nowhere in sight, the three began a search for their -cousin. Much to their surprise, he was not to be found. They went -through the building from top to bottom half a dozen times, looking -into the box stalls and also the harness closet, and peering around the -old carriages still stored in the place. - -But it was all to no purpose! Fred had totally disappeared! - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - ALECK SEES A GHOST - - -“Where do you suppose he went to?” - -“Search me! He has certainly dropped out of sight entirely.” - -“Perhaps he slid out through one of the doors and went back to the -house and is now laughing at us,” suggested Andy. He was busy wiping -the mud from his hands with an old salt bag. - -“No, he couldn’t have left by any of the doors, for they’re all bolted -on the inside,” declared Jack. - -“Maybe he went up in the loft and dropped from one of the windows,” -suggested Randy. - -The three boys took another look around, shouting Fred’s name several -times as they did so. Then they went up in the loft. Here a grimy -window stood half open. - -“That window has been opened since we came,” declared Andy. “Just the -same, he could easily drop out of it to the pile of hay below,” he -added, looking down. - -“We might as well go back to the house and see if he’s there,” said -Jack, and thereupon the three boys descended to the lower floor of -the barn, unlocked one of the doors, and made a quick dash for the -farmhouse. - -“I’m going to wash up a bit before I look for him,” said Andy. “I feel -as dirty as a sewer digger.” - -“And you look worse than that,” added his twin, with a laugh. “Come on, -Jack, let us find Fred and make him tell us his secret,” he added to -his cousin. - -A few minutes after the three boys left the barn Aleck Pop entered the -place to get a peach basket which the cook wanted. The colored man had -been told that the baskets were in the far end of the barn where Jack -Ness had placed them. - -“I don’t see why Jack couldn’t’ve brung dat basket,” mumbled Aleck, -as he stumbled along in the semi-darkness of the barn. He considered -that all work around that place belonged to the hired man and not to -himself, he being employed principally around the house and on outside -errands. - -The colored man was still some distance from the back end of the barn -when he heard a strange thumping. He came to an abrupt halt and began -to scratch his woolly pate. - -“What’s dat knockin’?” he demanded. “Who’s dar?” - -The thumping ceased and all was quiet around the barn except for an -occasional sound from the stalls where several of the horses were -munching hay. Then Aleck took another step or two forward. - -At once the thumping started up again, coming so loudly and seemingly -so near that the colored man gave a suspicious jump. - -“Who’s dar?” he cried again. “Who’s dat knockin’? Is some of you boys -playin’ a trick on old Aleck?” - -Again the thumping ceased, and now it was so quiet in the darkened -barn that Aleck seemed to feel his scalp rising. He was naturally -superstitious, and at once began to imagine all sorts of things. - -“You can’t play no tricks on me!” he exclaimed rather weakly. “You come -out o’ hidin’, whoever you is!” - -“Goof! Goof! Kerchoo! Goof!” came in muffled tones, and this was -followed by a thumping that made poor Aleck turn as if to run. “Goof! -Goof!” - -Straining his eyes in the semi-darkness of a back corner of the barn, -Aleck made out a long and heavy box, the lid to which was tightly -closed. Then, as he stood stock still but ready to run away if -necessary, he became aware that the strange thumping and other noises -were coming from this receptacle. - -“Must be a dog or a hog in dat box,” he muttered. “But why don’t he -raise de lid and pop out?” - -As the strange sounds and thumping continued, Aleck timidly and -fearfully took several steps forward, and then, by peering closer, saw -that not only was the lid of the box tightly closed but a hasp used for -a padlock had fallen into place over a staple, so that the lid could -not be pushed up from the inside. - -“Dat dog or hog or whatebber it am, am sure a prisoner,” he murmured, -and then something like a grin came over his ebony face. Stepping -closer, he unclasped the hasp and threw back the long and heavy lid of -the box. - -“Goof! Goof! Kerchoo! Goof!” came in a splutter from the bottom of the -box, and a moment later there arose to the astonished gaze of Aleck Pop -a tall figure in white, waving two ghostlike arms wildly. - -“Land of Abraham!” shrieked the colored man, and began to tremble from -head to foot. “It am a ghost! It sure am!” Then he turned to flee. - -“Goof! Goof! Kerchoo!” came from the ghostlike figure. “Kerchoo! Say, -somebody――kerchoo――dust me――kerchoo――off――kerchoo――will you? Goof! -Goof!” and the figure continued to splutter and make all sorts of -mysterious movements. - -“It’s a ghost! It’s a hant!” shrieked Aleck, and rushed out of the barn -and toward the house as fast as his aged legs would carry him. He burst -into the kitchen, rolling his eyes wildly. - -“Aleck! Aleck! What is the matter with you?” cried Aunt Martha, in -consternation. - -“Der am a ghost in de barn, Mrs. Rober!” was the scared reply. “A great -big white ghost!” - -“Oh, Aleck, there are no such things as ghosts,” was the ready reply of -the old lady. “You are surely mistaken.” - -“But I done saw it! It rose out of a box and waved long white arms at -me!” - -“What’s that about a ghost, Aleck?” questioned Jack, as he came in, -followed by the twins. - -“I done saw a ghost in de barn. Came out of a big box down in a back -corner. It was all white and groanin’ and moanin’ something terrible. I -think somebody’s gwine to die!” and Aleck rolled his eyes in fright. - -“It must be Fred,” declared Randy. “Aleck, it’s Fred, and he’s playing -a trick on you.” - -“How could dat be Fred? Who locked him in dat box?” - -“Was he locked in?” questioned Randy quickly. - -“He sure was. De hasp of de lid was slipped over de staple.” - -“Then there’s the answer to the riddle,” announced Andy. “Fred got in -the box and couldn’t get out again.” - -“But dat ghost am all white――jest as white as a ghost could be,” -declared Aleck emphatically. - -“If he was locked in the box, why didn’t he make some kind of a noise -when we called him?” questioned Jack. - -“Let’s go and make sure!” cried Randy. - -Regardless of the rain, the three boys hastened once again to the barn -and rather sheepishly Aleck Pop followed them. A ludicrous sight met -their gaze as they entered. Standing in the middle of the barn floor -was Fred trying with a handkerchief to get a whitish substance from his -face, and especially from his eyes and nose. He was spluttering and -sneezing and coughing all at the same time. - -“Goof! Goof! Kerchoo! I’m almost――kerchoo――dead with this――this stuff!” -he spluttered. “Here, lend me a handkerchief or――kerchoo――something. -I――I can’t get my breath!” and he continued to splutter for several -minutes. - -In the meantime Jack thumped him on the back and the others did what -they could think of to relieve him. His clothing was covered with a -fine, light, flour-like substance, and this had gotten into his ears -and hair, as well as into his eyes and nose. - -“I know what that is,” declared Randy. “It’s the new stuff Uncle -Randolph bought for spraying in the garden. It takes the place of -arsenic and things like that. It’s sprayed on dry, and then the rain -does the rest.” - -“My gracious, Randy, do you suppose it’s poisonous?” questioned Jack -quickly. - -“If dat stuff am poison, Fred am a dead boy,” prophesied Aleck -solemnly. Now that he saw that what he had supposed was a ghost was -really Fred he felt more like himself. - -“I’m going to hunt up Uncle Randolph and find out about this,” said -Randy, and ran off without further ado. A little later he came back to -find the others dusting Fred off with a whiskbroom and a cloth. - -“Uncle Randolph says he doesn’t think the stuff will do any harm,” -Randy announced. “But he thinks Fred had better take a bath and change -his clothing and be careful not to swallow any of the powder and not to -breathe any of it up into his nose.” - -“You bet I’ll take a bath, and do it right away!” was Fred’s answer, -as he continued to cough and sneeze. - -“But how in the world did you come to jump into the box? Didn’t you see -the stuff in there?” questioned Jack. - -“It wasn’t there when I jumped in――at least, it wasn’t there to bother -me,” answered Fred. “It was in a couple of big paper bags. I was all -right when you tramped around the barn calling for me, and so I kept -quiet. But after you left I tried to get out of the box and found I -couldn’t. Then I began to thump around, and first thing I knew I kicked -the bags apart and then the powder flew all over, and I was almost -smothered. Then I began to splutter and kick for all I was worth, and -then Aleck opened the box.” - -“Well, it’s a good thing Aleck came,” declared Randy. “If he hadn’t -come, you might have been smothered to death.” - -“I guess that’s right. Aleck, I owe you a good deal for this.” - -“Dat’s all right, Massah Fred,” answered the old colored man. “Jest de -same, jest don’t you scare dis darkey to death de next time you get in -a box.” - -“The next time I get in a box I’ll keep out of it,” declared the -youngest Rover, and then hurried to the house to get his bath. - -When the girls heard of the mishap that had befallen Fred they were -much concerned, even Ruth taking a great interest. - -“Oh, Fred, you must be more careful!” cried his sister. “Why, you might -have smothered to death!” - -“It’s just like the old story,” said Ruth. “Don’t you remember, where -the bride hid from her husband and got locked in a trunk in a garret -and her skeleton was not found till years and years afterwards?” - -“Oh, Ruth, what a horrible story to tell!” burst out Martha. - -This happening seemed to bring the young folks together again, and for -the time being the little coldness between Jack and Ruth was forgotten. -After supper the young folks gathered around the piano for a while and -played and sang, and then listened in on a radio which the boys had -brought from the city. - -“There is something wrong with this radio set,” declared Jack, after -they had made a number of attempts to get distant stations. “I think -the best thing we can do is to look over the aërial to-morrow and see -if we’ve got it just right.” - -“I think that big elm tree interferes with it,” declared Randy. - -A little later the boys prepared to make some prints from the films -taken of the horse race, using a battery light for that purpose. It had -now grown darker and Aunt Martha was going around lighting up. - -The boys were still at work over the films, and the girls were in the -sitting room with Ruth at the piano, when suddenly Martha let out a -scream, and this was followed by a scream from Mary. - -“What is it? What’s the trouble?” questioned Jack, as he came rushing -in, followed by the others. - -“Somebody looked in at the window!” declared Ruth. - -“It was Slugger Brown!” gasped Martha. - -“And he made the most awful face at us you ever saw!” added Mary. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - A GLIMPSE OF ENEMIES - - -“Slugger Brown!” - -“What does that rascal want around here?” - -“Where did he go to?” - -“Come on and see if he’s still outside!” - -Such were some of the remarks made by the Rover boys after Martha and -Mary had announced that they had seen Slugger Brown peering in at the -parlor window of the old farmhouse. - -My old readers will remember Slugger Brown well. He had attended Colby -Hall while the Rovers were cadets there, and he and his crony, Nappy -Martell, had done many things to make life unpleasant for our friends. -Then, when Slugger and Nappy were exposed and had departed, these two -unworthies, along with their fathers, had continued to cross the Rover -boys’ path. During the World War Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell had been -put in prison as German sympathizers and Slugger and Nappy had been -placed in a detention camp in the South. Later on the Browns and the -Martells had gone down into Texas and Oklahoma and there aided Carson -Davenport and his gang in an endeavor to take away oil claims belonging -to Dick Rover. These rascals, as well as another evildoer named Werner, -overreached themselves, and as a result sunk all their money in wells -which produced but little oil, and in the end the rascals left the -fields practically penniless. - -“It’s queer Slugger Brown should come up here,” was Jack’s comment, as -the boys searched around the house in the semi-darkness. It had stopped -raining but the grass and bushes were still wet. - -“I often wondered what became of him,” returned Randy. “With his money -gone, I supposed he had had to go to work.” - -“I’ll wager he and his father and the Martells, as well as the Werners, -are as bitter as can be,” was Fred’s comment. “They would do almost -anything to down us for the way things panned out in the oil fields.” - -“Well, we weren’t responsible for their wells running dry,” asserted -Andy. “They spent their money in their own way.” - -“Yes, but they’ll always lay their failure at our door,” said Jack. -“All of those chaps think their downfall due entirely to us.” - -Most of this conversation took place after the boys had run around the -farmhouse several times and looked behind various trees and bushes. Not -a sign of a lurker could be found. - -“Wait until I get a searchlight,” suggested Randy, and ran into the -house for that article. When he reappeared the light was flashed on the -sill of the window where the face of the intruder had appeared and also -on the soft ground below. - -“There are fingerprints on the wet sill!” cried Jack. “They must -have been made since the rain stopped――otherwise they wouldn’t be so -distinct.” - -“And here are fresh footprints, too!” added Randy. “Some one was here, -that’s sure.” - -“If we were only fingerprint experts perhaps we could tell from them -who the fellow was,” declared Fred. - -“What’s the use of that? Martha and Mary both say it was Slugger Brown; -and they certainly ought to know, they met Slugger often enough.” - -The boys visited the barn and other outbuildings, then they flashed the -light to a distance. They thought they saw a figure hurrying across one -of the fields, but it was very indistinct and they concluded a further -investigation would be useless. - -The girls had gathered on the piazza and asked numerous questions when -the boys returned. Ruth was as concerned as the Rovers, for in the -past she had had several unpleasant experiences with Slugger Brown. - -“With such a rascal around there is no telling what may happen,” -said Martha anxiously. “Why, he might even set the house on fire――or -something like that!” - -“Oh, don’t get so scared, Martha!” burst out her brother. “We’ll take -care of Slugger Brown, if he shows himself again.” - -“Maybe you girls were mistaken. It might have been nobody but some -farmhand or a tramp who looked a little like Slugger,” suggested Fred. - -“No, it was Slugger, I’m sure of it!” declared Martha, and on this -point Mary firmly agreed. - -The young folks discussed the subject a few minutes longer, and then, -as there seemed nothing further to do concerning the mysterious -appearance and disappearance of their enemy, the boys went back to the -printing of the photographic films. - -The picture taken by Martha was worthless and those taken by Mary and -the boys little better. But when Ruth’s picture was printed it came out -with especial clearness. - -“Hurrah! Here we are!” exclaimed Andy, after a close inspection. “This -shows Jack nearly a foot ahead!” - -“That’s right!” said Fred. “Jack won the race, after all!” - -“Good for you, Jack! I knew you could do it!” exclaimed Randy, patting -his cousin on the shoulder. - -“Well, we’ll have to see what the other photographs show before we -crow too much,” announced the oldest Rover boy cautiously. “You know a -photograph depends entirely on the angle from which it was taken. Some -of the other pictures may show up differently.” - -Of course the girls were equally interested, and Ruth was proud to -think that she had been able to snap such a rapid scene so well. - -“It’s a good advertisement for this make of camera,” the girl declared. -“I really ought to send a copy of the picture to the manufacturers. -Maybe they might give me a prize for it.” - -“Why don’t you do it, Ruth?” cried Mary. “They often pay good prices -for pictures like that, and then reproduce them in the magazine -advertising.” And thereupon the girls became quite interested in this -new subject and Ruth finally agreed to take an extra copy of the -picture and send it to the maker of the camera with a letter stating -how the photograph had been taken. - -This was all perhaps as it should have been, and no one noticed -anything unusual but Jack. He could not help but note that Ruth had -not said one word to him about winning the race. Had she rather hoped -that Joe Sedley would come out ahead? - -In the morning two copies of the photograph Ruth had taken were -dispatched to the judges of the race, and then the Rover boys prepared -to fix the radio aërial. But while they were getting out a ladder and -some tools the telephone rang and Jack was called by his Uncle Randolph -to answer it. - -“Hurrah! What do you know about this?” cried Jack, after the call had -come to an end. “Who do you suppose are coming this way? They’ll get -here in time for dinner!” - -“Some of the folks from New York?” questioned Mary quickly. - -“No. Gif and Spouter! They’re on a little tour, and they told me to -tell you girls that they have a surprise for you.” - -“A surprise! What can that be?” questioned Martha. - -“They didn’t say――only said that it was a complete surprise,” answered -Jack. - -“Which way are they coming?” questioned Fred. - -“They’re driving this way from Albany in the Powell’s sedan. They said -they would strike the new highway at Margot.” - -“Say, what’s the matter with going out to meet them?” cried Randy. -“This aërial can wait. Perhaps they’ll be glad to help us adjust it. -Gif knows more about radio than any of us――he’s a regular bug on it.” - -“Oh, I’d like an auto ride this morning! Let’s go!” exclaimed Martha. -“The air is just lovely after yesterday’s rain.” - -“And maybe by the time we’re coming back we can hear how they decided -about the race,” said Fred. - -The Rover boys had not seen their old military academy chums for a long -time, and it was quickly agreed that they should take two of the autos -and all of the young people should go. - -During the other times they had been out in the cars Ruth had always -sat on the front seat beside Jack, who usually drove. Now, however, -when they were getting ready to go there was an awkward pause. Martha -expected Jack to say something to Ruth, but he did not and Ruth held -back while the others got in. - -“Hurry up, Ruth! Get into your place!” cried Mary. “We ought to be off -and see what sort of a surprise Gif and Spouter have for us.” - -“Oh, I was thinking perhaps some one else would like to sit in front -for a change,” declared Ruth. - -“You’re welcome to sit here if you want to,” said Jack, but somehow the -words did not sound very urgent. Jack still remembered that Ruth had -not congratulated him on winning the race. - -“Well, Jack, if you don’t want me――――” murmured the girl in a low tone. - -“What?” he stammered, and then, of a sudden, he caught her arm. “Get -in, and hurry up. The first thing you know Gif and Spouter will be here -and we’ll have no ride at all,” and the next moment Ruth was in her -usual seat and Jack had run around the car and taken his place at the -wheel. The other auto was already off, and the second auto speedily -followed. - -As Martha had said, it was a glorious day after the shower and soon all -of the young people were in good spirits as the two automobiles rushed -along over the smooth surface of the new highway. In a twinkling they -had passed through Dexter’s Corners and beyond the railroad station and -then began to climb the first of the long hills leading eastward. - -“What do you suppose that surprise they have can be?” questioned Ruth, -as they sped along. - -“I’ve got my own idea,” answered Jack, in a little bit more friendly -tone than he had used before. “But I don’t think I ought to tell you, -Ruth.” - -“Why not?” she pouted. - -“It wouldn’t be fair to Gif and Spouter. But I’ll say this――I think it -will interest Fred almost as much as it will you girls.” - -“Oh!” And then Ruth grew suddenly thoughtful. Then she presently -glanced slyly at Jack and smiled, and, glancing back, he grinned in -return; and thus the thin ice that had been forming between them -dissolved. - -Mile after mile was covered, and in less than an hour they reached -Margot and there brought the cars to a halt. - -“It won’t be safe to go any further,” explained Randy, who was driving -the other car. “There are two roads from Albany coming in here, and -we don’t know which one they are taking. They didn’t know themselves, -because when they got to Jackville they were going to ask which one was -in the better condition and then take that.” - -While waiting at Margot they entered a drug store and had some -ice-cream soda. They had just finished this treat when Fred, who had -gone out to see if their friends were yet in sight, came back hurriedly -and motioned to the other boys. - -“Come out here, quick!” cried the youngest Rover. “I’ve got a surprise -for you! Hurry!” - -Grabbing up the change the druggist was giving him, Jack dashed out of -the place, followed by the twins. Fred was on the sidewalk pointing in -the direction of a side road leading southward from the town. - -“See that auto?” exclaimed the youngest Rover excitedly. - -“Yes. What of it?” questioned Jack. - -“It just came up the roadway we have been traveling,” answered Fred. -“There were two people in it. The minute the driver saw me standing by -the machines he put on all speed, went around that corner, and now he’s -streaking it for all he’s worth.” - -“Well, what of that?” asked Randy. “Who was the driver?” - -“The driver of that car was Slugger Brown,” answered Fred. “And do you -know who the fellow with him was?” he went on earnestly. “It was Nappy -Martell!” - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - HOW THE RACE WAS DECIDED - - -“Let’s go after them and see what they’re up to!” - -The words came simultaneously from the twins. As for Jack, he was -already running for the car he had been driving. - -“Tell the girls!” he shouted back. “Tell them to wait here and keep an -eye open for Gif and Spouter.” - -The girls had already come to the doorway of the drug store, wondering -what the excitement was about. Mary held her soda glass in her hand, -for she had not yet finished the treat. In a few gasped-out words Andy -explained the situation. In the meantime Randy and Fred had piled into -the auto and Andy had all he could do to leap upon the footboard as it -started up. - -“Don’t be gone too long!” shouted Martha after them. - -“We’ll leave word here at the drug store if we go home!” added Mary. - -The auto containing the Rover boys rounded the corner on two wheels, -and then Jack put on as much speed as he dared while leaving the town. -Far ahead on the road leading southward they could see another auto -streaking along, leaving a trail of smoke and dust behind. - -“We’ve got to catch them before they reach Barret’s Crossroads,” -declared Jack. “If we don’t we won’t know which way they went.” - -The crossroads to which he referred was about a mile and a half -distant. Here the road branched in three directions, one heading south -and another slightly to the east and the third slightly to the west. -The middle highway ran uphill and the two other roads through a stretch -of dense woods. - -For the first half of the distance the oldest Rover made good time, the -speedometer registering between forty and forty-five miles per hour. -But then, as they approached a small side road, a load of hay came into -view and a few seconds later blocked the highway entirely. - -“Hurry up there, you!” shouted Jack, and his cousins repeated this cry. -But the old farmer who was driving the load was either deaf or did -not care for what they said. He paid not the slightest attention, and -seemed to enjoy taking his time in getting around the corner. And even -then he blocked the highway so completely that Jack had to drive around -and partly into a ditch where for a few seconds the automobile was in -danger of overturning. - -“Gee, he’s a peach for politeness!” was the way Fred expressed himself. - -“The auto ahead is out of sight!” groaned Randy. “Step on it, Jack!” - -His cousin did “step on it” with the result that for a few minutes the -speedometer registered between forty-five and fifty miles per hour, -which was a terrific speed, especially when the unevenness of the -highway was taken into consideration. Once or twice they struck small -hollows and stones and bounced up and down in a most alarming fashion. - -“Watch yourself, Jack! We don’t want to be turning somersaults,” -cautioned Andy. - -“I’ve got her under control――don’t worry,” was the quick reply. - -But regardless of the rapid progress made, the delay caused by the -load of hay proved disastrous, for the automobile ahead could not be -overtaken, and when Barret’s Crossroads was reached not a vehicle or -a human being of any kind was in sight. In a field near by a dozen or -more cows were chewing their cuds, and that was all. - -“And the cows can’t tell us which way that auto went!” said Andy, in -disgust. “Hang the luck, anyhow! If we had only collared Slugger and -Nappy we might have found out what they’re doing in this neighborhood.” - -“Yes, and we might make Slugger explain what he meant by looking into -the window,” added Fred. - -The four boys inspected the wagon and automobile tracks in the three -roadways, but these were so hopelessly mingled they proved nothing. -Then Jack turned the auto around, and they made a quick run back to -Margot, where they found the girls in waiting near the drug store -corner. - -The boys had just explained how they had failed to catch their enemies -when they heard the tooting of a horn and the next instant a fine sedan -with all the windows down flashed up to them and came to a standstill. -Spouter Powell was at the wheel and Gif Garrison sat beside him. - -“Hello, everybody!” shouted Gif good-naturedly. “Came to meet us, did -you?” - -“Glad to see you’ve got a new highway from here on,” remarked Spouter. -“The section we just came over is something fearful. I thought I’d -break all the springs. How is everybody?” and he leaped out, followed -by Gif, and began shaking hands with the girls and boys. - -“Oh, what’s that surprise you’ve got for us?” questioned Mary eagerly. -“We’re all dying to know!” - -“Well, don’t die here, Mary,” answered Gif, with a grin. “It would be -awfully inconvenient to have to carry your body away back to the farm.” - -“Now, Gif Garrison, don’t you start to tease!” said Mary, growing red -in the face. “You know well enough what I mean. You and Spouter have a -secret. What is it?” - -“A real, genuine, dyed-in-the-wool surprise,” answered Spouter. “The -first one to guess it gets a big red apple.” - -“What have you got under that robe in the back?” questioned Ruth, with -a twinkle in her eye. - -“A barrel of flour and two sacks of potatoes,” answered Gif glibly. - -“Behold the surprise!” went on Spouter, and pulled aside the summer -robe just mentioned. From underneath there emerged a close-fitting -hat hiding a face just then filled with giggles, and then a small but -exceedingly good-looking girl arose to her feet. - -“May Powell!” - -“Where in the world did you come from?” - -“Oh, Spouter, it was just lovely to bring your cousin!” - -“I wrote to her two weeks ago to come, but she thought she couldn’t,” -said Martha. “This is certainly the dearest ever!” - -Thus speaking, the other girls fairly dragged Spouter’s pretty cousin -from the tonneau of the car and smothered her with kisses. Then the -boys all came in for a hearty handshake, especially Fred. - -“Gee, this sure is a welcome surprise!” said the youngest of the Rover -boys, and held May’s hand so long it made her blush. - -“Remember what I said about Fred?” whispered Jack to Ruth on the side. -“I thought he’d be as much interested as you girls.” - -“He certainly seems to be very well satisfied,” answered Ruth demurely. - -And Fred was satisfied, because ever since he had gone to Colby Hall he -and May had been the best of chums. - -Jack invited the new arrivals to have some soda and while this was -being disposed of told his former school chums of the sudden appearance -and disappearance of Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell. - -“Bad eggs――both of them!” was Gif’s comment. “If they’re in this -neighborhood, you fellows had better keep your eyes open.” - -“Gif and I have some news for you,” remarked Spouter, when finishing -his soda. “We’ll tell you about it later on. It’s just a little -business matter.” - -“Are you fellows going into partnership?” questioned Jack quickly. - -“No. It’s something else,” answered Gif. “Something I think will please -you fellows a whole lot.” - -On the way home Gif got in the car Fred had occupied while Fred and -Mary joined May and Spouter. On the way towards Dexter’s Corners the -Rover boys told about the horse race and how they were going to stop to -see how the judges decided. - -“Well, if that photo shows that Jack was ahead they ought to decide the -race in his favor,” said Gif. - -“We haven’t seen any of the other pictures yet,” answered Randy. “They -may tell a different story.” - -“Well, it certainly must have been a close race. I wish I’d been here -to see it.” - -“If they declare it a tie you’ll have a chance to see it ridden again.” - -The judges were to meet at a certain law office at the Corners, and -when the Rovers and their friends drove up they found a crowd collected -with a number of automobiles and carriages parked along the curb. - -“There is Joe Sedley’s car,” remarked Andy, in a low tone, and pointed -to a very fine automobile a short distance away. - -“You boys go up into the office,” said Martha. “There seems to be such -a crowd we won’t go. But let us know the news just as soon as you get -it!” And so it was arranged. - -When the Rovers, followed by their chums, entered the corridor leading -to the law office they heard several arguments in tones far from soft -and reassuring. Soon they recognized Joe Sedley’s voice. - -“That’s nothing but rank nonsense!” Sedley was saying. “Rank nonsense, -and I don’t agree to it! If anything, that race was a tie and ought to -be ridden over again!” - -“We judges don’t see it that way,” was the answer of one of the -gentlemen present, a lawyer named Rockwell. “Here are four pictures, -all taken by different persons, and each of these pictures shows that -Rover was at least a foot ahead of you at the finishing tape.” - -“Oh, you can’t go by what a photograph shows,” growled Sedley. “Cameras -play all sorts of funny tricks. It was a neck-and-neck race, and that -is all there is to it. If Rover is willing to ride it over again, well -and good. But if not, please remember that I claim it was a tie and so -far as I am concerned all bets are off. That is all there is to it.” - -“Wait a minute!” cried Jack, pushing his way forward and confronting -the head of the judges’ committee. “What is your decision, Mr. -Rockwell?” he asked. - -“Four photographs show that you were at least a foot ahead at the -finish,” declared the head judge of the contest. “That being so, -we have declared the race in your favor. You win, Mr. Rover, and I -congratulate you,” and the lawyer shook hands. - -“And we congratulate you also,” put in the other two judges. - -“Humbug!” stormed Joe Sedley. “Humbug, I say! I protest!” - -“Your protest will avail you nothing,” answered Mr. Rockwell sharply. - -“We’ll see about that! I don’t believe anybody around here is going to -take my rights away from me!” shouted Sedley, losing his mental balance -completely. Then, with a dark look at the Rovers, he strode out of the -lawyer’s office and stamped out of the building. - -“My, but isn’t he real sweet!” snickered Andy, in a low tone. - -Various comments were made over the abrupt departure of the rich young -man. A few of the spectators sided with him, but the majority agreed -that he was thoroughly unreasonable. While there was a running fire of -comment the Rovers were allowed to look at the pictures which had been -used in deciding the race and could see that Jack had won beyond the -shadow of a doubt. - -“We’ll keep these pictures for the present,” said Mr. Rockwell. -“They’ll be returned to their respective owners later.” - -When the Rovers and the others rejoined the girls they found the latter -eagerly discussing the sudden and unceremonious departure of Joe Sedley. - -“Why, he never even noticed us!” declared Martha. “He looked as dark -as a thundercloud and as mad as a hornet. He dashed over to his car, -leaped in, slammed the door after him, and made off as if the very old -Nick was in pursuit.” - -“Well, I don’t blame him for feeling bad,” said Jack. “But I don’t -think I’d show it like that if I had been in his place.” - -“Then, you really won, Jack?” cried May. “Wasn’t that grand!” - -“If he really thinks it’s a tie, Jack, why don’t you ride the race over -again?” said Ruth. “Perhaps you could give him a worse beating.” - -“I don’t think Jack ought to ride it over again!” declared Martha. “If -he won it, he won it, and that’s all there is to it.” - -“That’s just what I say!” broke in Mary. - -“Well, I think I’d ride it over again rather than have all this fuss -and feather and make an enemy of Joe Sedley,” declared Ruth, and once -again Jack felt that she was raising a barrier between them. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - ABOUT SOME INVESTMENTS - - -“Spouter, you said yesterday you had news for us,” remarked Jack on -the following morning while he and the twins were showing their chums -the radio aërial which had to be fixed. Fred was not present, having -gone on a walk with May. The other girls were upstairs discussing the -question of what to wear on such an unusually warm day. - -“I think it will be news that will please you,” returned Spouter. -“Anyway, it pleases me and Gif.” - -“Oh, I know they’ll like it! They spoke about it once before,” put in -Gif. “It’s in regard to our dads’ investments.” - -“Oh, are they going into The Rover Company with our folks?” broke in -Randy eagerly. - -“That’s it,” answered Spouter. “My father has already invested thirty -thousand dollars and is going to invest another twenty thousand very -soon.” - -“And my father has put up his full fifty thousand already. Did it two -days ago,” announced Gif a bit proudly. “So you see we have quite an -interest in The Rover Company,” and he strutted around with his head in -the air and his thumbs in his armholes. - -“Will that mean that you’ll go into the business with Fred and me later -on?” questioned Jack eagerly, looking at both of his chums as he spoke. - -“I’ve been thinking of something of that sort,” answered Gif slowly. -“But I’m thinking also of taking up civil engineering.” - -“I don’t think I want to go into Wall Street,” answered Spouter. “I’m -not going to make up my mind this year, but I’m inclined to think I’ll -take up law. I’d like to go into a court room and address a judge and -jury on an important case.” - -“You could do it all right enough, Spouter,” answered Randy. “So far as -I know, you were never at a loss for words when talking.” - -“You could talk a jury right into doing whatever you wanted,” added -Andy merrily. “All you’d have to do would be to keep on spouting until -they wanted their dinner or their supper, or wanted to retire for the -night, and then you’d have ’em promising you anything, if only you’d -let up.” - -“Humph!” snorted Spouter. “A fine opinion you have of my oratorical -ability! Of course I might use an extended argument, but it would be -in strict accordance with the facts of the case. I’d lay down a plain -proposition, then go into the various and clinching particulars, and -after that――――” - -“Please, Spouter, don’t start so early in the morning,” pleaded Randy, -for he as well as the others knew that if their chum ever got going -he would not stop talking for a long while. He had not been nicknamed -“Spouter” for nothing. - -As had been said, Gif was something of an expert when it came to -radio, and soon he located the trouble, both in the radio itself and -in the way the aërial had been put up. He and Jack, by the aid of a -long ladder manipulated by all of the crowd, managed to get the aërial -properly fastened and then the radio was tried out on a distant station -and found to work to perfection. - -Presently Fred and May came back and the other girls came downstairs, -and then the whole crowd took a walk over to the new Stevenson estate. -Here the foundations had been put down for the new building and the -carpenters were ready to erect the first of the big timbers. - -“But dad wrote that the carpenters have another job to finish first,” -said Ruth; “so they won’t do any more here for several weeks. Then -they’re going at it and keep going until it’s finished.” - -Ruth had studied the blue prints thoroughly, and it was not without -considerable pride that she explained how the house was to look when -finished and where the various rooms were to be located. - -“My room will be right over here on this end, and will have a nice -sleeping porch attached,” she said. “Won’t it be a lovely view? I’ll be -able to see for miles and miles.” - -“And you’ll be able to swallow ozone by the bushel and the ton,” added -Andy, with a grin. - -After inspecting the spot where the building was to stand the young -folks broke up into little groups, and presently Jack found himself -walking by the side of Ruth and in the direction of a little brook that -wound in and out among the trees. This was near a point where the Rover -estate and the Stevenson estate joined. - -“Did Spouter and Gif tell you the news about their folks?” questioned -Jack, as they strolled along. - -“What news, Jack?” - -“I mean about their dads investing in The Rover Company. Gif’s dad has -put up fifty thousand dollars and Spouter’s dad has put up thirty -thousand and is going to put up the other twenty very shortly.” - -“Yes, I heard about that, Jack,” and then Ruth began to color a -little. “I suppose you heard about what my father is going to do?” she -continued after a moment’s pause. - -“Your father? No, I didn’t hear about that.” - -“He’s going to take fifty thousand dollars’ worth of stock, too. In -fact, I think he has already done so,” and Ruth cast down her eyes -while she blushed more than ever. - -“Ruth! You don’t mean it!” Involuntarily Jack caught her by the arm. -“And you never told me!” - -“I――I thought――dad ought to speak about it first,” faltered the girl. -“You know, I didn’t want you to think that――――” and then she stopped -abruptly. - -“Why, Ruth, it’s wonderful! Just wonderful!” cried Jack, his face -glowing. “It shows what faith your dad has in our concern. I guess he -knows I’m going in with my father and Fred is going in too, doesn’t he?” - -“He said that your father had written that you were going into the -business later on.” - -“Why, your dad and my folks and myself will be sort of partners later -on, Ruth! Won’t that be great?” - -“My dad thinks you are all going to make a lot of money,” went on the -girl. - -“We’ll sure hope to,” answered Jack. He was trying to catch her eyes, -but Ruth was now looking down into the stream. - -“Do you think you’ll like to be in Wall Street, Jack?” - -“I don’t know why not.” - -“Didn’t you used to think something of going into law or becoming a -doctor――or something like that?” - -“Oh, I used to think all sorts of things, Ruth, just like any other -fellow. But somehow neither doctoring nor the law appeals to me. The -folks have a real good business in Wall Street, and I think I might as -well go in with them as not. Of course I sha’n’t spend all my time down -there grubbing for money. I’m going to take an interest in our gold -mine in the West, and our oil fields in the South, and I think between -all of them I’ll have plenty to do.” - -“If you travel South and travel West all the time you’ll not be at home -very much,” was the girl’s comment. “I guess you don’t care much for -society, Jack?” - -“Not a great deal. I always thought it was rather a hardship to get -into a dress suit, especially in hot weather,” and Jack smiled a -little. - -“Did you get an invitation to the dance over at the Blue Mountain Golf -Club next Saturday?” - -“No. None of us belongs over there, you know. How did you hear about -it?” - -“Why, Joe Sedley spoke about it. He said nearly all the best people -around here went there.” - -“Well, there are some nice people go there, but others are not so -nice――in fact, the club is getting the reputation for being a little -bit swift.” - -“Mr. Sedley said it was the finest club anywhere around here. He said -it was a great honor to belong to it.” - -“Did he ask you to go to the dance with him, Ruth?” questioned Jack -bluntly. - -“Yes.” - -There was a moment of awkward silence. It was on the tip of Jack’s -tongue to say a number of things, but he did not utter a word. - -“But I’m not going to the dance,” went on Ruth. “I don’t want to leave -the other girls. And, anyway, the girls are all getting ready, as you -know, to visit my home. But I think it was very nice of Joe Sedley to -ask me to go,” she added. - -How far this conversation might have extended there is no telling, -because at that moment several of the others came up with the -announcement that it was time to return to Valley Brook Farm for -lunch, and after the repast Ruth went off with the other girls to -complete the arrangements for going home and taking her former school -chums with her. - -But the conversation made Jack more thoughtful than ever. He wondered -if Ruth had not been drawing him out on purpose and wondered also if -she would have been better pleased had he announced his intention of -taking up some profession. - -“Maybe now that her family is well fixed she would like to shine -socially,” he told himself. “Well, lots of people like that, so I -couldn’t blame her. But I’m afraid I’d make a poor showing trailing the -élite four hundred. And then, what did she mean about traveling out -West and down South? Maybe she would prefer somebody who stuck at home. -But I couldn’t do that――not all the time. It’s not in my nature.” - -But Jack was not left to meditate long. Gif and Spouter claimed his -attention and reminded both him and the other boys that they had been -promised an outing in the woods back of the farm if they came there for -a vacation. - -“Both of us are a bit tired of running the car,” explained Spouter. -“We’d like to get into the wide-open spaces, as they call it, and rough -it a bit as we used to on Snowshoe Island and on our big hunt.” - -“We’ll start out on a little trip just as soon as the girls leave,” -said Randy. - -“Provided Fred can break away from May,” put in his twin slyly. - -“May has certainly got him hypnotized,” laughed Jack. - -“Humph! What about Ruth having you under her thumb?” retorted the -youngest Rover, and then he added quickly: “But you had better watch -your step, Jack, or Joe Sedley will be walking off with the prize.” - -“If Ruth really wants Joe Sedley she can have him,” answered Jack -irritatedly. He was still thinking of the conversation down at the -brook. - -The boys were standing at a corner of the old farmhouse while speaking, -and just as the last remark was made Ruth passed by one of the open -windows. She heard Jack’s rather ill-advised words and her cheeks -flushed deeply. She had been on the point of joining Martha in the -sitting room, but now she came to a sudden standstill, bit her lip -deeply, and then, looking straight ahead with her cheeks still flaming, -marched up to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. - -That same day, to add to his worries, Jack received a rather formal -note from Joe Sedley in which the rich young man stated that he -considered the race had been a tie and asked Jack to set a date for -riding it over again. Jack immediately showed the letter to his cousins. - -“I wouldn’t do it!” said Randy quickly. “Why, if you agreed to that it -would tend to show that you were not willing to back up the judges of -the contest. They gave the race to you.” - -“Tell him to take a walk to the north pole and cool off,” was the way -Andy expressed himself. - -“I don’t think I’d notice the communication,” put in Fred. - -“Oh, I’ll have to answer it,” said Jack, and a little later he -addressed a note in reply to Joe Sedley’s stating that he would abide -by the decision of the judges, and as a consequence that race could not -be ridden again. However, if Sedley wanted another contest, Jack would -be willing to arrange for it as soon as he returned from the outing he -was going to take with his cousins and their visitors. - -To this Sedley answered abruptly: “It is the first race or nothing. I -shall always claim it was a tie.” And there the unfortunate incident -rested. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - OFF ON AN OUTING - - -“Now for a good old-fashioned outing in the woods! Boys, we ought to -have a bully time!” - -It was Gif who spoke, two days later. The boys had seen the girls off -on the train at Oak Run across the river from Dexter’s Corners and were -returning to the farm. He was running one car while Randy was running -the other. - -The leave-taking at the last minute had been rather hurried, for the -reason that the train was coming in when they arrived. Consequently -Jack had had little opportunity to speak to Ruth. Previous to the -coming away she had held somewhat aloof from him, and for some reason -he could not fathom she had not seemed to care whether he came after -her or not. - -This was exactly opposite to the situation between Fred and Spouter’s -cousin. May and Fred were seen together nearly all the time, and all of -the others came to the conclusion that these young folks had some sort -of an understanding between them. - -“We’ll have a fine time if the weather holds good,” said Randy. “But -deliver me from an outing up in those woods if it rains for several -days.” - -“Oh, see here, don’t be a wet blanket so soon!” cried his twin. “It’s -not going to rain for a month. I bribed the weather man to hold off.” - -The boys had already decided on where they were going――to a regular -hunting lodge in the woods――and what they would take along. Back of the -farm was a swiftly flowing river upon which at one point was located -Humpback Falls. Beyond this were wide stretches of woodland containing -not a few small streams flowing into the river. Here the boys had often -gone hunting and fishing. - -“We can’t do much in the way of hunting,” declared Jack. “Nearly -everything is out of season. Of course you might get a crow, or -something like that. But who wants a crow, anyway?” - -“I’d like to haul in a good mess of trout,” said Gif wistfully. - -While at Dexter’s Corners and at the railroad station the boys had made -a number of inquiries concerning Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell, but -obtained no trace of these unworthies. Now in the pleasure of getting -ready for their outing their former enemies were forgotten. - -“I’ll tell you what we might do,” said Randy, while they were packing -their things. “Why can’t we do some real hunting with our cameras? We -might get some dandy pictures of wild animals and other subjects.” - -“That suits me,” came from Gif. “I’ve got a brand-new camera with me, -and I’d like first rate to snap something worth while.” - -“How about a fifteen-foot snake with three knots in his little tail?” -suggested Andy. - -“No! If I snap a snake I want nothing less than a two-headed anaconda!” -was the merry reply. “One that has a couple of humps on his back like a -camel.” - -“What’s the matter with taking a picture of some butterfly eggs?” -questioned Fred. - -“No, I want a snapshot of a caterpillar resting on a pillow against a -pillar,” finished Jack, and then there was a general laugh. - -The next day dawned clear and warm and the boys were up for an early -breakfast. Each had donned a regular hiking costume, and each carried -his stuff in a roll in regular military fashion. They had reduced their -stores to a minimum, knowing that they could easily hike over to one of -the nearby villages if they happened to run short of provisions. - -“Going out to shoot elephants, eh?” was Grandfather Rover’s comment, -as he stood up on rather shaky legs to bid them good-bye. “Well, don’t -blow your heads off. You’ll need them trying to find your way back.” - -“If we see any elephants I’ll bring a trunk back for you!” cried Andy. -“A trunk full of assorted sneezes.” - -“Don’t get shot, any of you,” admonished Aunt Martha. “And be careful -and don’t fall in the river. Just remember that when he was a boy -Fred’s father nearly lost his life at Humpback Falls.” - -“And don’t get lost in the woods,” added Uncle Randolph. “Have you a -compass with you?” - -“Yes, we’ve got a compass, Uncle Randolph,” answered Jack. “And we -won’t get lost, either. We’ve been through those woods hundreds of -times.” - -“Sorry you can’t shoot no rabbits dis time o’ year,” remarked Aleck -Pop, when the boys were leaving. “You mought brung me home a few more -rabbits’ foots jest fur luck.” - -“Oh, we’ll bring you a buskarora, Aleck!” exclaimed Andy. - -“A buskarora! What’s dat? Some new kind of animal?” - -“A buskarora, Aleck, is a second cousin to a three-armed jaspinilla,” -answered Andy soberly. “They live in caves with jusjupacks and -rusbunions.” - -“Rusbunions! Is dat something like my own bunions?” questioned the -colored man. - -“Almost, but entirely different. We’ll bring you a couple of pounds or -two or three feet of them――just as you prefer.” - -“Don’t you brung nothing like dat around me, Andy Rover. Sech strange -t’ings might bite. By golly, ain’t it wonderful what dem boys learn -when dey goes to school? I suppose dem high-soundin’ names don’t mean -nothing but bullfrogs or tadpoles and sech things,” and the old colored -man shuffled off shaking his head thoughtfully. - -It did not take the boys long to reach the river, and they walked along -until they found a good fording place and here took off their shoes and -sport stockings and waded across. - -“If we weren’t so anxious to get along, I’d say we might go in -swimming,” suggested Fred. - -“Oh, there are plenty of good places to swim besides this,” answered -Randy. “Let’s wait until we get up near the old spring.” - -On such a hot day it was a relief to get in the woods. Mile after -mile was covered, Jack and Randy leading the way and the others close -behind. Here and there, climbing over and around the rocks was more or -less difficult and once Spouter missed his footing and rolled over and -over, to bring up in a tangle of brushwood. - -“Hi! Somebody give me a hand!” he yelled. “I’m all tangled up down -here!” And then the others had considerable difficulty in getting him -out of his predicament without ruining his clothing and the outfit he -carried. - -By noon they had covered eight or nine miles and came to rest at a -small opening where was located the spring that had been mentioned. -Here there was a large pool of water, and the boys took a short swim -before sitting down to eat. - -“Jimminy beeswax!” chattered Fred, after plunging in. “Who said this -was a hot bath? It’s as cold as Greenland’s icy fountains!” - -The boys took their time over their lunch, and it was after two o’clock -when they resumed their hike. So far they had seen little or no game -except some birds and had not attempted to do any shooting. - -“Look! See the chipmunks!” cried Fred presently, and pointed to a -fallen tree some distance ahead. There were five chipmunks having a -merry time running in and out of the tree, which chanced to be hollow. - -“There’s a snapshot worth getting,” announced Gif. “Come on! Let’s see -what we can do.” - -All were willing, and, throwing down their loads, they got out their -cameras and were soon crawling cautiously towards the tree trunk. Then -they prepared to snap their pictures, but just as they were ready the -chipmunks took alarm and disappeared as if by magic. - -“Sold!” cried Randy, in disgust. “A fine bunch of photographers we are!” - -“We should have carried our cameras ready for use. Then we might have -got some fine snapshots,” answered Spouter. - -They advanced upon the tree trunk and looked all around that vicinity, -but if the chipmunks were anywhere near they did not show themselves. -So presently, with nothing else to do, the boys continued on their way. -The Rovers knew of a good-sized shack several miles farther on, and -there they thought they might rest for the first night out. - -A little farther on they came rather unexpectedly upon a roadway, and -here was located a fair-sized clearing where a man ran a small farm. As -they came closer they heard a woman calling out shrilly. - -“Tommy! The crows are after those little chickens again! Run and chase -’em away――quick! Oh, dear, with all those crows around we can’t raise -anything any more!” And then a red-headed boy appeared, waving a -gingham apron in his hand. - -The Rover boys and their chums looked up and only a short distance away -saw a large flock of crows circling over one side of the farm where -were located several chicken houses. On the ground were a number of -little chicks, and the crows were evidently after some of these. - -“There’s our chance! Quick!” yelled Jack, and without further ado he -unslung his gun. - -The others understood, and all waited until each had his firearm ready -for use. In the meantime Fred had run over to the boy and told him to -stop waving the apron. - -“We’ll give those crows something to remember us by,” said the youngest -of the Rover boys. - -“All ready!” yelled Jack. “Take aim!” He paused another instant. “Fire!” - -Bang! Crack! Bang! went the guns in almost a perfect volley. The -reports were followed by a scream from the woman in the house and a -yell of delight from the red-headed boy. Then nine of the crows were -seen to be coming down, some dropping rapidly, showing they had been -killed instantly, and others fluttering as if badly wounded. With loud -caws the other birds wheeled abruptly and flew out of sight. - -“That’s the time we brought ’em down!” cried Jack, in satisfaction. -“Those crows at least won’t bother any more chickens.” - -“Gosh! but you’re some hunters, ain’t you?” said the red-headed boy, -his eyes wide in wonder. - -“Oh, that was easy,” answered Jack. “Come on, fellows, let’s go after -the birds that we wounded and put them out of their misery.” - -Three of the crows had been only wounded, and they were quickly -dispatched, and then the boys walked back to the farmhouse where they -found a lean woman awaiting them. - -“You young men certainly came in the nick of time,” she declared -emphatically. “I’m very much obliged to you, and I’m sure my husband -will be too when he gets back from his work. Those crows are the plague -of my life. I can’t keep the chicks locked up all the time, they need -the air and the sunshine. But every time I let ’em out those crows get -after them.” - -“Want them crows?” asked the red-headed boy. - -“No. You can have them,” answered Jack. “But I wouldn’t mind having a -drink of water,” he added. - -A well was handy and while the crowd was having a drink the woman -continued to talk about her troubles. - -“The crows are troubling us all the time, and once in a while we have -a tramp or two come here,” she vouchsafed. “And yesterday I had two -young men stop here and they were just as impudent as they could be.” - -This remark interested the Rovers and their chums and they immediately -asked the woman for some particulars. She said the two undesirable -visitors had lost something on the road and insisted that Tommy help -them in hunting for it and then had insisted that she supply them with -lunch, asking in anything but a friendly fashion. The two young men had -gone off only when Tommy had come in announcing that his father was -coming down the road. - -“What were the names of those young men?” questioned Fred. - -“They didn’t give their names,” answered the woman, “but one called the -other Nappy and he called the first fellow Slugger.” - -“Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell again!” exclaimed Randy. “Can you beat -it?” - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE CABIN IN THE WOODS - - -Mrs. Jandle, the farm woman, gazed at the Rovers and their chums -curiously and they had to explain that Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown -had once been their school chums but since that time had gotten into -all sorts of trouble with the authorities and it was now supposed that -they and their families had lost practically all of their money. - -“Well, they didn’t look like tramps, I’ll say that for ’em,” said Mrs. -Jandle. “They were quite well dressed and they offered to pay for their -lunch. But I didn’t let ’em have anything, because, as I said before, I -didn’t like their manner. They were very overbearing.” - -“And they always were,” answered Jack. “If they come and annoy you -again tell them that you know all about them and that you will have -them placed under arrest and that the folks at Valley Brook Farm will -appear against them. I’ll warrant that will make them clear out in a -hurry.” - -A little later the boys continued in the direction of the place where -they intended to spend the night. A part of the road was rough and they -had covered less than a mile when Fred called a halt. - -“I’ve got something in my shoe and I want to find out what it is,” he -announced. - -The spot was close to a road that ran through the woods and over a -small hill. Looking around, Randy spied several squirrels running -up and down a tree trunk and went in that direction to take several -snapshots of them. - -“I don’t like to discourage you fellows,” announced Spouter presently. -“But if I am any sort of weather prophet, we’re going to have a storm, -and that very soon.” - -“The sky certainly does begin to look queer,” answered Jack after a -long look around. “But the storm may pass off to the westward of us.” - -“I hope we don’t get it――at least, not if it’s a thunderstorm,” came -from Spouter. “You all know how dangerous those are.” - -“You bet we do!” cried Andy. “All of us have been caught out in them -more than once.” - -Having cleared his shoes of the stone which in some way had gotten into -it, Fred announced that he was ready to go on and all took up their -loads again and marched to the top of the hill, a distance of less -than a quarter of a mile. By this time a brisk breeze had sprung up, -rustling the bushes and the boughs of the trees, and now the gathering -clouds spread over the face of the sun, making the outlook much darker. - -“That storm is coming, all right enough,” declared Randy. - -“Right-o!” added Fred. “Here are the first drops now!” and he put out -his hand to verify his words. - -“Raindrops as big as quarters!” shouted Gif. “Boys, I’m afraid we’re in -for a soaking unless we get under some kind of shelter.” - -“Well, I’m not in favor of standing under the trees,” said Spouter. -“Not if there is any lightning coming.” - -He had scarcely spoken when the sky at a distance was illumined, and -a few seconds later came the low rumble of thunder. Then the wind -gradually increased and the rain came down steadily. - -“I guess we’re in for it,” announced Jack, shaking his head dubiously. -“I don’t know of a single shelter in this locality.” - -“Well, then, let’s take a double one if we can’t find a single one,” -answered Andy, bound to have his little joke. - -“If I remember rightly, there is some sort of an old cabin down at -the foot of the hill,” said Fred. “Don’t you remember it, Randy? We -stopped there once when we were out nutting a couple of years ago――the -time we thought we heard an aëroplane.” - -“Oh, yes, Fred! I remember that,” cried his cousin quickly. “It’s right -down on the left of the road at the very foot of the hill. Come on, -let’s run for it before the storm gets too bad.” - -All were willing to do anything to get under shelter, and they broke -into a run, making their way down the hill as rapidly as their outfits -permitted. - -They were less than half way down the hill when a vivid flash of -lightning illumined the sky, followed almost instantly by a loud crack -of thunder. All of the boys dodged instinctively and a moment later -heard another crash behind them. - -“Look! Look!” gasped Jack, turning around. All did so and were just in -time to see a tall tree about a hundred yards away fall slowly from the -edge of the forest, landing in such a position that it partly blocked -the roadway. - -“Gee! what do you know about that?” panted Andy, his eyes almost -starting from his head. “Why, we came past that spot less than a minute -ago!” - -“A――a――narrow escape, I’ll tell the world!” spluttered Fred. “Come on, -let’s get to that cabin! It will be at least some safer than being in -the open.” - -By the time the Rovers and their chums gained the foot of the hill the -rain was coming down in torrents. The wind was also rising, blowing -leaves and small tree branches in various directions. Fred and Randy -led the way, leaving the highway at a point where there were a number -of large rocks. They stepped over a broken-down wire fence and then ran -along a footpath, one side of which was overhung by dense bushes now -becoming soaked from the rain. - -“Wow!” spluttered Gif presently, as he followed Spouter. His chum had -pushed back a large branch of a bush and this now swept back into -place, catching Gif full in the face and giving him a perfect shower -bath. - -“Sorry. But I had to get past somehow,” cried Spouter. - -“How much farther to go?” demanded Andy. - -“Not much farther,” answered Fred. “I only hope the old cabin hasn’t -fallen down since Randy and I were here before.” - -Presently, just as there came more lightning and thunder, those in -advance turned a corner of the path and came to a small clearing. In -the center of this was on old and dilapidated cabin built, evidently, -years before by some lumbermen. The front door to the cabin stood -partly open and one of the windows was minus both the sash and the -shutter it had once boasted. - -“Anybody around?” sang out Jack. - -“Don’t see anybody,” answered Fred, and shoved the door still farther -back. Then he plunged into the cabin and one after another the others -followed. - -If the outside of the place looked dilapidated, the inside was just as -bad if not worse. The floor was thick with dirt and so were the walls, -and in the upper part a number of birds circled around wildly in an -endeavor to get out by way of several small openings. - -“Not much of a place to stay in, but a whole lot better than nothing,” -was the way Gif expressed himself. - -“Perhaps we’ll have to stay here all night,” remarked Jack, as he shook -the water from his cap. - -“I hope no tree comes down and hits this place,” remarked Randy. “A -good big tree could knock this cabin as flat as a pancake and leave us -under the ruins.” - -“You’re a cheerful bird, I don’t think,” answered Spouter. “Just the -same, I don’t think there is any danger of a tree hitting the cabin. -All the big ones around here have been cut off and the second growth -doesn’t amount to much.” - -The boys stacked their outfits in the middle of the floor where only a -few drops of rain could get at them and then stood by the broken-out -window and the doorway looking at the storm. Fortunately the rain was -driving from the rear of the place, and as this seemed to be more or -less tight only a small quantity of water came into the cabin. - -“I’d hate to stay in such a rank place as this all night,” said Fred, -as the downpour continued, punctuated every now and then by flashes of -lightning and cracks of thunder. “But what are we going to do if this -storm keeps up?” - -“Oh, it may stop before night comes on,” answered Jack. “Anyway, we’re -simply out for sport, so we might as well make the best of what comes,” -and he smiled grimly. - -Presently the lightning and thunder seemed to die away and the fury of -the sudden storm abated. Yet the rain came down steadily and the boys -felt it would be foolish to try to go farther until there was more of a -let-up. - -“We’d get wet to the skin in no time and all of our outfit would get -wet, too,” said Jack. “We may as well content ourselves here.” - -Getting somewhat tired of standing straight up watching the storm, the -boys began to move around the deserted cabin. They found the lower -floor consisted of four rooms, one evidently having been used for -a kitchen, another for a messroom, and the other two for sleeping -quarters. In the latter rooms there were a number of rough bunks -against the walls, some still containing straw and other material used -for bedding. - -“I wouldn’t bunk in one of those places for a farm,” said Fred to Andy. -“I’ll bet they’re full of vermin.” - -“Looks to me like a dandy place for snakes,” was Andy’s answer. “I’ll -wager there are plenty of snakes under the flooring of this building.” - -Once or twice the boys had heard some strange sounds not unlike the -barking of young dogs. On account of the thunder and the noise made by -the falling rain, they had not been able to trace these sounds and had -thought they must come from a distance. - -“Listen!” cried Jack presently. “Do I hear a dog?” - -“Sounds like a terrier,” answered Gif. “But I don’t know where he is.” - -Having poked around the cabin, Andy and Fred pushed open a door in what -had been the kitchen of the cabin. Here there was a lean-to meant for a -pantry, and beyond this another small structure evidently intended for -the housing of firewood. - -“Beeswax and onions!” exclaimed Andy presently. “Look here, fellows! -What do you make of this?” He pointed from a doorway of the pantry -which led into the woodshed. He had a flashlight in his hand, and this -he now played on a large box in a corner of the shed. Here in a pile of -rubbish were several small animals, all barking in a peculiar fashion. - -“What are they――dogs?” questioned Spouter, coming up. - -“Dogs nothing!” cried Fred. “Don’t you know what they are? Foxes!” - -“That’s what they are,” answered Jack, giving a careful look. “Some old -mother fox has been using this corner for her den.” - -“Say, if that’s so, we’d better look out for the mother fox!” exclaimed -Randy, in alarm. “No wild animal will allow any one to molest her young -without a fight.” - -“Yes, and a stiff fight, too!” added Gif. - -Gif had scarcely spoken when there was a wild barking and snapping -outside of the old cabin. Then came a sudden leap through a wide-open -window and the next instant the six boys found themselves confronted by -a full-sized and very angry looking mother fox. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - AN UNEXPECTED BLAZE - - -For the instant the six boys were so startled that they knew not what -to do. None of them was armed, their firearms and their fishing outfits -resting on the floor with their rolls. - -But if the lads were taken aback, so was the mother fox. She had landed -squarely on the floor and now shrank back, hair bristling on end and -her eyes staring wildly at what was before her. Astonishment seemed to -give way to fear over the welfare of her offspring and then her eyes -gleamed with a sudden ferocity. Had there been no young ones she might -have leaped through the window again for safety, but now she would -fight to the death for those she loved. - -“Come on! Get out of here!” yelled Jack, catching Fred by the arm. - -“If I only had a gun!” came from Spouter. - -“Come to the door, I tell you, and leave that fox alone!” went on Jack. - -“She wants to get at her young ones――that’s what she wants!” burst out -Randy. - -“Well, she can have her kids for all I care,” answered his twin. “Me -for the open spaces,” and he followed Jack and Fred through one room to -another and then outside, and the others came swiftly upon their heels. - -Twice the mother fox barked and showed her teeth viciously, but at the -same time she backed around in a semicircle and a few seconds later -slunk out of sight through a hole in the back wall of the cabin. - -[Illustration: TWICE THE MOTHER FOX BARKED AND SHOWED HER TEETH.] - -“She’s after her little ones, all right enough,” said Jack. “Probably -there is another hole leading into the woodshed from the outside.” - -“We’d better arm ourselves while we’ve got the chance,” said Randy. -“There’s no telling what that old fox may start to do.” - -“I don’t think I want to kill her,” said Fred. “If you did that, you’d -have to kill her young ones too.” - -The boys were now standing in a group in the rain, not knowing what to -do next. Presently Jack and Gif walked around one side of the cabin. -They were just in time to see the nose of the fox disappearing from a -small hole in the side of the woodshed. - -“She’s in there all right enough,” said Gif. - -“And she can stay there for all of me,” answered Jack. “I suppose it -would be the proper thing to kill that fox and also her young. But -somehow, after looking at the little things, I haven’t got the heart to -do it.” - -Jack and Gif joined the others and found that they had brought forth -from the cabin all the firearms the party carried. - -“An old mother fox like that can make a lot of trouble for a farmer’s -chickens,” said Gif. “Really more trouble than the crows. She ought to -be slaughtered and the young ones ought to be slaughtered too.” - -“Well, do you want to do the slaughtering, Gif?” questioned Fred -quickly. “I declare I don’t.” - -“Well, I――er――I think it ought to be done,” stammered the youth who had -been at the head of the Colby Hall Athletic Association. - -“All right then, we’ll appoint you the head of the committee to do the -deed,” declared Spouter. - -“Well, what do you say about it?” demanded Gif. - -“I’ll say that it’s something that really ought to be done for the -benefit of society at large,” declared Spouter. “Foxes commit all sorts -of depredations and everybody knows they forfeit their lives a dozen -times or more a year. Besides that, fox skins are valuable. At the -same time――――” and here Spouter paused. “At the same time, so far as -I am concerned that old mother fox can live to take care of her little -family.” - -“And thus doth the judge render his decision in this court,” quoted -Andy solemnly. “Gentlemen of the jury, what is your verdict?” - -The verdict was unanimous that a fox was a rascal and a thief and ought -to be killed on general principles, but as there was no one on hand who -was willing to commit the deed the fox was to go unmolested. - -The rain was still coming down steadily, and, not to get soaked, the -boys stepped rather gingerly into the living room of the old cabin. -Then, with great caution, they closed the doors leading to the other -rooms. - -“Now if that old fox wants to get at us she’ll have to come around to -the front of the building,” said Jack. - -“Gosh! what a grand picture that old fox and her young ones would -make,” sighed Fred. “I wish we had had a chance to get a picture of the -little ones before the mother hove in sight.” - -“Well, you be thankful, Fred, that you didn’t get a sample of her teeth -in the calf of your leg,” answered Randy. “If she ever started on a -rampage I bet she’d be worse than a wildcat.” - -Looking from the cabin, the boys saw that the storm was passing. Here -and there the blue sky was showing, and presently the rain stopped -falling and they saw a bit of sunshine drift across the water-soaked -trees and bushes. - -“We might as well be going,” declared Jack. “You know these storms -have a way of working around and coming back, and we want to make that -hunters’ lodge before night if we possibly can.” - -“I’d like to get another look at that old fox,” declared Fred, as he -adjusted his roll. - -“Nothing doing!” declared Jack. “You leave well enough alone. Don’t you -remember that old story about Larry Duncan? He went into a fox’s den -and one of the old timers jumped up and just about bit off his nose. -You’d look fine with half your nose missing!” - -“Oh, come on――I was only fooling,” answered the youngest Rover boy. - -In a short while they had left the old cabin and were once more on the -road. For over half a mile they had to slosh along through the mud -and water, but after that they came to a stony trail where going was -considerably better. The stop at the cabin had rested them, and they -made good progress during the last two miles of the hike. - -“Hurrah! The sun is coming out!” cried Gif presently. “I think we’ve -seen the last of that storm.” - -Randy and Spouter were in advance and presently they set up a shout as -they came in sight of the little hunters’ lodge for which the party -was bound. This place belonged to a couple of gentlemen living near -Dexter’s Corners and they often allowed the Rovers and others to use it. - -When they arrived at the place the boys found the door locked and all -the wooden shutters over the windows in place. Jack had the key and -they soon opened up. Then while Fred and Andy started the fire on the -hearth of the broad stone chimney the others opened the windows and -placed the lodge in order generally. - -“We’ll have to dry out our clothing first of all,” declared Gif. “It’s -lucky we brought extra knickers along in our rolls.” - -“Yes, and then I’ll want something to eat!” declared Andy. “Gee, I’m -almost hungry enough to chew nails!” - -“That’s your reason for hurrying up with the fire, I guess,” grinned -Jack. “Well, go to it! The sooner we dry out and get something to eat, -the sooner we’ll feel at home.” - -The others were getting some of the provisions from their outfits when -Fred and Andy, who were coaxing the fire, suddenly let out a yell of -alarm. - -“What’s the matter with the chimney?” - -“Looks to me as if it was on fire!” - -“Hi! what’s that?” exclaimed Spouter. “You certainly don’t want to burn -this place up!” - -There was a strange roaring of flames in the chimney, then, of a -sudden, a back draft sent the smoke and the sparks out into the room -and into the faces of the boys. They stumbled back wildly, several to -the open windows and the others to the doorway. - -“I know what’s the matter!” exclaimed Fred. “It’s birds’ nests! They -had the same trouble several years ago. Mr. Randolph was telling me -about it.” - -“Well, what did they do about it?” demanded Jack quickly. - -“Got up on the roof and put it out with a couple of pails of water,” -was the reply. - -“Gee, it’s a wonder the stuff isn’t too wet to burn,” remarked Gif. -“We’ve had rain enough.” - -“Let’s get water and be quick about it,” came from Jack. “Even if the -chimney is a substantial one the sparks may set the roof on fire.” - -The hunters’ lodge was comfortably furnished, and the boys had already -noted a couple of tin pails in the kitchen pantry. - -“I know where the spring is!” cried Fred. “Hurry up!” - -“How are we going to get up on the roof?” - -“There’s a permanent ladder in the back of the lodge,” was the reply. -“And there are foot cleats leading up to the chimney.” - -Grabbing up not only the pails but also several pots and a teakettle, -the boys rushed after Fred down to where a spring bubbled up between -the rocks. Here there was a small pool of cool, clear water which they -proceeded to scoop up as rapidly as possible. Then they rushed to the -rear of the lodge and Jack was the first to mount the ladder which -was nailed beside a rear window. He carried a pail of water in one -hand and behind him came Randy with the second pail and Spouter with -the teakettle. The boys had worked as quickly as possible, but many -precious seconds had been lost and the fire in the chimney was now -roaring merrily, the flames shooting several feet above the top and -carrying the sparks in all directions. - -“My gracious, that roof will catch, as sure as shooting!” gasped Fred. -“Just look at those sparks, will you?” - -Balancing himself as best he could with the pail of water, Jack mounted -the sloping roof of the lodge until he came within a few feet of the -chimney. The sparks fell all around him, some even landing on his cap -and clothing. Then he let fly with the contents of the pail and more -than three-quarters of the water went down into the chimney. - -“Hurrah, that’s the way to do it!” came encouragingly from Gif. “Throw -the pail down, Jack!” - -This was done, and then Randy passed the second pail along and this was -followed by the teakettle. - -“Go inside and see that the fire doesn’t scatter around the room,” -yelled the oldest Rover boy, as the contents of the teakettle followed -the second pail of water into the chimney. - -Andy did as bidden and at the same time Gif with the two pails hurried -off once more to the spring. Inside of the lodge there was a dense -smoke and a little trickle of water came from the hearthstone across -the floor. This carried with it some ashes and a few bits of wood and -straw. - -The first supply of water was soon exhausted and by the time a fresh -quantity came up from the spring the fire in the chimney was again -belching forth, sending out almost as many sparks as ever. - -“Lively there, boys! Lively!” yelled Jack, brushing the sparks from his -face and hands. - -“Here you are!” yelled Gif. “Pass ’em along!” and one pail after -another came up. - -“The roof is on fire!” screamed Spouter. “Here, give me that teakettle -of water!” - -Spouter was right. The sparks had set fire to the roof in several -places. He crawled forward as well as the slippery condition of the -shingles permitted. Then, with the water, he put out one of the blazes -and immediately crawled off in the direction of another. - -“Be careful there!” cried Gif. “Throw down the pails again and I’ll get -more water.” - -“Gosh! this is worse than I thought it was going to be,” groaned Randy. -“I thought a pail or two of water would put it all out!” - -“Hi! Hi! Take care there!” came suddenly from Gif. - -He was yelling at Spouter whose left foot had slipped from under him. -Then came a yell of fright, and the next moment Spouter dropped the -teakettle with a clatter and rolled over and over and shot from the -roof of the lodge to the ground below! - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD - - -Both Jack and Randy were greatly alarmed when they saw their former -school chum roll from the roof of the hunters’ lodge and disappear from -sight. - -“He’ll break his neck!” gasped Randy. - -Andy was on the ladder with a pot of water when the accident occurred. -He saw Spouter fly over the edge of the roof, turn something of a -somersault and then come down very much in the shape of a huge frog. -He landed in some low bushes growing beside a window, and then fell -backward on the wet grass. - -“Spouter!” exclaimed Gif, rushing up, followed by Fred. “Are you hurt?” - -There was no immediate answer to this, but the boy who loved -occasionally to orate turned over slowly on his hands and knees and -then got up on his feet. - -“Gee, what a tumble!” came from Fred. “Are you sure you’re all right, -Spouter?” - -“I――I――guess so,” panted the unfortunate one. “Gee, but I came down -awfully sudden like, didn’t I?” he added, rubbing his shoulder and then -his hip. - -Under ordinary circumstances all of the other boys would have paid -more attention to Spouter. But now, when they saw he was not seriously -injured, they immediately turned their attention again to the fire. - -Pail after pail of water was taken to the roof, and gradually the -flames in the chimney subsided and then went out altogether. The last -few pailfuls were thrown by Randy, for Jack was almost exhausted, so -strenuously had he labored to put out the conflagration. - -While the work was going on overhead Fred, followed by Spouter, had -reëntered the lodge and they were busy cleaning up the muss on the -hearth and on the floor. Spouter limped a little, but refused to take -care of his bruises until all were assured that the fire was a thing of -the past. - -“We were lucky to get it out so easily,” declared Jack. “At one time -I thought sure the whole roof would catch fire.” He and Randy had -extinguished the flames on the shingles which Spouter had been fighting. - -“I don’t know what the owners of the lodge will say to this,” remarked -Randy, as he looked at the muss on the floor. “But I don’t think they -can claim that the fire in the chimney was our fault.” - -“I can’t understand how a few birds’ nests could make such an awful -blaze as that,” declared Jack. “The chimney went off as if it was -stuffed with wood.” - -Later on the boys solved the mystery of the fire. During some previous -storm a long branch of a tree had been blown to the roof of the lodge -and then settled down into the chimney. Here it had had time to dry -and in it the birds had established their nests. Thus when the fire -was started on the hearth the dried-out limb with its dead leaves and -birds’ nests had acted very much like a huge torch. - -It was not until two hours later that the boys had cleaned up the muss. -They examined the chimney carefully and it was cleaned out thoroughly -so that no more fires of that sort might occur. Then they started -another blaze and prepared supper, after which all of them felt better, -even though Spouter complained somewhat of a bruise on his shoulder and -another on his hip and Jack and Randy exhibited several places on their -hands and necks where the sparks had touched them. - -As has been said, the lodge was well furnished and that night the boys -slept almost as comfortably as if they had been at home. They left a -low fire burning so that their garments might dry out and none of them -stirred until the sun was well up in the heavens. - -“No use of going on an outing if you can’t take your time about it,” -remarked Gif, as he arose and stretched himself. - -“Let’s be thankful we’re not in an encampment at Colby Hall,” answered -Andy. “If we were, Major Jack would have us all up at daybreak and on -the parade ground,” and he grinned at his cousin. - -“Attention!” came suddenly from the former major of the Colby Hall -battalion, and, taken off their guard, Andy, Randy and Spouter leaped -up and stood as straight as ramrods. Then came a burst of laughter from -Jack and the others, and even the victims of his little joke could not -help but join in. - -The various happenings of the day before had tired all of the lads, and -they were perfectly content to take it easy that day. The sun came out -warmly and soon all traces of the storm had passed. The boys lolled -around in the sun or in the shade as suited them, resting and telling -stories. - -“I wish I knew what had brought Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell to this -neighborhood,” remarked Jack. “I’m sure they wouldn’t come up here -excepting for some especial purpose.” - -“It certainly is queer that Slugger looked in at your window,” said -Spouter. “He’s a bad egg. You’d better keep your eyes peeled for him.” - -“And then to think they stopped at that farmhouse where we shot the -crows,” put in Fred. “That shows that they can’t be so very far from -this neighborhood.” - -“Maybe they’ll try some such game as the Davenport crowd did,” -suggested Spouter. “You’d feel fine if you were kidnapped again, -wouldn’t you, Jack?” - -“Well, we got the best of the Davenport crowd,” answered the former -major of the Colby Hall battalion. “Maybe we could get ahead of Slugger -and his bunch too, not to say anything of that sneak, Nappy Martell.” - -Not a great distance back of the hunters’ lodge was located a small -river and a fair-sized lake. Here the lads thought they might have luck -fishing and the next day set off for this sport after a late breakfast. -They took their lunch with them, not knowing how soon they would come -back. - -Fishing along the river was not particularly successful, although Randy -and Gif did manage to land two small trout. Then they reached the lake -and here had a little better success, getting two more trout and a -dozen perch, as well as a number of catfish. - -“I’m tired of fishing,” said Randy, after he had four specimens of the -finny tribe to his credit. “I’m going to put up my rod and see what I -can find to shoot with the camera.” - -The others wished to continue the sport, so Randy went off by himself, -following the lake-shore for a short distance and then moving away to -where a fairly well constructed roadway ran along one side of the water. - -This was after the boys had partaken of their lunch, and now the others -continued their fishing for an hour longer. But there was little more -success and finally one after another reeled in his line and put away -his rod. - -“Wonder where Randy went to?” questioned Fred presently. - -“Oh, I don’t think he’s very far off,” said Jack. - -“I’ll give him a call and find out,” put in Andy, and, placing his two -little fingers in the corners of his mouth, he gave what was called a -locomotive whistle――something he had learned from his father, the old -whistle that Tom Rover had made so popular at Putnam Hall. - -After the whistle all listened intently and from a considerable -distance came two whistles in return. Then Andy whistled four times to -signal to his twin that they were ready to go back, and immediately -came three whistles from Randy to show that he understood. - -“I wonder if he got any pictures worth taking,” mused Fred. He was -disappointed that he had not gone along, having brought his own camera -with him. - -“Never mind, Fred. Here! we’ll all stand in a row holding up our -catches and you can snap that for a picture,” suggested Andy, and this -was done. - -“We should have stood about ten feet from the camera and held out our -fish directly in front of us,” suggested Spouter. “Then the fish would -look about three times bigger than they are,” and at this there was a -general snicker. - -Having taken several other pictures, the boys prepared to leave the -place and again Andy whistled for his twin. This time, however, there -was no reply. - -“That’s funny,” remarked Gif. “He’s supposed to answer, isn’t he, Andy?” - -“Sure.” - -“Maybe he doesn’t want to make any noise,” suggested Fred. “He may be -trying to get a picture of some birds or squirrels, or something like -that. And if he made a noise he’d scare them away.” - -“You may be right,” answered Jack. “Well, all we can do is to hang -around and wait for him to come. We’re in no hurry, anyway.” - -The boys moved forward slowly, walking in the direction of the roadway -just mentioned. Andy was in advance, swinging his small catch of fish -from a twig as he moved along. - -“Let’s wake Randy up with the old school song!” cried Gif, and then -began as loudly as he could, with all of the others joining in: - - “Who are we? - Can’t you see? - Colby Hall! - Dum, dum! dum, dum, dum! - Here we come with fife and drum! - Colby, Colby, Colby Hall!” - -This they repeated twice and then added the old baseball refrain, that -refrain which had often brought them success in the games against -Hixley High, Longley Academy, and other rival institutions. - - “We’ve got the goods! We’ve got the goods! - Because we played good ball. - No matter what we try to do, - Old Colby’s got the call!” - -“Gee, sounds like a touch of old times!” said Jack. “Wouldn’t you like -to be on the ballfield at the Hall to-day?” - -“Indeed I would!” answered Gif, his eyes glistening. “How we would -knock the stuffing out of Tommy Flanders and his bunch!” - -“I’ll tell you, those days at Colby Hall were certainly great!” put in -Spouter wistfully. “No matter what happens to me, I don’t believe I’ll -ever forget the many good times we had at that school. And I’ll never -forget what a good sport Colonel Colby always was!” - -“Never a better man!” declared Fred. “And never a better school. It’s -too bad we had to graduate. I’d like to go back for another year or -two.” - -“Wow! Listen to him, will you?” exclaimed Jack. “Did you ever hear the -like! A fellow wanting to go back to school!” - -“I’ll bet you’d like to go back yourself, Jack,” was the quick retort. - -“So I would! But not to do any studying. I’d like to be on the -ballfield for a game or two, and I’d like to be in command of the -battalion during a drill and a parade, and maybe for a week or two in -camp. But no more school books, thank you!” - -“Oh, well, let’s forget it!” cried Fred, and then, with a sly look at -his oldest cousin, he began to hum softly: - - “Down on the ocean bottom, boys; - Down on the ocean bottom!” - -“For the love of smoked beef, Fred, why don’t you tell us what it’s all -about?” demanded Jack. “You promised to tell us――you know you did.” - -“Have patience, old man! Have patience!” returned the youngest Rover -solemnly. “The answer is coming soon――have patience.” - -While talking, the boys had reached the roadway, Andy in advance of the -others. Then all heard a noise in the distance and looked up to see -what it meant. - -“It’s an auto, and making some speed,” said Gif. “Gee, this is no road -to race on!” he added, looking at the uneven highway. - -Andy was still well ahead and now he, as well as the others, stepped -to the side of the road to let the car pass. On it came and then they -noticed that the car, which was large and powerful, had a broken -mudguard and that one of the headlights was smashed. - -“Look out!” screamed Jack. “Of all the fools――――” and then he and those -near him had to fall back into some bushes as the big car lurched by -within a few inches of them. - -“By golly, the fellow running that car ought to be arrested!” gasped -Gif. “He must be crazy to run like that.” - -“Looks to me as if they were running away from some accident,” said -Jack. “The mudguard and one light were broken.” - -“Look! Look!” screamed Spouter, pointing up the roadway in the -direction which the automobile had taken. “They knocked Andy down! He’s -lying in the road!” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - FRED TELLS HIS STORY - - -The others gazed in the direction Spouter pointed out and saw, about a -hundred feet away, Andy lying on his face in the rough roadway. As they -gazed at him they saw the youth try to rise and then fall over on his -back. - -“He’s hurt!” gasped Fred. - -“Yes, and I’m afraid he’s hurt pretty badly,” returned Jack. - -“The skunks who did this ought to be arrested!” cried Gif. - -All hurried to where Andy lay. They found him with his eyes closed and -breathing heavily. The cadets of the Colby Hall had been well drilled -in first-aid to the injured, and while Gif, Jack and Fred carried Andy -to a grassy bank by the roadside and looked him over, Spouter sped off -in the direction of the lake and presently returned with his cap and a -long thermos bottle full of water. - -But even though they used the water and chafed Andy’s hands, it was a -full five minutes before he regained his senses and opened his eyes. -Even then he could not collect his thoughts and stared wildly around -him. - -“It’s all right, Andy,” said Jack soothingly, as he placed his cousin’s -head and shoulders against his knees. “The auto knocked you down, but -we’ll take care of you.” - -“Did――did――you――you stop the rascals?” mumbled Andy. “They ought to be -hung!” - -“No, we didn’t stop them. We had to jump to save ourselves,” answered -Fred. - -A little later Andy felt more like himself, and then he essayed to -get to his feet. This was a rather difficult operation and he emitted -several groans during the process. The others, however, were glad to -learn that neither of his legs was broken or seriously injured. - -“The auto hit me in the hip and then when I went down the mudguard or -something scraped along my shoulder and my head,” he gasped. - -“Yes, your ear and your neck have been bleeding,” said Jack. “But let’s -be thankful that no bones are broken.” - -“Jack, he might have killed me!” and for once the fun-loving Rover -looked much disturbed. - -“And the worst of it is that we didn’t even get the license number,” -moaned Fred. - -“Well, anyway, we know it was an open touring car and that it had the -left mudguard and headlight smashed. That looks as if the car had been -in a collision before it struck Andy and that the driver was doing his -best to get away.” - -“Well, he was certainly making the engine do all it could,” was Gif’s -comment. - -“Gracious, I wonder where Randy is!” exclaimed Jack suddenly. - -“If he was out on the road he may have been struck too!” put in Fred. - -“Oh! isn’t my twin here?” put in Andy, gazing around in bewilderment. -“Gee, I’m so fussed up over this knock-down I didn’t even miss him! Was -he out on the road too?” - -“You know as much about that as we do, Andy,” answered Fred. “The last -we heard from him was when you whistled and he answered.” - -“Well, some of you fellows had better look for him. I can’t do it just -yet――my hip is too sore. I’ll sit down here on the grass and rest -awhile. Gosh, it will be too bad if they have struck him!” - -“The rest of you look for Randy. I’ll stay with Andy,” said Gif. “I -don’t think he ought to be left just yet.” - -“You’re right,” answered Jack. Then he and Fred, as well as Spouter, -hurried back on the road in the direction where they thought they might -find the missing lad. - -Ten minutes later, by calling and whistling, they located Randy while -he was taking a picture of a fallen tree and some shapely rocks which -had struck his fancy. - -“What’s the excitement?” he demanded, as they came up and he saw that -they were much disturbed. - -“A touring car just tore along the roadway and knocked Andy down,” -answered Fred. “We were wondering if it had hit you.” - -“Andy! Did it hurt him much?” - -“It bumped him pretty badly on the hip and scraped his ear and neck,” -answered Jack. “But we’re all thankful that he wasn’t killed or didn’t -have some of his bones broken. He’s resting back a way on the grass and -Gif is with him.” Then, at Randy’s earnest solicitation, the others -gave him the particulars. - -“They were a bunch of wild riders, all right enough,” declared Randy. -“There was a big groundhog out in the road and I was just getting ready -to take a snapshot when I heard the auto tearing along. The groundhog -sat up to listen and I was just snapping the picture when the auto tore -along and I think went right over the animal. But the groundhog limped -away and out of sight in the bushes.” - -“Oh, Randy, then the auto must have swept pretty close to you!” gasped -Fred. - -“I’ll say it did――it wasn’t more than four or five feet from me and -sailing along to beat the band!” - -“Do you think you got a picture of the car?” questioned Jack eagerly. - -“I don’t know. Maybe I did. I know I snapped the shutter of the camera, -but I was so excited over the passing of the car that I’m not sure how -I had the camera pointed. The fact is, I’m afraid the film was spoiled.” - -“I hope it wasn’t spoiled,” said Fred. “It might give us some chances -to find out who was in the car and maybe get the number.” - -“The car looked to me as if it was covered with dirt,” said Jack. “And -if that’s so, then the license plate would be covered with dirt too, so -the number wouldn’t show.” - -Randy was anxious to see how badly his twin had been hurt, and the -crowd quickly returned to where the injured lad was resting. They found -Gif out in the roadway examining the surroundings carefully. - -“I’ve got two bits of evidence that may help,” said Gif. “One is that -the touring car used two kinds of tires, those with diamond-shaped nubs -on one side and L-shaped nubs on the other. And then I picked up this -and it looks as if it had just been dropped on the road because, as you -can see, it’s perfectly clean and dry. If it had been there any length -of time it would be wet and dirty.” - -The object he spoke of was a paper bag which had evidently contained -fruit, for it now held several orange and banana skins. The bag was -marked with the advertisement of a fruit dealer of Yonkers, N. Y. - -“Gracious! if that car came from Yonkers it’s more than likely that it -came right up from New York City,” declared Jack. - -Andy was gradually feeling more like himself, yet it was a full hour -before the boys attempted to start on the return to the hunting lodge. - -“We’ll take turns carrying you if you say so,” said Jack. - -“Sure we can do that!” cried Gif, and the others said the same. - -“Oh, I think I can manage it alone,” declared Andy. “But of course I -can’t walk very fast.” And so the four Rovers took their time while Gif -and Spouter went on ahead to prepare supper for the crowd. - -At the lodge the boys had more to work with, and Andy’s injuries were -carefully washed with warm water and then bathed with witch-hazel. - -“I guess I’ll have to take it easy to-morrow,” declared the suffering -boy, as he rested on a comfortable couch. “I suppose I’ll be as stiff -as a ramrod.” - -“Oh, well, if you have to stay in the lodge I’ll stay with you,” -answered his twin quickly. - -“And I’ll read to you,” put in Fred. “There are a whole lot of -interesting books in this place.” - -“I know what you can do, Fred,” and Andy suddenly grinned in spite -of the pain he was enduring. “You can tell us the story of the ocean -bottom.” - -“Gee, that’s just what he can do!” burst out Randy. - -“I’ll second the commotion on that!” came from Jack. - -“Say, what in the name of striped cauliflower is all this talk about -‘ocean bottom’?” demanded Gif. - -“Sounds to me as if somebody was going to stake out an underwater -city,” came from Spouter. “Maybe Fred is going to sell town lots -warranted free from malaria and mosquitoes with an extended view of -coral highways and a beautifully enameled pool for whales.” - -“Say, Spouter, I know what business you ought to go into,” cried Fred. -“You ought to be a real estate agent. You’d make your fortune at it.” - -“Never mind, Fred. Don’t try to switch us from the ocean bottom to real -estate,” interrupted Jack. “If you want to make Andy feel better you -just tell us about this secret you’ve been carrying on your shoulders -so long.” - -“All right. If I must, I must,” answered the youngest Rover in -mock despair. “I’ll spin my little yarn after we’ve had supper and -everything is tidied up.” - -“Hurrah!” shouted Randy. “Here comes the first volume of Fred’s -interesting series, entitled ‘Down on the Ocean Bottom; or, Looking for -the Lost Suspenders.’” - -“Say, Fred, if this is a lost treasure you should have told us about it -before,” said Jack. “Then I could have picked out all of the savings -banks in which I should want to place my part of the loot.” - -“If you’re going to make fun of it before I’ve a chance to say a word, -I won’t say anything,” declared Fred, and tried to look as if he felt -much injured. - -“Oh, don’t pout, little boy,” said Spouter. “Be real good and maybe -we’ll give you an extra gingersnap for dessert.” - -Even though hurt, Andy managed to eat his full share of the meal which -Gif and Spouter had prepared and which consisted largely of the fish -the crowd had caught. The others also enjoyed what was set before them, -yet it must be confessed that all of the other Rover boys, and also -their chums, were curious concerning the revelation Fred might have to -make. - -“I don’t suppose any of you ever heard of Miguel Torra,” said Fred, -after everything had been put away and the whole crowd were comfortably -seated in front of the hunting lodge. “He was a Mexican revolutionist -who disappeared many years ago.” - -“Say, see here, Fred, you promised to tell us about this ocean bottom -business!” interrupted Randy. - -“So I did. But I can’t tell you about the ocean bottom until I get -there,” was the answer. “This Miguel Torra was not in favor with his -government at that time, and neither was he in favor with the United -States authorities. In fact, so far as my father has been able to -learn, he was little short of being an out-and-out bandit, although a -good many of his followers were simply revolutionists.” - -“All right! Proceed!” put in Andy, as his cousin paused. - -“Well, this Torra got together a small amount of cash and also a large -amount of jewels and gold and silverware, the results of numerous raids -made in various parts of the country and also along the Texan border. -Then, when matters got too hot for the rascal and his followers, he -journeyed to the sea coast with half a dozen of his closest comrades -and either hired or commandeered a small steam yacht called the -_Margarita_. There was a fight on the shore and the steam yacht got -away somewhat damaged. Then the yacht set sail, either for the West -Indies or for the north coast of South America.” - -“Gee, this begins to sound interesting,” declared Jack. - -“Don’t interrupt Fred!” cried Andy. “He’s going along slowly enough as -it is.” - -“I can’t give you any of the details of what happened shortly after -that because I don’t know them,” went on the youngest Rover boy. “But I -do know there was a row on board the steam yacht and a terrible storm -came up and then the crowd tried to get back to land. The _Margarita_ -was wrecked and everything on board was lost.” - -“What became of Miguel Torra and his bunch?” - -“It is supposed that he and all the others lost their lives. But nobody -seems to be sure of that.” - -“Well, where do we come in on this, Fred?” demanded Randy. - -“I’m getting to that,” answered his cousin. “Did you ever hear my dad -speak of old Captain Corning?” - -“Seems to me I have,” answered Jack. “I think your father once made -some pretty good investments for the old sea dog.” - -“That’s the man. My father likes him very much and thinks he’s very -reliable. Well, to cut a long story short, Captain Corning knows all -about this affair of the _Margarita_ and he’s now looking for somebody -to finance him so that he can go on a hunt for this missing yacht.” - -“But if she’s at the bottom of the ocean how are you going to get to -her?” demanded Jack. “Even the best of the divers find it impossible to -get down beyond a certain depth. If they could get down as far as they -wanted to, they could raise all sorts of sunken ships and get treasures -worth billions.” - -“Well, I believe that Captain Corning has his own ideas as to where the -steam yacht is located. And more than that, I think he has an idea that -if the divers can’t get down to her in their ordinary outfits they can -make use of a newly invented diving bell and reach the _Margarita_ that -way.” - -“All very interesting,” declared Andy. “But where do we come in?” - -“Why, we might come in this way. I say ‘might,’ because it isn’t yet -settled,” answered Fred. “But my father talked it over with me, and -he intimated that if the whole scheme looked good to him, he would -not only finance Captain Corning’s project, but he might also join the -expedition that went hunting for the lost steam yacht, and, in that -case, he might take us fellows along.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - STARTLING NEWS - - -“Hurrah for Uncle Sam!” - -“How long before we could start, do you think, Fred?” - -“A trip to the ocean would just suit me!” - -Such were the remarks from the three other Rover boys after they had -listened to what Fred had to tell about Captain Corning’s project and -what his parent might do concerning it. - -“Say, Fred, do we come in on this?” questioned Gif. - -“I don’t think I could go,” added Spouter sorrowfully. “I’m booked for -a trip to the coast of Maine. And, incidentally, Gif, I thought you -were going with me.” - -“I’m sorry, Gif, but I’m afraid we’d have to leave you behind,” -answered the youngest Rover boy. “It’s too bad, but when my father -first talked about it, he spoke of taking me and nobody else. But when -he said that, I told him he’d have to take my cousins or I wouldn’t -go.” - -“Gee, Fred, it was all right of you to do that!” put in Randy -admiringly. - -“Well, if I can’t go, I can’t, and that’s all there is to it,” remarked -Gif. “And maybe Spouter and I will have a real good time up on the -Maine coast. Anyway, I hope so.” - -“How soon do you think we’ll find out for certain about this trip?” -questioned Andy. - -“Oh, I expect to know very soon,” answered his cousin. “The fact is, -I’ve been holding off expecting every day either to get a letter from -my dad or have him come up to the farm in person. That’s why I didn’t -want to say anything before this. I wanted to be sure of what I was -doing. Even as it is, the whole thing may fall through――and if it does, -please don’t blame me.” - -“We won’t blame you, Fred. You can be sure of that,” returned Jack. “We -know you’ll be just as much disappointed as any of us. Just the same, -I shouldn’t want Uncle Sam to put a lot of money in this expedition if -the whole thing was a fake. It will cost a pile of dollars to put such -a thing through.” - -“I don’t think I’d go into that if I was your father until I had gone -over this Captain Corning’s information very carefully,” remarked -Spouter. “There are thousands of people all over this country who think -they have special information concerning lost treasure ships and lost -mines and lost everything else, and nine out of ten of these things -are fakes pure and simple. I remember reading in an old magazine how -miles and miles of coast line on Long Island and on Cape Cod had been -dug up by people looking for pirates’ gold, and how they had even gone -up into Newfoundland and down on the Brazil coast and down in Florida, -not to say anything of the West Indies, and hunted over miles and miles -of all sorts of territory. And then down in Central America and off -the coast of Brazil and off the coast of Africa, too, there have been -expeditions――――” - -“Hurrah, Spouter is giving us a lecture on Pirates’ Treasures!” burst -in Jack gayly. “Why didn’t you hand it in as a theme when we were at -good old Colby, Spouter? You might have gotten one hundred and one per -cent. on it.” - -“Oh, say! you make me forget what I was talking about,” was the reply. -“Just the same, as I said before, this treasure game is a good deal of -a fake.” - -“Well, anyway, we’ll have a dandy outing if we start looking for that -lost _Margarita_,” came from Fred. - -“We mustn’t forget that our folks went on a treasure hunt once before,” -announced Jack. “They went down to an island in the West Indies -looking for a lost treasure that belonged to my mother and her family,” -he concluded, referring to an affair which has been related in detail -in the volume entitled, “The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle; or, The -Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht.” - -The boys continued to talk about the treasure until it was time to -turn in. Fred, however, could give but few more details and he and his -cousins hoped that Fred’s father would soon announce what he proposed -to do. - -“I’d like to go on a trip like that before I settle down in business,” -said Jack, and his youngest cousin agreed with him. - -In spite of the witch-hazel and the liniment he used that night, Andy -felt stiff and lame the next morning and was quite content to stay -around the lodge for all of that day. Fred and Randy remained with him, -Jack going off with Gif and Spouter to do some hunting and fishing. - -“I wish I had the necessary materials at hand so that I could develop -those pictures I snapped,” said Randy when the others were gone. “Then -I’d find out whether I’d got a picture of that auto or not.” - -“I hope you did get a picture, and that it proves to be just as clear -as the one Ruth took of the horse race,” returned Andy. “I’d like to -get that fellow’s number and then go and report him.” - -“I don’t think it was the car run by Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell,” -said Fred. - -“No, it was a different machine. But that doesn’t say those fellows -might not have been in it.” - -While Andy took it easy in a hammock under the trees his brother and -Fred put the lodge in order, for the boys knew that the owners of the -place would expect them to do this. - -“We won’t be able to stay here much longer,” said Fred. “Because I know -that in a few days at the most Gif and Spouter will want to be on their -way.” - -“Yes, and we’ll want to hear from Uncle Sam now that we know what is on -the carpet,” returned Randy. - -The other boys tramped quite a few miles that day, and while they had -little success in hunting they fared better when it came to fishing. -They had seen two foxes and had opened fire on the animals, but without -success. They had, however, brought down several good-sized squirrels -and been able to pull up eight fair-sized perch and quite a few -catfish, as well as several other fish which they could not name. - -“The fish suit me,” remarked Jack, as they were trudging back to the -lodge. “I don’t care much for squirrels, but a fresh fish freshly -fried suits me right down to the ground.” - -“Better say down to the bottom of your stomach, Jack,” returned Gif, -and at this the three boys had to laugh. - -That night it looked as if it would storm again, the sky getting very -dark and the wind rising rapidly. - -“Gee, I hope the wind doesn’t blow some of the trees down,” cried -Randy, as the wind increased in velocity, sending the leaves flying in -all directions. “One might hit the building and knock it flat.” - -“Oh, don’t be so cheerful!” cried Gif. “It’s bad enough to hear that -wind whistle without your trying to scare us to death.” - -The wind continued to blow strongly for several hours. There was, -however, little rain, and presently, about midnight, the storm seemed -to pass to the northward and all became quiet once more. Then the boys -went to bed and soon all of them were sound asleep. - -The next morning the others were glad to learn that Andy felt much -better. He was, of course, still sore and somewhat stiff, but he -managed to walk around fairly well and announced that he was willing to -do whatever the others suggested. - -“Well, I don’t suggest hunting,” said Spouter. “There is next to -nothing to bring down at this season of the year. Of course we can go -fishing again; but why not go over to the nearest end of the lake and -have a good swim? We can laze around in the sun and have lots of fun.” - -This proposition met with instant approval, and the boys got ready to -start out immediately after breakfast had been eaten and the lodge -tidied up. - -“I’ll tell you what we can do,” suggested Randy. “Why not have a -swimming race? I don’t mean a little two-cent affair, but a real race, -say, across the lake and back.” - -“No such race for me,” declared Andy. “You fellows can race and I’ll be -the judge and the stake holder. What are the stakes going to be? Why -not make it a quart of ice-cream? Then while you’re doing the swimming -I’ll place the ice-cream in a safe spot.” - -“Yes, where none of us will be able to get at it even if we win it,” -laughed Gif. “If there is any stake put up we’ll have to make you give -a bond so that we’ll be sure the fellow who wins it gets it,” and then -there was a laugh. - -The boys were about ready to start when Jack sat down to fix one of his -shoes. As he was doing this Fred gave a sudden exclamation. - -“Listen! Don’t I hear somebody calling us?” - -All listened, and presently from a distance they heard a cry. - -“Hello, Jack Rover! Hello, Andy! Randy! Fred! Where are you?” and this -cry was repeated several times. - -“It’s somebody after us!” cried Randy, and then yelled as loudly as he -could: - -“This way! This way for the Rovers! Hello there! Who are you?” - -“I’m Pete Apgar!” came the distant reply. “Where are you?” - -“We’re up here at the hunting lodge!” called Jack. “This way, Pete!” -and he continued to call until the person he was addressing came into -view. - -“Pete must have important news of some kind or else he wouldn’t come up -here this time of day,” said Fred. “Why, he must have started from the -farm last night!” - -Pete Apgar was a young man who worked by the day in and around Dexter’s -Corners. Quite a little of his time was put in at Valley Brook Farm and -he had already spoken for a steady place on the Stevenson estate when -that should be ready for occupancy. - -“Gosh all hemlock!” panted Pete Apgar, as he came up and sank down on a -bench and began to fan himself with the straw hat he wore. “I thought -I was never going to get here. Some hike, I’ll say, from Valley Brook -Farm to this place! I’ve been on the go ever since ten o’clock last -night.” - -“What brought you?” questioned Jack quickly. “No bad news, I hope?” - -“I’m sorry to say it is bad news, Jack,” was Apgar’s reply. - -“Somebody ill at the farm, or is it worse?” put in Randy. - -“No, everybody’s all right on the farm, although old Grandpop Rover -ain’t as good as he might be. But this news is from New York――from your -folks down there. There’s been a robbery.” - -“A robbery!” came simultaneously from all the young fellows. - -“That’s it,” and Pete Apgar continued to fan himself. He was almost out -of breath and gladly took a cup of water which Gif considerately got -for him. - -“What was robbed――our houses?” questioned Fred. - -“No, it wasn’t your houses. It was down in your fathers’ place of -business in Wall Street. A big hold-up of some kind.” - -“A hold-up in the offices in Wall Street!” gasped Jack, and then he -added quickly: “Was anybody shot?” - -“I don’t know none of the particulars,” replied the farmhand. “A -telegram came to your Uncle Randolph that the offices in Wall Street -had been robbed and that he was to let you fellows know at once. So -they sent me up here pellmell to tell you. I got a ride in Fenny’s -flivver as far as the bridge road. That was as far as he could take me, -and I hoofed it the rest of the way. But I did stop at Bill Jandle’s -place early this morning and asked him to be in readiness with his -flivver providing I could find you fellows and you wanted to ride home -from there.” - -“I’m glad you did that, Pete,” answered Jack quickly. “It will save us -a long tramp, and we can make time by riding even if we have to go away -around by the bridge route instead of by the ford.” - -“You didn’t get any more of the particulars about the robbery?” -questioned Andy. - -“No. There wasn’t any particulars. When I left the farm your Uncle -Randolph was trying to get your folks on the long distance ’phone. But -the storm the other day had knocked out some of the wires and they -wasn’t repaired yet; so he couldn’t get anything. He said he would -send Jack Ness down to the railroad station to try to get a message -through by telegraph, but he was afraid the operator would be gone -for the night, and in that case he’d not be able to do anything until -this morning. Your uncle was all upset, and so was your aunt and your -grandfather, not knowing how bad things might be.” - -“Well, they must be pretty bad, or otherwise our folks wouldn’t send -for us,” said Jack. - -“I guess you’re right,” added Randy. “For all we know, the Wall Street -offices may have been cleaned out completely in this hold-up.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - A DARING HOLD-UP - - -The boys continued to question Pete Apgar and at the same time packed -up their belongings with all possible haste. Gif and Spouter assisted -the Rover boys, knowing that their chums wanted to return to Valley -Brook Farm as soon as it could be done. - -“I hope this doesn’t prove as bad as you think it,” said Gif to Jack. - -“So do I, Gif,” was the reply. “But you know as well as I do that there -have been a number of very daring hold-ups in the city during the -past few years. Why, only a few months ago I read in the papers about -a Maiden Lane jewelry firm being cleaned out of a hundred thousand -dollars’ worth of unset diamonds.” - -“I don’t see how they could get a great deal at the offices,” put in -Andy. “I know they’re very careful about the securities and keep most -of the stuff in the safe or in the bank deposit boxes.” - -“Well, that’s just it! Suppose they had a lot of stuff in the safe and -the safe happened to be open when the hold-up men came in?” - -“Oh, well, don’t cross a bridge until you come to it, fellows,” -admonished Spouter. “Of course it may be bad enough, but not as bad as -it might be. Perhaps by the time we get back to the farm your Uncle -Randolph will have had some particulars by ’phone or telegraph.” - -In fifteen minutes the Rover boys and their chums were ready to start. -The wooden shutters had been placed over the windows of the lodge and -the door securely locked. Then the lads took up their rolls and other -equipment. - -“Andy, you had better let Pete carry your roll,” said Jack. “You’ll -have trouble enough keeping up with us with that sore hip of yours.” - -“Sure, I’ll carry his stuff,” answered the farmhand readily. - -“Sorry to cut your outing up here short,” said Jack to Gif and Spouter, -as the party trudged along. - -“Oh, don’t say a word about that, Jack!” cried Spouter. “We expected to -go back in a day or two, anyhow. Our only concern is this bad news. I -hope the hold-up proves to be a small affair.” - -Hiking along in the direction of the Jandle farm, the boys could think -of nothing but the news Pete Apgar had brought and indulged in all -sorts of speculations concerning what had taken place. - -When they came in sight of the Jandle farm they found Bill Jandle ready -with his flivver, a dilapidated affair that looked as if it might fall -apart at any moment. Near him stood his wife and his red-headed son. - -“On hand, as I said I’d be,” said the farmer to Apgar. And then he -grinned at the boys as he added: “This will give me a chance to pay you -back for shooting them pesky crows.” - -“Wisht I was going with you, Pop,” said the red-headed boy wistfully. - -“Got to put it off till another time, Tommy,” returned his father. -“We’re going to have one mighty load as it is.” - -“If you can’t carry all of us I’ll walk,” declared Gif. “Pete, here, -can show me the way.” - -“Yes, and I’ll walk too,” put in Spouter. - -“Oh, I guess this old bus will carry the lot. Only you’ll have to hang -on the best you can,” answered Bill Jandle. - -The boys piled in, some sitting on the laps of others and the farmhand -took a seat in an open doorway with his feet on the mudguard. Then, -with a series of loud chuggings and a series of accompanying shivers, -the flivver started away from the Jandle farm, Mrs. Jandle and Tommy -waving a farewell. - -It was a ride not easily forgotten. The way was unusually rough and -more than once it looked as if every spring on the machine might be -broken. The boys were pitched from one side of the car to the other and -the farmhand had all he could do to keep from slipping off into the -roadway. - -“Ta――ta――talk about riding in a Pullman!” spluttered Andy. “Isn’t this -the smoothest ever?” - -“Look out, Andy, or you’ll bite off your tongue,” warned Fred. - -“Now hold on, all of you!” shouted Bill Jandle, and then they went down -a long hill over the rough rocks in a fashion that all but upset the -flivver and caused some of the occupants to wonder whether they would -come out of the adventure alive. - -[Illustration: THEY WENT DOWN OVER THE ROUGH ROCKS.] - -At the foot of the hill they crossed the Swift River on a rickety -bridge, every plank of which slapped and thumped as they passed over -it. Then, however, they struck a much better road, and a short time -later came in sight of the farm. - -“We want to pay you for your services, Mr. Jandle,” said Jack, as they -turned into the lane. “What do you think it ought to be?” - -“That’s all right, Rover. You fellows did me a good turn when you shot -those crows. Let us call it square.” - -“No, you let me pay you,” returned Jack in a low voice, for he could -easily see that Bill Jandle was rather pinched for money. And then he -passed over a five-dollar bill which the farmer pocketed with great -satisfaction. - -Their coming had been noted, and the Rover boys were met on the veranda -by their uncle and aunt and also their grandfather, all of whom were in -a state of great mental excitement. - -“I thought you’d never get here!” exclaimed their Uncle Randolph -nervously. “This is an awful happening――truly awful!” and he wiped the -perspiration from his brow. - -“Just think of bandits holding up your fathers’ offices!” burst out -Aunt Martha. “Isn’t it dreadful? I can’t help but think that maybe -somebody was shot!” - -“I wish I had been down there with a pistol!” quavered Grandfather -Rover, his head bobbing from side to side. “I’d just like to get a shot -at such rascals!” and he shook his cane as if to knock out some bandit -right then and there. - -“Have you received any more news?” questioned Randy quickly. - -“Nothing since we got that first message,” answered Uncle Randolph. -“We’ve been trying to use the ’phone, but wires are out of commission -somewhere along the line. We thought we had New York once, but it was -only Binghamton.” - -“We ought to be able to get into communication by telegraph,” said Jack. - -“Jack Ness went down to the station an hour ago. I gave him a message -to send and he was to wait for a reply.” - -“Let’s go down to the station too,” put in Fred quickly. “There is no -use of hanging around here if the telephone is out of order.” - -“I think I’ll stay here. Maybe the telephone will come in before a -great while,” said Andy. The soreness in his hip had not been improved -by the rough ride in Bill Jandle’s flivver. - -Gif and Spouter elected to remain with Andy and then Jack, Randy and -Fred ran off to the garage and brought out one of the touring cars, and -in another moment the three were on their way to the railroad station -at Oak Run, across the river from Dexter’s Corners. - -“Perhaps we’ll meet Jack Ness coming back,” said Fred. “If we do, stop -him, by all means.” - -However, they did not meet the hired man. But on the outskirts of -Dexter’s Corners they passed an elegant sport car under the wheel of -which rode Joe Sedley, smoking a cigarette and with his cap pulled well -down over his eyes. Sedley simply glared at the Rovers, refusing to -return their nods of recognition. - -“Gee, he must still be sore over the way the horse race was decided,” -was Fred’s comment. - -“Well, Jack won that race, and that’s all there is to it,” put in Randy -loyally. - -“He’ll never admit it,” answered the oldest Rover. And then he became -silent and for the first time since Pete Apgar had brought the news of -the hold-up Jack’s thoughts reverted to Ruth and he wondered if the -girl had sent him a letter or if she had corresponded in any way with -Sedley. In the excitement of the occasion none of the Rovers who had -dashed off to the railroad station had thought to ask at the farmhouse -if any letters had come in. - -They sped through the village and across the Swift River and then up to -the railroad station at Oak Run. Here they saw another one of the farm -turnouts and then ran across Jack Ness, who held up a telegram. - -“It’s for your uncle,” said the hired man, “but I guess you’d better -open it and read it.” - -“I will,” answered Jack, and did so. The telegram ran as follows: - - “Impossible to get telephone service. Hold-up at offices bad. - Want some particulars from boys. Send them home at once. - - “RICHARD ROVER.” - - -While reading this telegram the boys heard the whistle of a locomotive -and presently the local train from the Junction rolled into the station -and several passengers alighted while others got aboard. A trunk was -taken off and several bundles of newspapers followed. - -“Here come the New York papers!” cried Fred. “Come on――let’s get some -of them! They may have some particulars of the hold-up.” - -Two of the bundles of papers were for one of the Oak Run storekeepers, -and a clerk was on hand to receive them. Quickly the bundles were torn -open and each of the lads possessed himself of a metropolitan newspaper. - -“Here it is!” cried Randy, scanning the front page rapidly, and he -showed the following: - - DARING HOLD-UP IN WALL STREET OFFICES OF THE ROVER COMPANY - LOOTED - - Five Daring Bandits Hold Up Four Clerks Just Before Closing - Time and Make Off with Securities Worth $100,000. - - Police Search in Vain for Clues. None of the Officers of the - Company Present when the Hold-Up Occurred. - -There followed a somewhat mixed-up account of how the hold-up had -occurred and what the Rovers had to say concerning it. - -“Well, this certainly is news!” declared Jack, after reading not only -this account but also those which the other newspapers presented. - -“But what do you suppose this telegram means?” questioned Randy -anxiously. “What do they want us to give information about?” - -“That remains to be seen,” answered Fred. And then, all of a sudden, he -gave a low whistle. “I guess this means good-bye to Captain Corning’s -hunt for the _Margarita_,” he added. - -“The only thing we can do is to get down to New York as soon as -possible,” declared Jack. “Gee, I wish I was down there now! I’ll bet -there’s plenty of excitement.” - -“If only they catch those bandits and get back the stuff they took!” -murmured Fred. “A hundred thousand dollars! Just think of it!” - -“This is the first newspaper account, Fred,” answered Jack. “It was -probably written in a great hurry. You must remember this paper was -printed some time last evening. There may be a lot of other news since -then.” - -The boys knew they could get a train for the Junction in two hours. -This would connect with the New York Express and would bring them home -late in the afternoon. - -“We’ll get back to the farm and make it somehow,” declared Jack. “Come -on!” and away they went, back to Valley Brook Farm, as fast as they -could, with Jack Ness following. - -As might be expected, the telegram and the articles in the newspapers -concerning the hold-up created more excitement than ever at the farm. -As old as he was, Grandfather Rover wanted to go down to New York, and -it took quite some talk on the part of Jack and Aunt Martha to make him -change his mind. Uncle Randolph, however, insisted upon accompanying -the boys. - -“You’ll have to excuse us, fellows,” said Jack to Gif and Spouter. - -“Oh, that’s all right, Jack. Go ahead. We’ll be all right,” answered -Gif quickly. - -“We were leaving in a day or two, anyhow,” answered Spouter. - -“They’re to stay over to-night,” said Aunt Martha. “I’d rather have -them here with your Uncle Randolph gone,” she added; and so it was -arranged. - -Only a few letters from their boy chums had come in for the Rovers -during their outing. There was no word from Ruth, and this gave Jack a -momentary pang, although he did not allow the others to know it. - -It did not take the lads or their Uncle Randolph long to pack. Then -the boys said good-bye to their chums and to the others, and in a few -minutes more were on their way to the railroad station. Their uncle and -Jack Ness accompanied them. - -“Good-bye and good luck!” shouted Gif. - -“Take care of yourselves!” added Spouter. - -“We’ll try to,” answered Jack. “Hope you both have a fine time on the -rest of your outing.” - -“And we hope your folks get back all the stuff that was stolen,” cried -Gif, as the auto moved away. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - HOW THE ROVER COMPANY WAS HELD UP - - -If the Rover boys were worked up over the hold-up in Wall Street, their -excitement was as nothing compared to that of their parents. - -“I must confess I’m completely stumped.” - -It was Sam Rover who spoke. The three brothers were closeted in an -inner office of the company and Fred’s father stood by a window gazing -blankly at nothing in particular. - -“What gets me is the skillful manner in which this hold-up was -planned,” came from Tom Rover. “That telegram calling me to -Philadelphia was a fake, just as the telegram that took Sam to Boston -to see the head of the Eighteenth National Bank was a cooked-up affair.” - -“Yes, and see how they got me out of the way,” answered Dick Rover -dismally. “When that fellow――whoever he was――telephoned to me that -there had been an accident in the subway uptown and that Dora had been -hurt, what was there for me to do but to rush out, jump into the subway -and get uptown just as quickly as possible? Why, it took me nearly an -hour to locate Dora because she wasn’t at home, and then I found out -that she had received a fake message from Mrs. Watson asking her to -come over at once in regard to some church matters.” - -“The whole thing was certainly well thought out,” went on the father of -the twins. “It’s a wonder they didn’t send everybody in the office off -on a wild-goose chase,” and Tom smiled grimly. - -“I’ve been trying to think who might have done this,” continued Dick -slowly, tapping his desk with a pencil as he spoke. “Of course, the -police detectives think it was done by one of the well-organized bands -of hold-up men in and around New York. But just the same, we know that -we have a certain number of personal enemies who wouldn’t like anything -better than to pull off such a job as this.” - -“Who among our enemies would have the nerve to do it?” questioned Sam -Rover. “Davenport and his gang are in jail, so they are eliminated. Now -then, we know that old Josiah Crabtree is at liberty; but I don’t think -he’d have the nerve to attempt anything of this sort.” - -“He might not have the nerve to play the part of a bandit at the -offices, but he might help the real criminals by, for instance, doing -some of that telephoning or telegraphing. - -“Of course, there are a lot of other fellows who’d be only too glad to -make trouble for us,” went on Tom, after a pause. “First of all, there -is Nelson Martell who used to be in business down here and who lost out -in the oil fields, and along with him is that chap Slogwell Brown, and -then their two sons, Slugger and Nappy, who have had so much trouble -with our boys.” - -“And, yes――don’t forget some of the other fellows, like Mr. Werner and -his good-for-nothing son Gabe.” - -“Oh, there are plenty of those fellows who would be glad to take the -very shirts from our backs!” cried Sam. “Some of the fellows who tried -to injure us at Putnam Hall and at Brill College――fellows like Jerry -Koswell and his cronies.” - -There was a moment of silence between the three men, each evidently -trying to do some hard thinking. Then Dick Rover motioned for his -brothers to come closer. - -“What do you think of that clerk of ours――Ken Greene?” he whispered, -thus making certain that his voice would not carry to any of the outer -offices of the company of which he was president. - -“I don’t like him, and never did,” answered Tom bluntly. - -“Well, if he’s perfectly honest, then he’s a doughhead, and we -certainly don’t want him in these offices any longer,” came from Sam. -“Any fellow who will neglect his duties as Greene did deserves to be -kicked out.” - -“Well, I intend to kick him out, but I won’t do it just yet,” answered -Jack’s father. “We may want his testimony, and the detectives may want -to question him further.” - -The senior Rovers had passed a hectic evening and an even more hectic -night. None of them had been to bed, neither did any of them have the -least desire to go to sleep. The nerves of each were at a high tension, -and with good reason. - -“If it was only our own stuff I wouldn’t say so much,” said Dick, with -something like a groan. “But to have our best friends suffer too――well, -it’s something I can hardly stand.” - -“I don’t believe Songbird Powell or Fred Garrison will blame us,” -returned Tom. “But what Mr. Stevenson will do is another matter. I’m -afraid it may rough up matters between Jack and Ruth, Dick,” and he -gazed at his older brother questioningly. - -“Well, if Mr. Stevenson gets sore I suppose we’ll have to bear it,” -answered Jack’s father. “It’s too bad, but I don’t see what can be -done. We’re in a big hole, and that’s all there is to it.” - -“No, it isn’t!” cried Sam, just as sturdy and defiant in his manner as -he had ever been. “We’re in a hole, that’s true. But it’s our business -to climb out of it, and we’re going to do it!” - -“Let’s hope we do so,” returned Tom. “But it seems to me that hole is -a good deal like a deep well and that we’re just about as well off as -a trio of frogs at the bottom thereof,” and a flash of Tom’s old-time -humor asserted itself. - -“Well, this talk doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere,” said Dick, -rising to his feet. “We’d better check up on those securities of which -we were not certain and find out what steps can be taken so that no one -will negotiate them.” - -The bare details of the hold-up were simple enough. The affair had -occurred a few minutes before the regular time for closing the offices. -As said before, Tom and Sam had been called out of town by fake -telegrams and Dick had been called away by a telephone message which -stated that his wife Dora had been hurt in a subway accident uptown. -At the time of the hold-up one clerk and a messenger boy had been away -from the offices on business, and as this was the dull season of the -year a number of the others were away on their vacations. This left -but a head bookkeeper and three clerks in charge when the bandits had -entered quietly, closing and locking the door behind them. - -The bandits had worn handkerchiefs tied across the lower parts of their -faces and had had caps well drawn down over their foreheads. Each had -been armed and, afraid of being shot, the head bookkeeper and the three -clerks had submitted with scarcely a protest. They had been driven into -a closet used for the storage of records and there they had been told -to make a noise at the risk of their lives, and then the door had been -locked upon them. - -Having disposed of the help, the bandits had lost no time in looting -the unlocked safe and also going through all the desks, breaking open -those which were locked. They had worked quickly but effectively and -had carried off everything of value. - -As yet the total loss was problematic for the reason that it was not -known how many of the securities which had been stolen were negotiable. -Roughly speaking, the Rovers estimated that the loss would not be less -than one hundred thousand dollars and might go to almost twice that -amount. - -The head bookkeeper was a middle-aged man named Frank Mason, and he had -been with The Rover Company since its beginning. Mason was a good deal -of a plodder, but all of the Rovers felt that he was thoroughly honest -and could not have been connected in any way with the hold-up. - -“It came like a thunder clap, Mr. Rover! Just like a thunder clap!” -exclaimed Frank Mason in a wavering voice when questioned. “I was never -more surprised in my life than when I looked up and saw that man with a -handkerchief tied over his face and with a pistol pointed right at my -head.” - -“Have you any idea who the man was――or, in fact, who any of the men -were?” Dick asked. - -“Not the slightest, sir. I’m quite certain they were all strangers to -me.” - -Mason’s story was largely the story told by the other clerks. One of -the young fellows, named Bronson, and another named Greene, had tried -to make the Rovers and the police detectives believe that they had -wanted to resist. But they had done nothing and the detectives were -of the opinion that they had submitted meekly and were now drawing on -their imaginations in the hope of getting their names in the limelight. - -Half a dozen clues were being followed up, but so far without results. -Several strangers who had been seen in and around the building before -and after the hold-up were questioned by the authorities, and one of -the men was taken to police headquarters and kept over night. But -nothing could be proved against this individual except that he was a -good-for-nothing rounder, and he was allowed to go with the admonition -to get out of the city as quickly as possible. - -The most active men in the affair were the reporters, and Dick, Tom -and Sam had all they could do to keep out of the clutches of the news -gatherers, who wished to get every slightest detail of the hold-up. As -we know, the morning papers had made a spread of the story, and the -afternoon journals followed. - -“Well, we’re certainly getting a lot of notoriety,” said Dick, when -he and his brothers were on their way that evening to their homes on -Riverside Drive. “But it’s the kind of advertising I don’t like.” - -“I’m afraid this hold-up is going to give The Rover Company a black -eye,” muttered Tom. “Some folks will think we’re mighty careless in -handling our securities and consequently they won’t want to do business -with us. However, hold-ups are real fashionable just now, so we’re -right in the swim,” he added, with a queer sort of grin. - -When the three men arrived at home they found that the boys had just -come in. The lads had telephoned from the Grand Central Terminal to -the offices and then, finding that their fathers had left, had come -directly in a taxicab to Riverside Drive. - -“No news, Jack,” said Dick, in reply to a question from his son. “We’re -at a standstill, and so are the authorities. Our securities are gone -and they and the bandits who took them have vanished into thin air.” - -“Do you mean to say no one saw them leave the offices or no one raised -an alarm?” asked Randy. - -“No one saw them leaving the building――or at least if they were seen, -nobody paid any attention to them,” replied Tom Rover. “But that isn’t -to be wondered at because our building has dozens of people coming and -going all the time and there are any number of automobiles and taxicabs -in the street.” - -“Well, what of the fellows who were locked in the closet?” demanded -Fred. - -“They remained in the closet until everything became quiet in the -offices. Then they knocked on the door for a minute or two, and as none -of the bandits came to make them keep quiet they at last forced the -door open. Then Mason ran for the telephone and notified the police -while the other clerks ran out in the corridor and went down in an -elevator to the street to see if they could catch sight of the rascals. -But that must have been at least five to ten minutes after the bandits -had taken their leave.” - -“And how much of a loss will it be, Dad?” questioned Jack, with -increasing interest. - -“So far as I have been able to figure up, there will be a positive loss -on bonds of a little over one hundred thousand dollars,” answered his -parent. “Then a number of other securities are missing, and how many of -these can be negotiated is a question. The loss might possibly come up -to nearly two hundred thousand dollars.” - -“Yes, but listen, Uncle Dick!” broke in Randy. “I know you carry -insurance on all your stuff. Wasn’t this covered?” - -“That’s the hardest part of the story,” answered Dick Rover, his face -twitching slightly as he spoke. “We’ve been carrying insurance on all -the stuff, but the insurance ran out less than a week ago and the clerk -who had charge of this, a fellow named Ken Greene, failed to have the -insurance renewed. As a consequence the entire loss falls on our own -shoulders.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - A GLOOMY OUTLOOK - - -“No insurance!” cried Fred, in dismay. - -“Gee, that certainly is the worst news yet!” came from Andy. - -“What’s the reason Greene didn’t have the insurance renewed?” demanded -Jack. “Didn’t he know it had run out?” - -“Yes, he admits that he knew it and that he had taken the matter up -with several insurance companies a week before this insurance ran out. -He says he thought he could get better rates for us and was going to -submit the new rates to me. But then, he claims, a lot of extra outside -work was piled on him, and in the rush of that the insurance slipped -his mind.” - -“Dick, I think that’s a fishy yarn!” exclaimed Sam Rover. “You know how -all those insurance companies are――hungry for business. If Greene had -gone after them as he says he did, they would have pestered the life -out of us to have their particular line of insurance accepted.” - -“Well, I’m inclined to agree with you, and, as I said before, I’m -going to fire Greene a little later on. But no matter what we can prove -against the young idiot, the fact remains that we have no insurance -and therefore if the securities are not recovered the loss will fall -entirely on us.” - -“What about the money Mr. Stevenson and Gif’s father and Spouter’s -father put in?” asked Jack. - -“As they are now stockholders in the company, the loss will fall on -their shoulders as well as ours,” answered his father. - -“Did Spouter’s father put up the extra money that was coming from him?” -queried Randy. - -“He did――the day before the hold-up. He brought in some first-class -railroad bonds, and they were among the bonds that were stolen. They -had been placed in the office safe because we wanted to list them -properly and take down the numbers, and then we were going to offer -them to one of the bond houses because we needed the cash.” - -“Needed the cash!” broke in Fred quickly. “In that case I suppose this -loss is going to hit the company pretty hard?” and he looked at his -father as he spoke. - -“Yes, Fred, we might as well let you boys know the truth,” answered -Sam Rover. “Just at the present time we are under heavy obligations -to three banks here in New York, and that was one reason why we took -in this additional capital from our old friends and Mr. Stevenson. As -you know, we have been branching out, not only with our business here -in Wall Street, but also with our mines in the West and our oil well -holdings in the South, and all of those things cramped us a little for -cash.” - -“If the money isn’t recovered, what then?” asked Randy bluntly. - -“We won’t talk about that just yet,” answered Dick Rover, but his tone -showed that he was much disturbed. - -“Of course you have notified Mr. Stevenson and the others?” said Jack. - -“Oh, yes. We notified all our stockholders by ’phone or telegraph,” -answered Tom Rover. “We’re going to hold a special meeting to-morrow -morning at ten o’clock and then decide on what is best to be done.” - -“Well, as far as I’m concerned, Uncle Tom, you can have every cent I -have in the bank,” declared Jack promptly. - -“And you can have what I’ve got, too,” came simultaneously from Fred -and the twins. - -“It’s nice for you to say that, boys,” answered the twins’ father. “How -much could you rake and scrape together if you had to?” - -The boys made a hasty calculation, counting in the money they had -received in the oil fields and when they and Ira Small had uncovered -the pirates’ treasure, and Jack announced the result. - -“We’ve got twenty-eight thousand dollars,” he said, a bit proudly. -“That isn’t half bad, is it?” - -“It’s very good,” answered his father. “I’m glad to know you boys are -saving your money and not spending it recklessly as so many young -fellows do. But I’m afraid, Jack, that that amount would only be a drop -in the bucket.” - -“How much do you need, Dad, if it’s any of my business?” - -“We’ll need a hundred thousand dollars inside of the next two weeks and -two hundred thousand dollars a month later.” - -“We could have taken care of our finances very nicely if this hold-up -had not occurred,” said Tom Rover. “You see, we have other securities -and on those we could raise a loan. But now we may have to sacrifice -those, and that will entail a heavy loss because I’m sure the -securities are going up in value and ought to be kept.” - -“Dad, you said in your telegram that you wanted to question us,” broke -in Jack. “What was it you wanted to know?” - -“We’ve been thinking that it is possible this hold-up was engineered by -some of our old enemies who may be in cahoots with some real bandits. -We were thinking that possibly you might know of something that would -throw light on the subject.” - -“We have seen Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell in an automobile in the -vicinity of Valley Brook Farm and one night the girls declared they saw -Slugger Brown looking in at one of the windows.” - -“Is that so! That sounds interesting.” - -“I can see how that might fit in,” came from Sam Rover. - -“How could that fit in with a hold-up down here?” questioned Andy, in -wonder. - -“In this way,” answered the twins’ father. “Your uncles and I all -received fake messages taking us away from the offices when the hold-up -occurred. Your Aunt Dora also received a fake message taking her away -from home. That looks to me as if it was planned to keep as many of -us away from the offices as possible. That being so, perhaps Slugger -Brown and Nappy Martell were hired by some others――maybe their own -fathers――to watch you fellows and report if you intended to come back -here. It’s just possible that they may have had orders to try to detain -you if you started for New York. They must know that when you’re in the -city you’re frequent visitors at the offices and would raise an alarm -at once if you happened to get down there and found the place locked up -during business hours or got there just before the hold-up took place.” - -“There might be something in that,” said Jack slowly. Thereupon the -boys gave a few particulars concerning the appearance of their enemies -in the vicinity of the farm and then asked for more particulars -concerning the hold-up. - -The talk did not come to an end until dinner was announced. Then the -various families separated, agreeing to come together again in Tom’s -library after the repast was over. - -“Oh, Jack, isn’t it a terrible happening?” said his mother, as she took -him in her arms. There were tears in Dora’s eyes as she spoke. Her face -was pale and haggard and showed plainly the loss of sleep. - -“Oh, Mother, you mustn’t take it so hard,” he returned, kissing her. -“I’m sure it will come out all right in the end. They’ll catch those -bandits and get most of the securities back, I’m sure of it!” - -“Well, I certainly hope so.” But Mrs. Rover shook her head sadly as she -spoke. - -Dinner in all the three connecting houses that evening was a sombre -affair. Fred’s mother was even more dejected than Dora Rover, and the -twins could do little to cheer up Nellie. - -“Why, boys, don’t you understand?” said Tom’s wife. “This may bankrupt -The Rover Company!” - -“Oh, come, come, Nellie! Not quite as bad as all that,” said Tom. Yet, -in spite of his attempt at light-heartedness, the twins saw that their -father was far more worried than he was willing to admit. - -Randolph Rover had spent most of the time with the mothers of the boys, -quieting them as best he could. In coming down to the city the old -gentleman who had made scientific farming his hobby had been busy doing -a lot of figuring, and now, when the dinner in Dick Rover’s mansion -came to a close, he called his nephew to one side. - -“I’ve been figuring on those securities I possess which aren’t -deposited with The Rover Company,” he announced. “Outside of the farm, -I’ve got about eighteen thousand dollars. If it will do you any good, -Dick, you can have it, and if it’s necessary I’ll sell the farm too. -That ought to be worth at least twenty-five thousand dollars, the way -values are going up in that vicinity.” - -“That’s awfully good of you, Uncle Randolph,” answered Dick, and in -spite of himself his voice choked with emotion. “But I’m hoping we can -get our securities back or make the necessary arrangements with the -banks to tide us over. But you’re awfully good, and I’ll never forget -it,” and he wrung his uncle’s hand heartily. - -“Your father wanted to come. He wanted to go after those bandits -himself,” continued the uncle. “We had quite a time to make him change -his plans and remain on the farm.” It may be added here that Anderson -Rover was considerably older than his brother Randolph and far from as -vigorous in health. - -Left to himself, Jack walked slowly up to his own room where his bag -had been placed by one of the servants. The former major of the Colby -Hall battalion had never been in a more serious mood than at present. - -He realized that the hold-up in Wall Street might be fraught with dire -results. If the securities were not recovered The Rover Company might -go bankrupt and the fortunes that it had taken years to accumulate -might be completely swept away. - -“Dad and the rest of us would have to start all over again,” he told -himself. “I’m young, and it wouldn’t be such a hard thing for me to do, -but it would certainly be rough on dad and Uncle Sam and Uncle Tom, not -to say anything about mother and Aunt Nellie and Aunt Grace and the -girls.” - -Then Jack’s thoughts drifted to the Stevensons and he walked over -to the chiffonier upon which, in a pretty silver frame, rested a -photograph of Ruth, a smiling, tantalizing picture that made Jack’s -heart jump every time he gazed at it. What effect would this loss have -upon Mr. Stevenson and his daughter? Would Ruth’s father blame the -officers of The Rover Company for neglect in not looking after the -insurance and in not safeguarding the offices better? What would Ruth -have to say when he saw her or when she wrote to him, provided she did -write? - -“Maybe she won’t write at all,” he thought dolefully. “Her father may -be as mad as a hornet and she may take his part. And then, if we lose -all our money, what right will I have to ask her to wait for me when -there is such a rich chap as Joe Sedley hanging around? I’m sure he’d -marry her in a minute if he could get her,” and then Jack heaved a long -sigh that came from the very bottom of his heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - REAL FRIENDS - - -The conference in Tom Rover’s library lasted until well past midnight. -There were present not only the Rovers, but a number of other business -men, and all sorts of plans for continuing business at the offices in -Wall Street were thrashed out. - -Several of the outsiders were liberal with their advice, but when it -came to real assistance Dick Rover and his brothers quickly realized -that they would have to depend almost entirely on themselves for -whatever was done. - -The boys were not wanted at this conference, and so withdrew to the -library in Jack’s home. Here the four held a discussion fully as -animated as that going on next door. - -“Dad admits that things look mighty black,” said Randy. “But he -cautioned Andy and myself not to say too much before mother, because -she’s worried to death as it is.” - -“And that’s just what dad told me to be careful of,” put in Fred. “I -never saw my mother look worse! Why, you’d think somebody in the -family had died!” - -“Well, we’ve got to admit that it is serious――the most serious thing -that ever happened to us as far as our fortunes are concerned,” -returned Jack. “This hold-up may wipe out The Rover Company entirely. -The company has obligations totaling three hundred thousand dollars and -all of these have got to be met inside of six weeks. Of course, they -may get an extension of time from the banks and their other creditors. -But unless the missing securities are recovered it isn’t likely that -those extensions will be for long.” - -“But their credit ought to be good; the company has always stood A, -Number One!” cried Andy. - -“Yes. And that will help some, so dad says. But it won’t help enough,” -answered Jack. “I really don’t know what they can do unless they can -get some of their friends to come to the front and help them out, and -I know dad and your fathers would hate to ask them to do that under -present circumstances, when everything looks so black.” - -“What about the girls? Are they going to stay with Ruth now that this -thing has happened?” asked Randy. - -“Mother telegraphed to Mary that she had better come home,” answered -Fred. “I suppose Martha will come with her. More than likely they’ll be -just as anxious as we were to know what’s going on.” - -“I wonder if Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell are really implicated in -this?” mused Jack. “If they are, then the thing for us to do would be -to try to locate them and force them to tell the truth.” - -“If they were implicated, you can make sure that now the hold-up has -been pulled off they’ll keep out of sight,” answered Randy. “The -fellows who did that may be thousands of miles away by this time.” - -“And to think the police haven’t been able to round up anybody!” sighed -Andy. - -“Well, it’s not so easy to trace a criminal as some people think,” -returned his twin. “Sometimes they catch a crook more by good luck than -by cleverness.” - -“Well, then, let’s hope that we have luck in landing these bandits,” -came from Fred. “Wish I could get my hands on ’em!” - -The next day was a busy one for the older Rovers. A conference was held -at the offices in Wall Street, and this was attended by the fathers of -the boys, as well as by Songbird Powell, Fred Garrison, and several -other men. Somewhat to the Rovers’ surprise, Mr. Stevenson was not -present. - -“Mr. Stevenson hasn’t answered any of our telegrams,” said Dick to his -brothers, just as the conference got under way. “Perhaps he’s away from -home and hasn’t even heard of the hold-up.” And this surmise proved to -be correct. - -The outsiders at the meeting wanted to know if the authorities had as -yet reported anything of importance and were much disappointed when -Dick stated that so far as he and his brothers knew no real information -concerning the hold-up men had yet been brought to light. - -“The authorities have a number of hold-up men under suspicion,” said -he. “And all of these are being watched by the detectives. One of -the older detectives thinks this job may have been engineered by two -fellows known as Lefty Ditini, so called because he’s left-handed, and -Black Ronombo, two fellows who are supposed to be West Indians or, -possibly, Mexicans. They’re also looking for three slick bandits who -have been operating in Philadelphia and Buffalo, because they handle -jobs in exactly the same way this affair was handled.” - -Dick then went on making a little speech and recited such particulars -of the affair as he could and ended by telling of the securities that -were missing and of the fact that the insurance on the documents had -run out, owing to the neglect of one of their clerks. - -“I presume we are responsible for not keeping track of the insurance,” -he continued. “We should have watched that matter more closely.” - -“Well, we’re all liable to make mistakes,” put in Gif Garrison’s father -quickly. “Of course, it’s a great shock, Dick. But I want to say right -now that I’m not going to blame either you or Tom or Sam for what has -happened.” - -“And neither am I going to blame you,” put in Songbird Powell. “Why, -this hold-up might have happened to any of us. Wasn’t my house robbed -last summer? While we were at dinner in the dining room the thieves -crawled up on a second story porch and went through all the upper -rooms, taking money and jewelry to the tune of over two thousand -dollars. And we’ve never heard of what was stolen to this day.” - -“Yes, I remember that,” said Tom. - -“It’s good of you to stand by us,” said Dick, looking gratefully at his -former school chums. “But now let us come to business and see just what -can be done toward getting the Company out of this mess.” - -The conference lasted until the middle of the afternoon and all sorts -of ways and means were discussed to bridge over the difficulty. Fred -Garrison came forward with an additional twenty thousand dollars and -Songbird Powell offered another fifteen thousand dollars, and these two -sums were tentatively accepted by Dick and his brothers. - -In the midst of the talk four telegrams were received, two from their -old school chums, George Granbury and Hans Mueller and the others -from Stanley Browne and Spud Jackson who had been with them at Brill -College. All of these men tendered their sincerest sympathy and each -said he would help out if an endorsement of notes was needed. - -“Well, that shows we’ve certainly got some friends!” said Sam, and -his eyes grew misty as he read one telegram after another. “Good for -George, Hans, Spud and Stanley!” - -By a hard effort and a good deal of close figuring on the part of all -of the older Rovers the Company managed to fix things so that the -obligations amounting to about one hundred thousand dollars and falling -due within the next two weeks would be met. But what could be done -about the two hundred thousand coming due a month later was still a -question. - -“We’ll have to see some of the bank officials about that,” said Tom. -“They ought to be able to tide us over, especially if we can get the -right kind of endorsements for our notes.” Yet even as he spoke he knew -that the prospects were not encouraging, for the money market was just -then very tight. - -The boys visited the offices and took a look around the premises. All -of the clerks were once again at work and Jack and his cousins gazed at -Ken Greene in anything but a friendly manner. - -“If it hadn’t been for that puddin’head the Company would be all -right,” whispered Fred to the others. “Just think of one clerk like -that being able to put a company like this in the hole just because he -forgot to do his duty!” - -“It’s like the soldier who goes to sleep when he’s on guard,” put in -Andy. “For two pins I’d like to give him the thrashing of his life!” - -“Well, as for that, I guess we’d all like to do it,” came from Jack. - -When the boys returned to Riverside Drive they found that Martha and -Mary had just arrived. The girls were excited and tried to ask a dozen -questions at once. - -“Mrs. Stevenson was just as upset as anybody,” said Martha in reply -to a question from her brother. “Mr. Stevenson was away on a fishing -trip and she didn’t know how to get hold of him. And what do you think, -Jack? Half of the money that Ruth’s father put into The Rover Company -belonged to Mrs. Stevenson! So she’ll stand to lose just as much as her -husband.” - -“And what did Ruth have to say about the affair?” - -“Oh, she didn’t know what to say. It took them both so much by surprise -that they were almost stunned. Then Mrs. Stevenson went into hysterics -when she thought all that money might be lost, and Ruth had all she -could do to quiet her.” - -“Did Ruth blame dad for what happened?” - -“She did and she didn’t. She thought it was awfully queer that none -of the officers of the company was at the offices when the hold-up -happened and she also thought it was queer that they should have had so -many securities on hand. She thought such valuable things were either -kept locked in the safe or else locked in the bank vaults.” - -“Well, dad would have been there, only he got the fake ’phone call -that mother had been hurt in a subway accident. And as for having the -securities on hand, there is a good explanation about that, although -I’m afraid I can’t just explain it to you. Some of these securities -were being listed to be sold. They all had to be inspected, and that -was the reason they were at the offices and not in the bank vaults. Of -course, the majority of them were in the office safe, but that was open -because it is usually kept open during office hours. Dad says, however, -that they should have been locked in an inner compartment, although he -supposes the bandits could easily have opened such a compartment with -the tools they probably carried.” - -“Well, it’s too bad. Mrs. Stevenson cried quite a good deal and once -she let out that she expected to give Ruth five thousand dollars’ worth -of the securities when Ruth became of age and another five thousand on -her wedding day, if she ever got married.” - -“Well, it’s too bad, Martha, and nobody feels it any more than I do,” -answered Jack, and turned away, his lips quivering. - -Instantly his sister was at his side and had her arm over his shoulder. - -“Jack dear, don’t think that I don’t understand,” she whispered. “I do! -And I feel it just as much as you do! But don’t think too hard of Ruth. -She has been all upset by the way her mother takes it and by the fact -that her father could not be found. I’m sure when she calms down she -will understand it better.” - -“Maybe,” Jack answered. “But just now it looks as if everything was -crumbling under our feet.” - -A surprise awaited the Rovers just as the men of the family came home -from Wall Street. They had just stepped into the house when a tall -gentleman leaped from a taxicab and ran up the steps after Dick. - -“Larry Colby!” exclaimed Jack’s father, greeting the head of Colby Hall -with a hearty handclasp. “I’m glad to see you!” - -“I thought I’d catch you here rather than at the offices,” answered the -master of Colby Hall. “I started for New York just as soon as I heard -of your trouble.” - -Colonel Colby was greeted warmly by not only the older Rovers, but also -the lads who had attended his school so many years. The colonel did not -waste words, but went immediately to the subject nearest to his heart. - -“I knew you might be wanting assistance,” he said, “and I thought I’d -come here and tell you that I stand ready to do what I can. I haven’t -got any great amount of cash I can put up――most of my money goes into -improvements at the school――but what I have you are welcome to. And if -my name counts for anything, you are welcome to use that too.” - -For the moment Dick could hardly speak, he was so overcome by his -emotion. Then he blurted out his thanks, remarking at the same time -that he had heard the same words not only from Fred Garrison and -Songbird Powell, but also from Spud Jackson, Stanley Browne, George -Granbury and Hans Mueller. “I’ll tell you what――old friends are best!” -he said. “Every one of them is sticking to us like glue!” - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - FOLLOWING KEN GREENE - - -Two days slipped by and the authorities continued to do what they -could about the hold-up, but without making material progress. In the -meantime The Rover Company had called in the services of a private -detective agency and the men of this concern also went over the ground -carefully, trying to gain some clue which might enable them to run down -the evildoers. - -All of the clerks in the offices were questioned over and over again, -and presently Ken Greene was given such a grilling that he grew angry -and announced in a loud voice that he would give up his job. - -“I didn’t do anything wrong and I’m not going to be made the goat in -this affair,” grumbled Greene, a tall, sallow-faced lad with rather -shifty eyes. “Getting that insurance renewed was the business of the -officers of this company. All you are paying me here is thirty dollars -a week salary, and I can get that anywhere, and more too! I’m through!” - -“You have simply saved yourself, Greene, from being discharged,” -answered Dick cheerfully. “I was going to fire you Saturday, anyway. -You can go at once. And don’t expect any recommendations.” - -“I’m not asking for them,” was the quick retort, and then, having -received his wages, Ken Greene put on his hat and coat and left the -offices, banging the door after him. - -“I think that fellow ought to be followed and watched,” declared Tom to -his brothers, when he saw Greene getting ready to leave. - -“Say the word, Dad, and I’ll follow him,” put in Randy quickly. He and -his brother were down at the offices at the time. - -“All right, go ahead and do it. Only see that you don’t get into any -trouble. If Greene does anything that looks suspicious, telephone here -or to the police.” - -The twins crowded into the elevator with Greene, who looked at them -rather suspiciously. However, when the street floor was gained the -clerk pushed his way out in a crowd of people and then Andy and Randy, -though watching him, managed to keep out of the fellow’s sight. Greene -walked up to Broadway and there boarded a street car, getting off at -Eighth Street and walking westward. Presently they saw him enter one -of a long row of houses. It was a boarding establishment kept by a Mrs. -Dorsey, as they could see by a sign over the doorbell. - -“Now the question is, is he going to stay at home awhile or will he be -coming out soon?” remarked Randy. - -“That remains to be seen,” answered his twin. “We might as well take it -easy,” and, obtaining a pint of freshly-roasted peanuts from a stand at -the corner, the boys stationed themselves in a convenient doorway and -started to watch. - -In less than half an hour their vigilance was rewarded by seeing Ken -Greene come forth from the boarding house. He had changed his suit and -hat and now carried a tan suitcase in his hand. - -“He’s bound for somewhere!” exclaimed Andy. “Come on quick――don’t let -him slip us in the crowd.” - -Taking more care than ever that Greene should not see them, they -followed the ex-clerk as he walked eastward crosstown until he reached -the subway at Astor Place. Here he boarded a train going uptown, and -they followed, keeping half a length of a crowded car between them and -the man they were shadowing. - -“Got any money with you, Randy?” questioned his twin, as the train -rolled uptown. “I’ve got the whole of forty cents with me.” - -“I’ve got eighty-five cents. I didn’t expect to use anything more than -my car fare when I went downtown.” - -“Then if this fellow rides very far or does any other sort or -traveling, we’ll be stumped.” - -In a very few minutes the train reached Forty-second Street, and here -Ken Greene alighted and rushed over to one of the ticket windows in the -Grand Central Terminal. Here he stopped for several minutes and then -moved over to another window where Pullman accommodations were to be -had. - -“Excuse me!” exclaimed Randy, pushing his way up to the first window -directly Greene had gone. “Did my friend who was just here get his -ticket all right enough?” he asked the clerk while the lady who had -expected to be waited on glared at him in anger. - -“Who do you mean? The fellow who just got the ticket for the South?” -questioned the clerk pleasantly. - -“I want to know if he got his ticket all the way through. I want to get -mine just like it,” stated Randy. - -“You’ll have to take your turn in line.” - -“Sure! And I beg your pardon,” went on the Rover boy, bowing to the -lady in question politely. “Only I wanted to make sure how far that -ticket went. I don’t want to go one way and have him go another. He -slipped me in the crowd.” - -“He got a ticket to Galveston by the way of St. Louis.” - -“Oh, that’s what I wanted to know! Thank you very much,” and Randy -slipped out of the crowd and rejoined his brother. - -Ken Greene was already leaving the Pullman window, and now the twins -saw him turning toward one of the gates leading to the train shed. - -“He bought a ticket for Galveston, Texas,” whispered Randy excitedly. -“What do you think we ought to do?” - -“We might have him held, but I think the best thing we can do is to let -him go on. If he’s in this plot and going to Galveston, he’s doing it -for a purpose. Let’s make sure he gets on the train and find out if we -can just what Pullman car he takes and what the number of the train is. -Then, if the police want to do anything, they can have him arrested on -the way.” - -They watched Ken Greene go through the gate and then Randy persuaded -the gateman to allow him to pass without a ticket, stating that it was -a matter of great importance concerning a fellow who had just gone on -ahead. Then Randy, still keeping out of sight, saw Greene enter car No. -4 and take a seat by one of the windows. A few minutes later the train -rumbled away out of the station. - -“Well, that’s that!” said Randy, as he rejoined his brother. “We’ve -got the number of the train and the number of the car and I know he’s -seated on the left-hand side about the center, so the authorities can -locate him almost anywhere along the line.” - -“Now that he’s gone, might it not pay to go back to the boarding house -and see if we can learn something more about him?” suggested Andy. “His -boarding mistress might tell us something that would be valuable.” - -It did not take the twins long to return to the boarding house. There -they found out that the boarding mistress was in a hospital and that a -girl scarcely more than their own age was in charge. - -“Yes, Mr. Greene left just a short while ago,” said the girl. “He had -gotten word that an aunt of his was sick and that he would have to go -and see her immediately.” - -“Did he say where the aunt lived or what her name was?” questioned -Randy. - -“Why, he said the aunt lived in Rochester and that her name was -Sobber――Mrs. Arabella Sobber.” - -“Did he say when he would be back?” - -“No. He said that would depend entirely on how he found his aunt. If -she was very sick he might stay there quite a while.” And this was -about all the girl could tell them. - -“Evidently Ken Greene doesn’t hesitate to tell fairy tales when it -suits his purpose,” was Andy’s comment when he and his twin were again -on their way back to the offices in Wall Street. “Said he was going to -Rochester and then takes a train for Galveston! Some little distance -between those two places, if you ask me!” - -“Did you catch that name――Sobber?” returned his brother. “That sounds -familiar to me. I’ve heard my father mention that.” - -“Tad Sobber was one of the rascals who tried to do Aunt Dora and her -mother out of the fortune that was left by Mr. Stanhope. Sobber and -a fellow named Sid Merrick went down to Treasure Isle and did their -best to get the treasure in their possession. But their ship, the -_Josephine_, was caught in a hurricane and went down with everybody on -board excepting four sailors who escaped in a rowboat and were picked -up in a steamer bound for Havana. Since that time Tad Sobber and the -other rascals have never been heard of.” - -“But if this Ken Greene is really related to the Sobbers, that would -certainly make him no friend of our father, and especially no friend -of Uncle Dick.” - -“Probably not. In that case, Greene would most likely be only too -willing to do an injury to those who had kept his relative from getting -a whack at that money.” - -The older Rovers listened with keen interest to what the twins had to -relate and asked many questions concerning Greene. Then one of the -detectives from the private agency was called in and he immediately -took up the task of following this new lead. - -In the meantime something else had happened at the homes on Riverside -Drive which looked to Fred and Jack as if it might be of importance. -Randy and the others had taken their undeveloped photographic films to -a shop in the neighborhood, and now Mary and Martha, out for a walk, -had brought the finished pictures back. In looking these over, Fred and -Jack came upon the snapshot Randy had taken just before the touring car -with the broken mudguard and broken headlight had bowled Andy over in -the roadway and injured him. - -It was a fairly good picture, only one corner of it being slightly -light struck. It showed the groundhog passing under the back wheel -of the touring car. The car itself seemed to have a big dent in the -back. Two men were on the front seat and one fellow was in the rear. -The latter had just turned around, evidently to gaze at the boy who was -using the camera, so that his face was turned full toward the lens. - -“It’s Nelson Martell!” exclaimed Jack, in amazement. “Nappy’s father! -What do you know about that?” - -“You’re right!” answered his cousin. “And that being so, more than -likely one of the other men in the car was Slogwell Brown, for they -always travel together, just like their sons.” - -“This picture was taken after the hold-up at the offices. I wonder if -there can be any connection between these two happenings.” - -“I don’t know. But I should say that it would be a good thing to have -the Martells and the Browns watched.” - -When the others got home they examined the photographs with interest. -Then the twins told the other boys of following Ken Greene and of how -they had discovered he was a relative of their fathers’ former enemy, -Tad Sobber. - -“It certainly begins to look as if some of our old enemies were mixed -up in this affair,” was Tom Rover’s comment. “The question is, how are -we going at it to prove it?” - -“The only thing I can think of to do is to place the detectives and -the police in possession of all the facts,” answered Dick Rover. - -“All sorts of things are piling in just now,” came from Fred’s father, -after a slight pause. “I got a telegram from Captain Oran Corning that -he would be at the house to see me either this evening or the first -thing in the morning.” - -“Oh, Dad, is he coming about that hunt for the _Margarita_?” cried Fred. - -“Yes, but I’m afraid that I’ll have to disappoint the old captain. -I’ll have to give my entire attention to this hold-up business now,” -answered Sam Rover. - -“I suppose that’s right,” came rather dolefully from his son. “Too bad! -And just after I’ve been telling the other fellows all about it and we -thought it would make a dandy outing for the crowd!” - -“Anyway, it won’t hurt to listen to the old captain’s yarn, will it?” -questioned Randy, who was eager to know more concerning the lost steam -yacht. - -“No, it won’t do any harm to listen to what Captain Corning has to -say,” was the reply. “Just the same, it will be a bitter disappointment -to the captain if we let him tell his whole story and then tell him -that we can’t take part in the search he wants to make. He, of course, -wants us to finance the hunt, or at least put up the larger part of -the money that would be necessary. He has some funds, but not enough to -see the affair through.” - -Dinner was over and the boys and the men had just gotten together again -when a servant came in and Captain Corning was announced. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - CAPTAIN CORNING’S STORY - - -Captain Oran Corning was a heavy-set man with a round and exceedingly -pleasant face. He had a hearty voice, and the boys had listened to him -less than ten minutes when all felt that he was very sincere and all -liked him exceedingly. - -“Yes, I heard about that hold-up in Wall Street,” said the captain in -reply to a question from Sam Rover. “I can’t understand why the police -can’t get after those fellows and round them up. Why, those bandits are -worse than the old-time pirates used to be!” - -“Of course you understand, Captain, that this affair has upset us very -much,” went on Fred’s father. “And it has completely changed many of my -plans.” - -“Well, I thought that might be so. But then I got to thinking that -maybe you’d be more eager to go on the hunt for the _Margarita_ than -ever. Since I was talking to you I’ve got some additional facts -concerning that wreck and the value of the things on board of her, and -I believe it would be a better speculation for you to help me find -the wreck than some of these speculations you fellows go into in Wall -Street.” - -“We’re not speculators, Captain,” put in Dick Rover. “That is, we do -not take anything more than regular business risks, the same risks that -all business men have to take. We do not deal in any securities of the -wildcat order.” - -“Oh, yes, yes, I understand that! And you’ll excuse me, Mr. Rover, if I -was a little too blunt. But what I meant is that I’m pretty sure that -we can locate that wreck, and, if we can, everybody who puts up his -money in this expedition will get his share.” - -“How much do you think was on board the _Margarita_ when she went -down?” asked Fred. - -“Well, of course, the exact amount is more or less problematic. I have -found out that when Miguel Torra made his escape he had not less than -fifty thousand dollars in gold with him and he had with him gold and -silverware and jewelry and precious stones amounting to at least one -hundred and fifty thousand dollars more.” - -“Gracious! Two hundred thousand dollars!” exclaimed Randy. “If we got -hold of any such sum as that it would help out The Rover Company a -whole lot!” - -“Go slow, son! Go slow!” admonished Tom Rover. “Don’t count your -chickens before you’ve even got the eggs.” - -“Yes, but, Dad! if there is even a fair chance of locating this lost -steam yacht, don’t you think we ought to take it?” pleaded the youth. - -“Certainly! But I would want to know a little more about what I was -trying to do.” - -“I won’t promise to go into this affair, Captain Corning. Not that -I don’t trust you, but because this affair in Wall Street needs my -attention,” remarked Sam Rover. “However, I’d like very much to hear -what you have to say. And let me add that my son here and my three -nephews are also greatly interested. These boys were once shipwrecked -in the West Indies and fell in with an old sailor, and between them -they managed to locate a pirates’ treasure which, while it was not -tremendously large, still gave each of them a snug little sum of money.” - -“Well, lads, if that’s the case, you ought to be just the young fellows -to help look for the _Margarita_,” and Captain Corning smiled broadly. - -“I wouldn’t like any better fun,” answered Andy promptly. “An ocean -trip always did suit me right down to the ground.” - -There followed a conversation lasting over an hour, during which time -Captain Corning unfolded his plans while the boys listened eagerly and -even the men were interested, though they could not get their minds -altogether off of their financial troubles. - -According to what the captain had to tell, Miguel Torra had set sail -from a small port near Vera Cruz in Mexico at a time when a revolution -was just coming to an end and he was very much in disfavor with those -in authority. There had been a fight and it was not definitely known -how many on shore and on the steam yacht had been killed or wounded. -Then the yacht had sailed eastward with the evident intention of -landing somewhere in the West Indies or on the upper coast of South -America. But there had been mutiny and a great storm, and from what the -captain had been able to learn from an old sailor who had since died in -a seamen’s home down East, the _Margarita_ had been driven on either a -sandbar or the rocks off the coast of Yucatan. - -“As near as the old sailor could figure it, the spot was directly north -of a place called Vera Sura.” - -“But isn’t it very deep in the Gulf of Mexico?” questioned Jack. “When -we studied geography I remember there was one place there where the -water was terribly deep.” - -“That’s true, lad. But along the coast of Yucatan it’s quite shallow -and there are numerous sandbars and submerged rocks. So I have come to -the conclusion that if the _Margarita_ is really there, she may be in -water from twenty to one hundred and fifty feet deep.” - -“How did this old sailor, Henry Swall, come to tell you all this?” -asked Sam Rover. - -“I helped the old fellow financially. I rather liked him, and I got -him into the seamen’s home. And not only that, I also helped his old -mother who was blind. That made Swall very grateful and that is why he -gave me all these particulars. He had hoped to go on a search for the -_Margarita_ himself. Before he died he signed a paper in which he left -everything he had to me.” - -“Well, all this certainly sounds very interesting,” mused Sam Rover. He -turned to the boys. “It’s just the kind of a hunt you’d like to go on, -isn’t it?” he added, with a little smile. - -“You bet it is, Uncle Sam!” cried Andy. - -“And just think of how much good that money would do us if we could get -hold of it!” added his twin. - -“Well, Dad, if you thought it was a good thing to go into, why don’t -you let us fellows go into it on our own account?” questioned Fred. -“That is, unless you think we ought to stay here and put in our time -trying to solve this hold-up mystery.” - -So far Jack had not spoken and now his three cousins looked at him -inquiringly. - -“I hardly know what to say,” said the oldest of the boys. “Of course, -if we can be of any assistance around here we ought to stay. On the -other hand, if there’s a real chance of winning out in this hunt for -the lost steam yacht, I’m in favor of going on the hunt.” - -“Would you be willing to put your own money in it, Jack?” questioned -Fred. “I’ll put up every cent I’ve got.” - -“So will I!” came from the twins. - -“Of course I’ll put up my money! We certainly wouldn’t expect our folks -to do it. In fact, haven’t we already offered our money to them?” - -“Are you sure there is no one else who could claim a right in this -_Margarita_ if she was found?” questioned Dick Rover. - -“There isn’t a soul who could make a claim so far as I’ve been able -to learn,” answered Captain Corning. “This affair, you must remember, -happened a good many years ago, when Henry Swall was only a young man. -He was over seventy-five when he died last year. So it isn’t likely -that anybody would come forward and make a claim. You must remember -too that the vessel was abandoned at sea, and that would make her the -property of whoever found her.” - -“I believe you said you were willing to put up some money in this -affair yourself,” said Fred’s father. - -“I’m willing to put up every cent I can rake and scrape together,” -answered the captain quickly. “That amounts to seven thousand dollars.” - -“How much money do you think you ought to have to see it through -successfully?” - -“Well, we’ve got to charter a vessel and take along a professional -diver or two and perhaps take along a diving bell, too. We may have to -do a lot of exploring before we hit the right spot and we may have to -use dragnets and things like that. Also we’ll have to have a competent -crew and proper provisions, and all those things nowadays cost real -money. I have figured out that we ought to have a backing of at least -twenty-five thousand dollars.” - -“That means that you want eighteen thousand dollars in addition to what -you can raise yourself?” questioned Jack. - -“Yes.” - -“Eighteen thousand dollars divided between the four of us fellows would -be four thousand five hundred dollars apiece!” cried Randy. “I’d be -willing to put up that much right now!” - -“Ditto here!” said his brother. - -“So would I be willing to put it up!” cried Fred. “But I’d want to go -on the hunt too.” - -“Oh, of course, we’d want to go along!” came simultaneously from the -twins. - -“If you fellows put up your money, I’d do the same,” said Jack. “But -as things are now, I really think we ought to hold off for a few days -before we decide on this.” He turned to his father. “Don’t you think -so?” - -“Perhaps it might be as well, Jack. You boys may be able to be of -assistance here, although I can’t just now see in what way you can help -us. The police are doing everything they can and we now have three -private detectives on the case. The detectives have a better chance -of doing something than any of us have, if the criminals are our old -enemies, for all our enemies know us and of course would get out of -sight and become suspicious as soon as they saw us.” - -“And if the bandits were all outsiders, as they may be, then we -wouldn’t have much of a chance of tracing them,” added Randy. - -“But about our money?” went on Fred. “Are you quite sure, Dad, that you -don’t want it in your business?” - -“Eighteen thousand dollars wouldn’t help us very much, Fred,” was Sam -Rover’s reply. “And if you boys really want to go on this hunt for the -_Margarita_, as far as I’m concerned I’ll say do it and use the money -for that purpose.” As he spoke he looked at his two brothers and Dick -and Tom nodded in approval. - -After this Captain Corning went into more particulars of what was in -his mind to do, mentioning a vessel he could charter for the purpose, -and telling of the professional diver and others he might engage for -the trip. - -“Gee, we ought to have old Ira Small along!” cried Andy. - -“I don’t think he’ll go,” answered Fred. “I thought of him before. But -he’s now in an old sailor’s home and not feeling extra well; so I think -you’ll have to count him out.” - -“I’ll tell you what let’s do,” said Jack finally, after talking the -matter over with his father. “We’ll leave this whole matter rest for -two or three days and then give Captain Corning a definite answer;” and -so it was decided. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - THE DOTS IN A TRIANGLE - - -Two days went by, and so far as the general public knew the affair of -the hold-up had come to a standstill. The police authorities and one of -the private detectives were working on such clues as they could pick up -in and around Wall Street and among such professional hold-up men as -could be rounded up, while two of the private detectives were following -up all the clues vouchsafed by the Rovers concerning their various -enemies. - -“I’ve heard that you’ve had another enemy named Dan Baxter,” said one -of the detectives to Dick. “What about him?” - -“Dan Baxter reformed years ago and he has now quite a reputation as a -successful traveling salesman. He has a son, Walter, who was a chum of -our boys when all of them went to Colby Hall. I don’t think the Baxters -had anything to do with this.” - -“Well, we want to get all the leads we can,” was the detective’s reply. - -From one of the police detectives the Rovers gained quite some -information concerning the two bandits known as Lefty Ditini and Black -Ronombo. These fellows, who had lived both in Mexico and in Havana, -Cuba, were very crafty criminals and were wanted for a long chain of -crimes both in the West Indies and Mexico, as well as in some of our -Southern states, notably Louisiana and Texas. - -“It’s only within the last year that these two rascals dared to come -North and work in Philadelphia and New York,” explained the detective. -“They’re both small and dark, and as hard boiled as bandits come.” - -“Well, our bookkeeper says two of the men were small and dark,” -answered Dick Rover; “so it’s just possible you are on the right track. -If so, go to it, by all means, and round up these two rascals as -quickly as you can.” - -“I only wish I could!” was the reply, and the detective heaved -something of a sigh. “There are rewards aggregating forty thousand -dollars for the capture of Ronombo and rewards aggregating half that -amount for the capture of Ditini. I wouldn’t like anything better than -to capture that sixty thousand dollars!” - -Mr. Stevenson had returned from his fishing trip and he appeared at the -offices of The Rover Company that afternoon. Only Sam Rover and his -brother Tom were present. Dick having gone to one of the banks to see -what could be done in the matter of extending a loan which would come -due in a few weeks. - -“This is an outrageous state of affairs!” said Ruth’s father, and his -whole manner showed that he was in anything but an amiable frame of -mind. He was having a great deal of trouble with the contractors who -were laying out his estate at Dexter’s Corners and, more than this, his -fishing trip had been unproductive of results. - -“It is certainly exceedingly unfortunate,” answered Sam, as he offered -the newcomer a chair. - -“Where is Richard Rover?” - -“He’s out on a little business. He’ll be back in about an hour.” - -“I can’t understand why these offices were left completely unprotected -and why so many securities were left where the bandits could lay their -hands on them,” went on Mr. Stevenson, dropping into the chair and -fanning himself with his straw hat. “I’ve read all the accounts in the -newspapers. Somebody must have been grossly careless.” - -“Well, it’s not the only hold-up that’s happened in New York lately,” -answered Tom, nettled by the visitor’s manner. “Of course, if we had -dreamed that we were going to have a visit from such bandits we would -have been better prepared to meet them. It’s too bad, and no one can be -more sorry about it than we are.” - -“And then about that insurance! The idea of letting it lapse! Why, I -never let an insurance policy lapse in my life!” - -“That was the fault of one of our clerks. He did it either through -carelessness or by design. Just now we’re inclined to think that it was -done deliberately, for the sole purpose of injuring us.” - -“Oh, say, Tom Rover, don’t put it off on one of the clerks. Those -things ought to be attended to by one of the officers!” Mr. Stevenson -mopped his brow with his handkerchief. “How is this hold-up going to -leave the Company?” he went on abruptly. - -In as few words as possible, Tom and Sam explained the situation and -told their new stockholder what they had done and of the loans and -extensions they were trying to obtain. While this was going on, Jack’s -father came in and then the four men talked the matter over. - -Presently Ruth’s father calmed down a little and showed that he was -a little ashamed of the irritability he had first showed. However, -he still insisted that the lapsing of the insurance policy on the -securities was due to sheer neglect on the part of the officers of the -company and intimated that it was up to them individually to make good -any loss that was sustained thereby. - -“We’re going to make the loss good if we possibly can, Mr. Stevenson,” -said Jack’s father quietly. “It’s a heavy blow to us, but we hope to be -able to weather it. Many of our old friends have come to us and assured -us of their assistance, and that means a great deal.” - -“Well, you can’t look to me for anything more,” returned Ruth’s father. -“With my investment of fifty thousand dollars in this company and a -further investment of a like amount in that estate up at Dexter’s -Corners, I’m about as deep in financially as I want to go. Even as it -is, if this loss down here isn’t made good I don’t know whether I’ll -be able to finish the house up there or not.” And a little later Mr. -Stevenson took his departure, declining Dick’s offer to take him up to -the house for dinner. - -“He’s sore――no two ways about that!” was Tom’s comment after the -visitor had gone. “He’s as sore as a boil.” - -“Well, you can’t altogether blame him, Tom,” answered Dick. “If we go -to the wall he stands to lose fifty thousand dollars, one-half of which -belongs to his wife. And, as he says, he may have to sacrifice some of -the money he’s already put into the estate in the country.” - -“Just the same, I thought he’d be a little better sport,” was Sam’s -comment. - -That evening Jack heard that Ruth’s father was in New York and had -called at the offices. When he heard from his father and his uncles of -what Ruth’s parent had said he was more disturbed than ever. - -“If he doesn’t get his money back he’ll never forgive us,” Jack told -himself. He had not forgotten how Mr. Stevenson had acted towards his -relative, Barnard Stevenson, on Snowshoe Island when the boys were -there for a winter outing. Then he thought of how Ruth and her mother -had acted and his heart grew heavier than ever. - -That night one of the detectives called at Dick Rover’s home with news -that was decidedly interesting. He and one of his men had gotten on the -trail of some men who had been found acting suspiciously on the Ten -Brooks Road above the city on the evening of the day that the offices -had been looted. From an old woman who lived on the road near a dense -woods they learned that these men had been seen leaving one automobile -and getting into another. The old woman had said that one of the men -carried a square japanned box and that another had a similar box which -was striped red. - -“A box striped red!” exclaimed Dick Rover. “Did she say how large the -box was?” - -“Yes; it was about two feet long, four or five inches high, and four or -five inches wide. The old woman thought it had a small brass lock at -one end.” - -“Then this may be a real clue!” exclaimed Jack’s father. “Because one -of our new stockholders, Mr. Stevenson, brought his securities in a -black box of that size which was striped red at either end. He left the -box with us, and this was missing, along with one of our black boxes, -after the hold-up.” - -“Then those rascals were undoubtedly either the bandits or in cahoots -with them,” said the detective. - -“Did the old woman tell you anything else or did you find any other -clues around the car?” questioned Dick Rover. - -“Nothing of any consequence. We had the car jacked up and mended -sufficiently to run it to a garage a few miles away, and there it now -stands.” - -When the boys heard of these new clues all were anxious to see the car -that had been abandoned in the woods. - -“I remember the old auto the Martells had when Nappy went to school, -and I remember the car Slugger Brown’s folks used,” said Randy. - -“And I remember those cars too,” answered Fred. “What do you say to -going up and inspecting the old bus?” - -Getting out one of their own automobiles, the next morning the four -boys made the run to Ten Brooks Road and to the garage where the old -car was stored. They found the place in charge of an old man who gazed -at them curiously as they entered. - -“We came in to look over that car that was brought in from the woods,” -explained Jack. “Mr. Lawson said we could inspect it.” - -“There she is,” answered the old man, and pointed to a car resting in -an adjoining shed. - -The automobile was a two-seated open affair and had evidently seen hard -service. Both the mudguards and the sides, as well as the rear, were -dented and the cushions were torn in several places. - -“Looks as if it had about come from the ark,” was Andy’s remark. - -“An old model, but one with a fine engine,” returned Jack. “I’ll bet -this old bus could make forty or fifty miles an hour easily.” - -“Well, those hold-up men would probably want something that could make -speed,” answered Fred. - -The boys looked over the car with care, but for some time discovered -nothing out of the ordinary about it. Then, however, Jack found in the -pocket of one of the doors several sheets of paper, on one of which -appeared a number of dots put down in the form of triangles. - -“Hello! what do you know about this?” exclaimed the oldest Rover boy -triumphantly. - -“What is it, Jack?” came in a chorus from his cousins. - -“I think I’ve got a clue!” was the reply. “See these dots placed in the -form of triangles? Well, look around the car and see if you can find -any more of them.” - -Feeling sure that their cousin had discovered something of importance, -the other boys made a minute inspection of the car, aided by Jack. -Presently Fred pointed out a series of dots on the dashboard, evidently -made with the point of a knife blade. These dots also were in the form -of a triangle. - -“And here’s another one on the top of the back door!” cried Randy. -“Jack, what in the world does this mean?” - -“Don’t you remember who used to make these dotted triangles?” -questioned the oldest Rover boy. “Put on your thinking caps and go -back to your school days at Colby Hall.” - -All of the lads stared at him in wonder and then dropped their eyes and -began to think deeply. Then suddenly one after another they set up a -shout: - -“Slugger Brown!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - THE BOYS REACH A DECISION - - -It was with good reason that the Rover boys mentioned Slugger Brown’s -name in connection with the discovery they had made. All remembered -clearly how the bully of Colby Hall had had the habit of placing dots -in a triangle, not only while in the classroom but also when discussing -affairs at the gymnasium meetings and while at the military school -encampments. - -“It’s undoubtedly the work of Slugger,” said Jack. “I’ve seen him put -down those dots in triangles hundreds of times.” - -“It’s more than likely this old auto belonged to Mr. Brown,” came from -Fred. - -“Maybe he was with the men who had the security boxes,” ventured Randy. -“One thing I feel pretty sure of――this hold-up was engineered by our -old enemies.” - -“It certainly begins to took that way to me,” answered Jack. “First we -spot Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell watching us. Then we discover Mr. -Martell in the automobile that knocked Andy down, and here we find -this auto, that was used by the men who had the two security boxes, -marked with what you might call Slugger’s absent-minded hieroglyphics. -I begin to think if we can lay our hands on that bunch we’ll be pretty -close to getting the stolen stuff back.” - -The other boys agreed in this, and it looked to them as if the whole -affair solved itself into the single question of locating the rascals -who formerly had made so much trouble for themselves and for their -parents. - -The lads lost no time in returning to New York. There they reported -what they had learned and this revelation was listened to with much -satisfaction by their fathers. - -“These things are beginning to fit in,” said Tom Rover. “I certainly -hope those detectives are able to round up the Browns and the Martells.” - -But this was by no means easy. An investigation proved that both -families had moved away from where they had formerly lived, and a -thorough search by not only the Rovers but also half a dozen detectives -failed to give a hint as to their whereabouts. - -“It begins to look to me as if the bunch had left this country,” said -Tom Rover. - -“Have the police heard any more regarding Ditini and Ronombo?” asked -Randy. - -“If they have, they haven’t reported it. They still are of the opinion, -however, that those two noted bandits had something to do with the -crime.” - -“It might be so, Uncle Tom,” came from Jack. “I don’t believe the -Browns or the Martells would have nerve enough to do the actual hold-up -work themselves. They may have been in cahoots with these bandits.” - -“Perhaps.” Tom Rover heaved a sigh. “I don’t care so much who did the -trick. What I’m interested in is in getting our securities back.” - -That day Jack received a short letter from Ruth. In it the girl stated -that she was very sorry that the hold-up had occurred and that she -sympathized deeply with the Rovers in their loss. She added that her -mother was still sick from the shock and that her father was much -depressed, not only on account of the hold-up but because he was having -considerable trouble with the contractors who were building the new -country home. She added that she made no plans for the rest of the -summer and did not intend to make any. - -It was a rather matter-of-fact letter, neither particularly cool nor -particularly warm, and Jack hardly knew how to take it. - -“I guess she thinks she has got to side with her mother and her father -in this,” he mused. “Well, I can’t exactly blame her; it must have been -a great blow to all of them.” - -In the meantime Captain Corning was growing impatient to start his hunt -for the missing steam yacht. He said that some other people had gotten -hold of the story of Miguel Torra and the sunken _Margarita_, and he -was afraid that they would organize another expedition and get ahead of -him. - -“I’ve had two or three parties come to me and hint that they would help -me out financially if I’d divide with them,” said the captain to Sam -Rover and the boys. “But I want to give you the first chance because -you’ve been very nice about this and I sympathize with you in the -trouble you’ve had.” - -This brought on another long talk in which Dick Rover and Tom also -joined. - -“I don’t see but what you boys might go on this search for the -_Margarita_,” said Sam Rover. “I can’t go because I must stay here in -New York. Your Uncle Dick has got to go down to Texas and see about an -oil deal we’ve been putting through, and your Uncle Tom has got to go -out to the Rolling Thunder mine because he’s received a hint that that -Peter Garrish has been making trouble again.” - -“Well, if you’re sure we can’t do anything here――――” began Jack. - -“I don’t see what you can do,” put in Dick Rover. “The Browns and the -Martells have completely disappeared and it isn’t likely that you could -find them any quicker than the detectives who are on their trail. The -police authorities are hunting for Ditini and Ronombo, and what more -can be done I don’t know. You might as well go on this hunt for the -steam yacht, and we can do our best to keep in communication with you, -in case anything turns up and you’re needed.” - -More talk followed, and before the meeting broke up it was agreed -that the four boys should accompany Captain Corning on the hunt for -the missing _Margarita_ and that they were to furnish the additional -eighteen thousand dollars which the captain needed to finance the -expedition. In return for this, it was agreed that if anything of value -was recovered, after all necessary expenses were paid the balance was -to be divided into three parts, one part going to Captain Corning and -two parts to the Rover boys; these to be divided equally between the -youths. - -Captain Corning was a first-class seaman, but frankly admitted that he -did not like to keep any books or do any direct financing, so it was -agreed that Fred should become the secretary for the expedition and -Jack should act as treasurer. - -“That leaves Randy and me free to become real sailors!” cried Andy -gayly. “Captain Corning, we’ll be at your service,” and he touched his -forehead in true salt-water fashion. - -“All right, lads, I may take you up on that,” answered the captain, -smiling. “I’ll ship a full crew, but there’s no telling what work -there’ll be to do when we locate the _Margarita_ and try to get at it.” -He liked the boys as much as they liked him, and that was one reason -why he had been so anxious to get them to go on the search for the -sunken steam yacht. - -“We’ll draw our money from the bank to-morrow,” said Jack after -consulting his cousins. “Then we’ll take that amount and what you’re to -pay in, Captain Corning, and place it in a special account to be drawn -on whenever needed. I’ll make out the checks and we can fix it so you -can countersign them if you wish.” - -“I know an honest young man when I see him, Mr. Rover,” answered -Captain Corning quickly. “I don’t think the checks will need any -countersigning.” - -The next week proved a busy one, not only for the captain but also -for the boys. The captain had a list of vessels available for charter -and allowed the boys to go with him to look over the various craft, -which were located in New York Harbor and along the Long Island coast. -They at last settled on an oil-burning yacht named the _Firefly_, the -property of a rich cotton merchant who was now on a tour around the -world. - -“She’s certainly a dandy looking craft,” remarked Jack, as he and his -brothers walked around the boat, a yacht nearly two hundred feet in -length and rather broad of beam. “She looks as if she could stand real -service, too.” - -“I’m glad she doesn’t look too fancy,” answered Fred. “There may be -a lot of rough work to do if we ever do locate the _Margarita_. This -isn’t just an outing for fun, you know.” - -There were several sailors already attached to the _Firefly_, and -these men readily agreed to sign up with Captain Corning for the trip. -Then the captain obtained several men who had sailed with him before, -including a mate named Nat Brooks, a man well acquainted with the -Atlantic seacoast and the West Indies. It was known that the expedition -was on a treasure hunt, but no details were mentioned. - -Some newspaper reporters heard of the affair and at once imagined that -the Rovers were going after those who had held up the offices in Wall -Street, and Jack and his cousins allowed them to think this and smiled -to themselves when they read an account in the various journals that -evening. - -Captain Corning had thought to get two divers with whom he was -acquainted to go with him on the hunt, but at the last minute found -neither of these men available. This was a keen disappointment, and he -did not know what to do next. Then his mate came to him and said that -one of the sailors, a Norwegian who had sailed on the _Firefly_ before -and now signed up for the trip, knew of another Norwegian who was an -expert deep-sea diver and who had just finished a contract with one of -the lighthouse corporations. - -“Peterson says this diver, whose name is Leif Olesen, is a very -reliable man,” said Brooks. “He’s worked both for the Atlantic -Lighthouse Corporation and for the Hazlett-Dockery Company, laying both -lighthouse and bridge foundations. If he’s done all that, perhaps he’s -just the fellow we want.” - -“I’ll look him up and have a talk with him,” answered the captain. - -As a result of this, Leif Olesen was engaged, along with his helper, -another Norwegian named Nick Amend. Both were tall, fair-haired and -blue-eyed, and both seemed to understand their business thoroughly. The -captain told Olesen just what he had in mind to do, and the deep-sea -diver gave him a list of what ought to be taken along and of what sort -of equipment he himself would need. - -After this began the task of provisioning the _Firefly_ and having the -tanks filled with oil, and while this was going on the boys spent part -of their time at their homes getting ready for the trip. - -“We won’t want much heavy clothing, that’s sure,” said Randy. “I’ll bet -it’s as hot as pepper down there this time of year. We ought to start -this hunt during the winter months.” - -“Yes, and let somebody else get ahead of us, eh?” put in Fred quickly. -“Nothing doing! The sooner we locate the _Margarita_ the better I’ll be -pleased.” - -“I’ll bet Fred has his profits counted up already,” gibed Randy. -“Remember, Fred, after all expenses are paid you’re to have one-quarter -of two thirds of three-thirds,” and he grinned gayly. - -“You don’t have to poke fun at me, Randy Rover!” cried his cousin. -“You’re just as anxious as I am to find this treasure!” - -“Sure he is――we all are!” put in Jack. “You don’t suppose we put up -eighteen thousand dollars just for the fun of it?” - -“And if we don’t locate the _Margarita_, then it’s good-bye to the -eighteen thousand,” came from Fred. - -“Don’t mention that we may lose that eighteen thousand!” cried Andy. -“Not on top of all our folks have lost! That would be too mean for -anything!” - -“Well, this treasure hunt is a gamble, Andy; you know that as well as I -do. We may be successful and we may lose every dollar we put into it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - BOUND FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO - - -“Off at last!” - -“Good-bye, everybody! Take good care of yourselves!” - -“Good-bye, boys! I hope this quest proves successful.” - -The time for the departure of the _Firefly_ had come at last. The -oil-burning yacht was leaving from one of the docks in Brooklyn, and -all of the other Rovers had come over to see them off. - -“Be careful and don’t let anything happen to you!” called Martha Rover. - -“And be sure to send us letters whenever you get a chance,” put in Mary. - -“Don’t lose any hairpins, Mary, while we’re gone!” shouted back Andy, -in an attempt at light-heartedness, for he could see that the girls, as -well as the boys’ mothers, were looking very sober. Of all things, Andy -detested seeing a girl or a woman cry. - -“Be careful and keep out of trouble,” called Dick Rover. “And if you -need any assistance don’t hesitate to send a wireless or a telegram.” - -“We’ll be all right, Dad!” shouted Jack. “Good-bye, Mother! Good-bye, -everybody!” Then, while the boys and men waved their caps and hats and -the girls and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, the _Firefly_ slid -slowly out of her berth by the side of the dock and turned down the -East River toward the Bay; and the expedition in search of the lost -_Margarita_ was begun. - -Jack hated to leave his folks, but there was another pang in his heart -which, however, he took good care to keep to himself. He had risked a -telegram to Ruth, stating that he was going on the quest, and he had -hoped for some sort of reply in return. But up to the hour of sailing -no word had been received from the girl who was so dear to his heart. - -And up to the hour of sailing no additional information had come in -concerning those who were supposed to be responsible for the hold-up in -Wall Street. Not a trace of the Browns or the Martells, nor of Ditini -and Ronombo, had been received. So far as could be ascertained none of -the securities stolen had been offered for sale. Evidently the bandits -and all in league with them were keeping well under cover or else they -had left for foreign parts. - -All of their baggage had been sent to the _Firefly_ the day before, -and the boys had arranged with Captain Corning regarding the staterooms -they were to use. These rooms were two double ones on one side of the -cabin of the yacht. On the other side were staterooms used by the -captain and his mate. There were other staterooms further back, and -these were assigned to Leif Olesen and his assistant, Nick Amend. - -The boys had met the head diver twice, and he appeared to be a man who -understood his business, but also a fellow who was far from sociable. -But as the diver had not been hired for his society, this lack of -sociability counted for nothing with them. - -“All we want of him is to locate the wreck and get up the treasure for -us,” was the way Fred had expressed himself. “If he’ll do that, he can -look as sour as he pleases.” - -It did not take the yacht long to run down into the Bay and past the -Statue of Liberty, and that evening found them on the rolling waters of -the Atlantic heading southward along the New Jersey coast. - -“Hope we don’t run into any more bootleggers,” was Randy’s comment. He -had not forgotten the trouble occasioned by doing this at the time they -had tried to make their way in a motor boat from Nantucket to Cape -Cod, as related in “The Rover Boys Shipwrecked.” - -“Well, we’ll have to take what comes,” answered Jack. - -Only a few fishing vessels came anywhere near them. A coastwise steamer -from the south was in the offing, but kept several miles away. - -Not to be short-handed in case there was work to do in trying to raise -the _Margarita_ or to get what was aboard the sunken steam yacht, -Captain Corning had shipped a crew of twelve men, so that there was -little or nothing for the Rover boys to do while the vessel was plowing -on her way southward. They visited the engineer and his assistant, and -also looked in on the cook in the galley, and even took short turns at -the wheel in company with the captain and the mate. - -“Looks to me as if we were going to have the best kind of weather,” -remarked Fred to the mate, on the second day out. - -“I hope so,” answered Nat Brooks. “But I’ll tell you more about it -later.” - -“Why? Do you think there is a storm approaching?” questioned the -youngest Rover boy quickly. - -“I know we’re getting into waters where you can’t tell much about -anything,” was the reply. “You know the old saying, don’t you, about -the calm before the storm? Well, this may be such a calm. If you’ll -notice, there’s scarcely a breath of air stirring. If it wasn’t that we -have our engines going, we wouldn’t be making any sort of headway.” - -“Yes, I noticed there wasn’t much wind. I hope it doesn’t blow too -hard. We were wrecked down here once, and I wouldn’t like to be wrecked -again.” - -“Oh, don’t worry about that, lad. The _Firefly_ is a staunch yacht, -with first-class engines, and it would take nothing short of a -hurricane to send her over or on to the rocks.” - -With so little to do, the boys spent quite some time looking over the -charts and maps which Captain Corning and the old sailor, Henry Swall, -had drawn up in trying to locate the sunken _Margarita_. - -“Here is a chart of the northern coast of the state of Yucatan, -Mexico,” said Captain Corning. “As you can see, this state is really -at the upper end of Central America and directly on the southern coast -line of the Gulf of Mexico. In the center of the Gulf, the water is -very deep――two or three miles, in fact. But along the coast of Yucatan -it shallows rapidly, and there are many sandbars and rocky elevations -where the water is less than a hundred feet in depth. Now, Henry Swall -was pretty sure that the _Margarita_ went down on a sandbar opposite -the village of Vera Sura, a place which was afterwards burned and which -has since been abandoned. According to this latest chart, which is a -Mexican document, the water there is not over forty or fifty feet in -depth. If that is so, we ought not to have any great difficulty in -locating the wreck, providing, of course, the shifting sandbars haven’t -covered her.” - -“If this chart was made by the Mexicans within the last few years, -wouldn’t they be liable to find the wreck in making their soundings?” -questioned Jack quickly. - -“They might, lad. But I’ve made careful inquiries concerning that, and -I can find no government report of the _Margarita_ having been located.” - -“But if the center of the Gulf is so very deep, wouldn’t the wreck be -apt to slide down from the shore line into the hole?” asked Andy. - -“That could happen, my boy. And that, of course, is one of the risks -we’re running. My hope is that the _Margarita_, when she went down, -either got caught in the sand close to shore or otherwise got caught on -some rocks so she couldn’t slip. Of course, if she slid out into the -Gulf and down into deep water, why, our search for her will avail us -nothing.” - -“But we’ve got a diving bell! We could use that!” cried Fred. - -“Not if she went down a mile or two, Fred. Divers can go down to a -certain depth, but as yet they’ve discovered no means of going down as -far as that. The water pressure is too great.” - -It was at this point that Leif Olesen came in and joined in the -conversation. The Norwegian spoke fairly good English, although with a -strong accent. - -“I’ve been on two other hunts for lost ships before this,” said -the deep-sea diver. “One off the coast of Norway and the other off -the coast of Nova Scotia. In Norway we found the ship and brought -everything up that was of value. The job took four months, and for my -work I received about two thousand dollars.” - -“Well, I’ve promised you more than that, if you’re successful this -time, Olesen,” answered the captain. - -“What of the second ship you went after?” questioned Jack. - -“There we were very unfortunate. We located the ship and worked for ten -days to turn her in the sand so that we could get at the things in her -cabins. Then a fierce storm came up and we had to run for safety. When -the storm was over we went back and hunted everywhere, but the wreck -had disappeared, and although we sailed and searched around in that -vicinity for a week we were unable to find the slightest trace of her.” - -“Gee, that was tough luck!” murmured Randy. “To have it snatched away -just when you thought you had it.” - -“Well, that’s the luck of the sea,” answered the diver. “You have to -take things as they come,” and he shrugged his shoulders and his face -took on a sour look. - -When the boys retired that night the yacht was pitching and tossing far -more than at any time since they had left home. A breeze had sprung up, -and this was increasing steadily. - -“I shouldn’t be surprised if we got a storm before long,” remarked -Jack, as he took a look at the sky. The stars had been out, but now the -heavens were gradually becoming overcast. The wind commenced to whistle -through the riggings and the boys could make out the dim outlines of -whitecaps on the waves around them. - -“Do you know, Jack,” said Fred, when he and his cousin had retired -to one stateroom and the twins had retired to another, “I can’t say -that I like that fellow Olesen at all! And I can’t say that I like his -assistant, Nick Amend, either!” - -“He certainly doesn’t strike me as being very pleasant, Fred,” was -the reply. “But just the same, from the way he talks, I guess he -understands his business.” - -“Did you notice how eager he was to take in every word that Captain -Corning has to say about the treasure? When the captain let slip as to -its possible value I saw a light in Olesen’s eyes that I didn’t like. -It was like a miser might have when he was gloating over his gold.” - -“Well, I suppose the fellow thought it was a shame that he couldn’t -pull up that treasure for himself. Nobody likes to dig up gold for the -other fellow;” and there the talk came to an end. - -The boys turned in, but as it was a hot night in spite of the ever -increasing breeze none of them could sleep. Fred and Jack tumbled and -tossed in their berths, and so did the twins. - -“Gee, I can’t stand this any more!” cried Andy at last. “I’m going to -get up and go on deck. I’m sure it’s cooler there.” - -“I’ll go up with you,” answered his brother. “I’m fairly smothered down -here.” - -Slipping on their sneakers and donning light coats over their pajamas, -the two boys left their stateroom, walked through the cabin, and -mounted the companionway. - -“Some blow coming on now!” cried Andy, as they came out on deck to find -the _Firefly_ pitching and tossing in the fierce wind. “I guess we’ll -cool off all we want to and then some,” he added grimly. - -To get out of the worst of the wind, the boys made their way to the -side of the upper cabin. Here there was a corner between the cabin and -the yacht’s funnel, and here were a couple of deck chairs where they -proceeded to make themselves comfortable. - -They were sleepy and had almost dozed off in spite of the wind and the -pitching of the yacht when Andy, chancing to look up, saw three figures -approaching. They were Leif Olesen and two of the sailors. - -The three men were talking in Norwegian, but occasionally said a few -words in English. Andy listened for several minutes and then caught -his brother by the arm, at the same time placing his hand over Randy’s -mouth. - -“Listen!” he whispered into his twin’s ear. “See those fellows over -there? They are Olesen, the head diver, and two of the sailors that -were on this yacht when Captain Corning chartered her. They’re talking -about the treasure we are after, and I think they’re up to some trick!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - CAUGHT IN A STORM - - -Aroused from his slumber, Randy was inclined to cry out in alarm. But -with his brother’s hand over his mouth he made but little noise, and -this was drowned out by the whistling of the wind which kept increasing -steadily. - -“Wa-what did you say?” stammered Randy. - -His twin repeated his words and pointed out where Leif Olesen was in -earnest conversation with two Norwegian sailors, one named Larsen and -the other Smader. - -“You think they’re up to some trick?” whispered Randy. - -“I certainly do! Let’s catch as much of their talk as we can.” - -Such a suggestion was easily made but by no means easy to carry out, -for the wind made much noise as it whistled through the rigging of the -yacht and the rolling and pitching of the vessel made it necessary for -the twins to hold fast to whatever was near them to keep from pitching -headlong and taking the deck chairs with them. - -Fortunately the backs of the three men were towards the lads, so they -were not discovered. The men continued to talk earnestly, only raising -their voices when the noises around them compelled them to do so. - -As said before, most of the conversation was in Norwegian. Yet all -of the men had been in the United States a number of years and they -occasionally said a few words in English, and to these the youths -listened with close attention. - -“They’re talking about the treasure, all right enough,” whispered -Randy. “But, for the matter of that, I suppose everybody on the -yacht has mentioned that subject many times since we started on the -expedition. I suppose they’re all expecting extra wages if we find -anything of real value.” - -“Just before I woke you, Randy, Olesen said something to the other men -about ‘We want our share, don’t we?’ That’s why I woke you up. I tell -you that man has got something up his sleeve.” - -Presently as the wind increased and it was evident that a storm was -coming up, the three men moved away, and soon after that the boys saw -Leif Olesen go down the companionway, evidently bent on retiring. - -“Hello! what are you fellows doing on deck?” - -The greeting came from Nat Brooks. The mate had been called up by -the man in charge of the wheel, he having given orders to that effect -should the blow increase. - -“It was too hot below for us,” answered Randy. “We thought we’d come up -and cool off a bit.” - -“Well, you be careful you don’t blow overboard.” - -“Looks like a storm to me,” put in Andy. - -“Yes, I think we’re going to be up against some dirty weather,” -answered the mate. “However, I think the _Firefly_ will pull through -all right enough. She’s one of the most substantial craft I ever sailed -on.” - -The boys remained on deck a half hour longer and then, growing more -sleepy than ever, went below and turned in. By this time the storm was -on the yacht and from the southward came streaks of lightning followed -by long rolls of thunder. - -“Gee, how the thunder does roll on the ocean!” was Randy’s remark, as -his head hit the pillow. - -“I don’t care, let it thunder. I’m going to sleep,” answered his twin. -“The air is changing and it’s much cooler.” - -“It’s only the wind. I don’t believe the thermometer has dropped one -point.” - -Fred and Jack had managed to go to sleep. But less than half an hour -after the twins retired a second time all of the boys were wide awake, -and with good reason. - -The _Firefly_ was pitching and tossing in the teeth of what seemed -to be little short of a hurricane. Jack all but rolled to the floor -and had all he could do to stand upright. Then came a crash on the -partition separating the stateroom occupied by himself and Fred from -that used by the twins, and this was followed immediately by a yell -from Randy and a burst of laughter from Andy. - -“Something went wrong in there, that’s sure!” cried Fred. “Let’s get a -few clothes on and see how bad this storm is getting.” - -The boys donned their sneakers and also their trousers and coats, and -then Jack and Fred went to join their cousins. They found Randy sitting -on a stationary stool rubbing his elbow and Andy sitting on the lower -berth laughing at him. - -“Randy has been trying to do circus stunts,” explained the twin’s -brother. “He got out of the top berth because he couldn’t sleep any -more, and then he crawled back to find his cap that I had thrown up -when we went to bed. Just then the yacht gave an extra heavy lurch and -he slid right off the top berth and went kerbang into the partition.” - -“Yes, and I almost went through the woodwork,” came ruefully from -Randy. “Hit right on my elbow, too! Gee, I’ll bet it’s black and blue!” - -“Well, be glad it wasn’t your head,” said Fred, who could readily see -that Randy was not much hurt. What really did hurt the twin was the -fact that his brother was laughing at him, for an instant later he -grabbed up a pillow and hurled this at Andy’s head, following it an -instant later with a shoe. - -“Hi! Hi! Stop the bombardment!” cried Andy, in mock terror. “Don’t you -know the war is over and nothing is left of it but the debts? Stop, I -say!” and he dodged behind Jack. - -“Listen! We’ve got something to tell you,” said Randy suddenly and -thereupon he and his twin related what they had heard when they had -gone on deck to get the air. - -“Well, there may be something in that,” said Jack slowly. - -“And on the other hand we may be doing Olesen an injury,” put in Fred. -“I don’t think I’d find fault with him until I had more evidence.” - -“Then you don’t think you’d speak to Captain Corning about this?” asked -Andy. “He’s really the head of the expedition, you know.” - -“Oh, I think we’d better wait, Andy,” said Jack. “We’ll keep our eyes -wide open and see what that head diver and his friends do.” - -Conversation now became more difficult for the boys had all they could -do to keep on their feet as the _Firefly_ pitched and tossed in the -height of the storm. Everything that was loose in the staterooms was -either flying around or otherwise already on the floor. - -“I’m going up and take a look around,” declared Jack. - -When the boys went out into the cabin they encountered Captain Corning -who was also going on deck. Ordinarily the captain would not have shown -himself, having every confidence in his mate. But the yacht was new to -the commander, just as it was also new to his first officer, and the -captain thought it the better part of wisdom to inspect the _Firefly_ -and see how the craft was standing up to the storm. - -“If you young men go on deck, let me warn you to be careful,” said the -commander of the yacht. “I don’t want any of you to be blown overboard.” - -“We’ve been in storms before, Captain, and we’ll take care of -ourselves,” answered Jack. - -When the boys got on deck they found it almost impossible to keep their -feet. The wind was blowing wildly first in one direction and then in -another. The waves seemed mountainous and occasionally one would break -over the bow of the steam yacht, sending the spray flying in all -directions. - -“Free shower bath, and then some!” was the way Andy expressed himself. -“We’ll either have to go below again or put on oilskins.” - -The storm lasted until an hour after the time when the sun should have -come up, and during that time sleep was out of the question. But around -nine o’clock the clouds began to break and two hours later the wind -died down and by noon the sun was shining as fiercely as ever on a sea -that still showed many whitecaps. - -“Well, we’re out of that, and I’m glad of it,” said Fred, as the lads -went down to dinner. “Now we can eat in comfort and after that I’m -going to have a good snooze.” - -The remainder of that day and also the next passed without special -incident. The steam yacht was now getting well down the coast and it -would not be long before they would be in the vicinity of the West -Indies. - -Among the sailors Jack had noticed a tall, lean individual, named -Patnak. This fellow was of Norwegian birth, but told the oldest Rover -boy that he had been in and around the United States since he was -twelve years old. He was thoroughly Americanized, and although he could -speak Norwegian he had little or nothing to do with the two sailors -who had become friendly with Olesen and Amend. - -Jack rather liked Jake Patnak and felt he could trust this Norwegian -who, although he was all of thirty years old, acted very much like an -overgrown boy. He told Patnak of some of the adventures he and his -cousins had had, not only in the West Indies but also in the oil fields -and on Sunset Trail, and thereupon Patnak became quite confidential. - -“Every year I tell myself that I’m going to leave the sea and try -to make my fortune on land,” said the sailor, his blue eyes full -of earnestness. “Once I started for those oil fields that you just -mentioned, but after I was ashore for three months the itch for the -ocean again got me, and inside of three days I had gone back to -Baltimore and signed up for a cruise to Cape Town, Africa.” - -“Well, every one to his taste,” answered Jack. “You can’t hire some men -to go on the water.” - -“I know that. When I was on land I met two Norwegians who had come over -to this country when I did. They were experts at laying parquet floors. -Why, those fellows wouldn’t even go down to Coney Island for a swim, -they hated the water so,” and Jake Patnak laughed. - -“You seem to be more like an American than a Norwegian,” remarked Jack. - -“I’m a full-fledged citizen and I vote whenever I have the chance to do -so,” answered the sailor, a bit proudly. “I have very little desire to -visit the old country. I love the sea and love to take trips upon it, -both short and long. But if I ever settle down on land it will surely -be in the United States.” - -“Is Leif Olesen a citizen?” questioned Jack, just for the purpose of -bringing the conversation around to the deep-sea diver. - -“No. He has never taken out papers, so he says; and he doesn’t intend -to. And his helper, Nick Amend, isn’t a citizen either.” - -“What about these other Norwegians on the yacht? Do you know anything -about them――I mean the fellows who were on the _Firefly_ when Captain -Corning chartered her?” - -“I don’t know much about those fellows. You see, I came aboard with -the cap’n and Mr. Brooks. I sailed with them on two other trips, and -I liked ’em so well that I told the cap’n and the mate both that I’d -stick to ’em as long as they wanted me.” - -“Well, I’m glad to know that, Patnak,” and Jack’s face showed his -satisfaction. “You know, on a trip like this we want all our friends to -stand by us,” and Jack looked at the sailor suggestively. - -“Yes, Mr. Rover, I understand that.” Thus speaking Patnak drew a step -closer. “You and the cap’n can depend on me, no matter what happens.” - -Jack could readily see that the sailor had more in his mind than his -words conveyed. He looked at Patnak sharply. - -“Do you think anything is going to happen?” he questioned. “I mean -anything out of the ordinary?” - -“Who can tell?” Jake Patnak shrugged his lean shoulders. “If we’re not -successful, then, of course, everything will go along all right.” - -“But if we are successful――――” - -Jake Patnak stretched himself, filled his lungs with air, and blew his -breath out vociferously. - -“If we were successful that would be another story, Mr. Rover, -especially if the treasure found was a large one. Gold and silver and -jewelry and precious gems are a great temptation to some people, you -know.” - -Here the conversation was interrupted by the approach of two other -sailors, one of whom told Patnak that he was wanted by the mate. Then -all of the sailors went off, leaving Jack in a thoughtful mood. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - - A MESSAGE OF IMPORTANCE - - -Jack lost no time in communicating with his cousins, and the four boys -talked the matter over again and then decided to speak to Captain -Corning about it. - -“You know the old saying, ‘Forewarned is forearmed,’” declared Jack. -“We’d be in a fine pickle if we allowed that diver and his cronies to -do us out of the treasure if we found it!” - -Fred took the message to the captain, telling him they wished to see -him in private and on important business. All repaired to the rear deck -where they might be free from interruption. - -Captain Corning’s face was a study when the lads told of what they had -heard and Jack had related Patnak’s views on the subject. - -“There may be nothing in this, and on the other hand it may mean a -great deal,” said Captain Corning. “Personally, I must confess that I -don’t like Olesen nor do I like Amend, and yet they came very highly -recommended, and that ought to count for something. I’m glad that you -spoke to Patnak and I’m sure that he’ll stick to us, no matter what -happens. I never met a sailor I liked better, and Mr. Brooks likes him -too.” - -“What do you think of those other Norwegians――the fellows who were -aboard the _Firefly_ when you chartered her?” asked Randy. - -“They seem to be good enough sort of sailors. If they hadn’t been I -wouldn’t have let them sign up with me. But, of course, that class of -fellows is often easily influenced by others. In fact, you can easily -influence lots of sailors. When a proposition is put up to them they -reason that they have very little to lose and everything to gain. Most -of them don’t own a thing outside of what is in their chests and their -ditty bags. If Olesen was really contemplating getting his hands on -that treasure for himself, it might be an easy matter for him to start -a mutiny on board and get some of the men to stand in with him simply -by promising them a nice share of the loot.” - -“My gracious, what a pack of rascals there must be in this world!” -sighed Fred. “If the head diver and his bunch did that, they wouldn’t -be any better than those bandits who held up the offices in Wall -Street.” - -“Well, you know what some men say of life,” returned Captain Corning, -smiling grimly. “They say it’s a fight to get something and after that -it’s a fight to keep it.” - -“Well, what do you think we ought to do, Captain?” questioned Jack. - -“We can’t do anything yet outside of keeping our eyes and ears open. -If we discover any real plot on Olesen’s part to start a mutiny, I’ll -have the _Firefly_ taken to the nearest port and we’ll hand him and his -followers over to the authorities. But we can’t do anything like that -until we’ve got sufficient evidence.” - -“Would it be a good plan to ask Patnak to keep his eyes and ears open -and report to you?” - -“It might be, Jack, because I think he’s perfectly honest. On the other -hand, if he should take it into his head to play in with those other -Norwegians, then it would be the worst possible thing for me to do, -because then he could double-cross me, as they call it. I’ll think it -over. And, in the meantime, I’ll speak to Mr. Brooks and I’ll ask you -to keep your eyes and ears wide open, but don’t let Olesen and the -others notice that you’re watching them. If they find that is being -done, they’ll become more secretive than ever.” - -Before leaving on the trip it had been decided that the _Firefly_ -should stop at Key West for a day or two to get into communication with -those left behind. Accordingly, the course of the steam yacht was set -in that direction. After the storm the weather became somewhat cooler, -for which all aboard the _Firefly_ were thankful. - -“Now we can sleep nights,” was the way Randy expressed himself. “And -believe me, I’m going to do it!” - -During the remainder of the run to Key West all of the boys kept their -eyes on Leif Olesen and Nick Amend. But this produced no results. - -“We either misjudged them or else they’re playing foxy,” declared Jack. -“Olesen has talked to those two Norwegian sailors only twice, so far as -I’ve been able to learn, and then the conversation didn’t seem to have -anything to do with the treasure. They were talking about the birds -that are flying around the ship and about wanting to get something to -drink when we arrive at Key West.” - -On signing up for the trip there had been one bit of friction between -the two divers and Captain Corning. This had been on the subject of -liquor which the captain would not allow on board. - -“I’ve always had a sober crew and I always intend to have,” was the way -the captain expressed himself. “I can’t stop you when you’re ashore, -but I don’t intend to have any drunkenness on my ship!” and this rule -he carried out with everybody who sailed under him. - -The run down the coast of Florida interested all the boys, for at some -spots they drew quite close to the shore. Here they were once stopped -by a government vessel looking for rum runners, but were soon let go -with an apology from the officer in charge of the small boat which -boarded them. - -“Too bad we didn’t have a little rum on board,” said Nick Amend, making -a wry face. “A drink just now wouldn’t go bad.” - -“Well, we’ll get something good when we go ashore at Key West,” -answered Leif Olesen. - -“You’d better go slow on bootleg liquor,” was Captain Corning’s advice. -“Remember a deep-sea diver needs to keep his eyesight.” - -“Oh, I know good liquor when I see it,” grumbled Amend. - -Just before they landed at Key West, which, as my readers must know, -is located on the extreme southern point of Florida, Fred, walking -forward on the deck, caught sight of Olesen behind the foremast in -earnest conversation with Larsen and Smader. The three were talking -in Norwegian, and, as before, only an occasional word was spoken in -English. But these words interested Fred deeply, and he listened -attentively until the sailors had to go off to attend to their duties -and the diver walked to the stern. Then the youngest of the Rover boys -rushed off to join his cousins. - -“Here’s a new one!” he exclaimed excitedly. “I just caught Olesen -talking to those two sailors, Larsen and Smader. He mentioned pistols -and ammunition several times, and so did one of the other men!” - -“Pistols and ammunition!” exclaimed Jack and the twins simultaneously. - -“That’s what!” - -“Sounds bad to me,” went on the oldest of the Rover boys. “Looks as if -they were surely getting ready for a mutiny.” - -“Don’t you think we had better tell Captain Corning?” came from Randy. - -“I certainly do,” answered Jack. “What do you think, Fred? You heard -them talking.” - -“I think Captain Corning ought to know all about it, and at once.” - -After this the lads lost no time in hunting up the commander of the -_Firefly_, who was talking to one of the dock officials. - -“Humph!” mused the captain, after Fred had told his story. “That -certainly does look bad! I think I had better have Olesen and Amend -watched while they’re ashore and find out just what they do.” - -“We’ll keep our eyes on them if you say so, Captain,” answered Jack -promptly. - -“I’m afraid that wouldn’t go, Jack. Those fellows know you and your -cousins too well. I’ll fix it up――never fear. I know the officials down -here and know a number of other men too. I’ll have some strangers keep -tab on them.” - -It had been arranged that the boys should stop at a local brokerage -house known to the elder Rovers and there receive any mail or messages -that might have come in. So, telling the captain that they were bound -for that place, they leaped into a taxicab and were soon on their way. - -“Gee, I wish we could have followed up Olesen and Amend and caught them -in the act of supplying themselves and those other Norwegians with -firearms!” was Randy’s comment as they rode along. “If those fellows -are up to some underhand work I’d like to catch ’em right in the midst -of it.” - -“And that’s just what I’d like to do!” put in his twin. - -“Well, we can’t be in two places at once,” came from Fred. “I’d like to -watch them too, but I’m also anxious to get some letters and messages -from home. If they have managed to round up those hold-up men I want to -know it.” - -“Oh, well, I want to know that too!” came promptly from Andy. - -“Now that we’ve warned Captain Corning I guess we can trust him to have -those fellows watched,” said Jack. “He’s as suspicious of them as we -are and just as anxious to save that treasure, provided it’s located.” - -It did not take the taxicab long to reach the offices of Ditson and -Roebuck, the brokers known to the Rovers. When they entered the place a -round-faced, good-natured clerk came up and shook hands cordially with -them. - -“I remembered you the minute I saw you, Mr. Rover,” he said to Jack. -“Don’t you remember I was in your office in New York one day――the same -day you had had trouble with the son of another broker named Martell?” - -“Oh, yes! I remember you now, Mr. Ditson!” cried Jack. He knew that the -young man was the son of the head of the firm. - -“We’re after letters and messages,” put in Fred, a bit impatiently. “We -trust you’ve got good news for us.” - -“I don’t know how good it is,” was the reply, as Harry Ditson walked -back of one of the counters and brought forth a number of letters and -several telegrams. “I certainly hope they’ve been able to get track -of the stuff that was stolen from your firm. My! that was rather a -serious affair, wasn’t it?” - -“We’ll tell the world it was!” responded Randy, as he took a letter -addressed to himself and tore it open eagerly. - -Jack had two telegrams, as well as a letter. One telegram was from Ruth -in which the girl stated briefly that she was very sorry she had not -received his communication in time to answer it before the _Firefly_ -sailed and that she hoped the treasure quest would be successful. Jack -read this telegram twice, and it is perhaps needless to say he was much -gratified. - -The other telegram was one from his father, evidently sent two days -after the steam yacht had sailed. Dick Rover merely stated that all -were well and that there was no news of importance and that he was -making a hasty run to the oil fields while Tom Rover was going out West -to the Rolling Thunder mine. - -“Too bad that there is no good news from Wall Street,” said Jack, after -all had read the telegrams. Then the boys turned to the letters which -had been written by Mary and Martha and the mother of the twins. - -Mrs. Tom Rover and the girls had little of importance to tell except -that all of the men were greatly worried because the banks were not -inclined to renew some of the loans made to the Company. Dick Rover -had said something about sacrificing some of his interests in the oil -fields, and both Tom and Sam had mentioned that they might sell their -interest in one of the gold mines. - -“Looks to me as if matters were blacker than we thought,” mused Randy. -“It’s too bad, isn’t it?” - -“If only we could locate that treasure and help them out!” murmured his -brother. - -After reading their letters carefully the boys had a little further -conversation with Harry Ditson and were then on the point of leaving -when a telegraph messenger came in. - -“Hello! here’s another telegram for you,” exclaimed Harry Ditson, and -turned it over to Jack. - -The telegram was from Sam Rover and ran as follows: - - “Have located Josiah Crabtree and made him confess. Look for - important developments in the near future.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - - SAM MAKES A DISCOVERY - - -With Dick Rover gone to Oklahoma and Texas and his brother Tom having -taken his departure for the Far West, Sam Rover found himself in sole -charge of the offices in Wall Street and consequently the only one to -battle with a situation that was becoming worse every day. - -Not to worry their wives and the young folks too much, the older Rovers -had not told everything concerning the peculiar financial straits in -which they were beginning to find themselves. These straits resolved -not alone into difficulties brought about in the brokerage business -because of the stolen securities but embraced also a deal made in the -oil fields and two other deals in the mining districts of the Far West. -Because of this peculiar situation, The Rover Company had to obtain at -least four hundred thousand dollars inside of the next six weeks. Of -this amount the banks and the firm’s friends could be relied upon to -furnish two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But where the other one -hundred and fifty thousand dollars was to come from, neither Dick, Tom -nor Sam knew. - -Up to within twenty-four hours of the time that the younger Rovers -arrived at Key West nothing more had been heard concerning the bandits -who had held up the offices. Both the authorities and the private -detectives seemed to be doing their best on the case, but without -material results. They had traced Ken Greene to Galveston and there -lost track of the clerk. They had also traced the Browns and the -Martells from the middle of New York State to Buffalo, only to learn -that these individuals had without warning left that city for parts -unknown. - -“It’s more than likely they escaped into Canada,” said Sam Rover to -himself when he received this news. “And if that’s so, it will become -more difficult than ever to trace them.” - -And then, while the youngest of The Rover Company officials was in the -depth of despair, something happened which gave him information of the -greatest importance. A retired broker whom the Rovers knew fairly well -was stopping in town at a hotel near the Grand Central Terminal and Sam -resolved to call on this man, thinking that possibly he might obtain -an additional loan to carry on the business. Sam had come over from -his home on Riverside Drive in the family automobile. On Forty-second -Street near Fifth Avenue the car was halted by the police because of a -fire in that vicinity. - -“I’ll get out and walk the rest of the distance,” said Sam to the -chauffeur. “You can remain here or otherwise turn back and park -somewhere near Sixth Avenue.” - -There was great excitement in the street, and people were hurrying in -several directions to clear the way for the fire engines. Sam found -himself caught in the crowd which suddenly broke, and then a long hook -and ladder truck came speeding toward him, the powerful motor making a -fearful din as it advanced. - -Close to Sam was an elderly man who limped slightly. He carried a cane -and when the crowd broke this clattered to the roadway and the man -seemed suddenly terror-stricken. - -“Get out of the way there! You’ll be killed!” yelled some one in the -crowd. - -Sam had leaped to safety, but now turned and saw the peril of the older -person. He leaped forward once more, caught this individual by the arm, -and dragged him backward just as the massive hook and ladder truck -dashed madly by, the wheels just grazing the feet of the rescued one. - -“Close shave for you,” remarked Sam, as he stood the elderly man on -his feet and picked up his cane. - -“So it was!” panted the other. “I didn’t think it was so close. I -was――――” Then, as the rescued one looked more closely at Sam, he -stopped short, his mouth open in wonder. - -“Josiah Crabtree!” ejaculated Sam, and again caught the man by the arm. -“What are you doing here? You are just the man I want to see!” - -“Don’t touch me, Rover! Don’t touch me!” pleaded the former instructor -of Putnam Hall. “Don’t touch me! I haven’t done anything!” - -It was plainly to be seen that Josiah Crabtree was just over one fear -to have another come upon him. As his shifty eyes looked at Sam, his -face became blanched and he trembled. - -“You come with me,” went on Sam somewhat sternly. “No nonsense now, or -I’ll call a policeman.” - -“No, no! Don’t do that! Don’t do that!” pleaded Crabtree, and he looked -more frightened than ever. Evidently he had not forgotten his former -terms in prison and he had no desire to give up his liberty again. - -“Then come with me.” - -“All right, Rover, I will,” was the ready reply. Then, with Josiah -Crabtree’s arm safely within his grasp, Sam led the way out of the -crowd and to where his chauffeur still remained with the automobile. - -“Now, Crabtree, I’ll give you your choice,” went on Sam, doing some -rapid thinking. “You can either go home with me and talk things over or -I’ll call an officer and have you placed under arrest. Which shall it -be?” - -“You don’t have to call an officer. I’ll go with you. I’ll tell you -everything! Only, please leave me alone, Rover! I’m getting to be an -old man now! I don’t want to go to prison again! I was dragged into -this thing! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with it!” - -“Then you’re willing to admit that you had your share in the hold-up in -Wall Street, eh?” went on Sam, anxious to follow up the advantage he -saw he was gaining. - -“I wasn’t near Wall Street! I’m not that kind of a man――you know -that,” whined the former teacher. Evidently what little courage he had -possessed was fast deserting him. - -“But you had something to do with the affair.” - -“Well, it wasn’t much. I was on the outside. I was hard-up and they -promised me a thousand dollars if I’d help them. But I haven’t had a -dollar――not a cent!” groaned Josiah Crabtree. - -“Well, come along,” and without further ado Sam bundled the old man -into the car and gave directions to the chauffeur to drive home as -fast as he could. - -It may be taken for granted that Grace Rover, as well as her sister -Nellie, and Dora, were astonished when they discovered who the visitor -was. None of them had forgotten how Josiah Crabtree had tried to harm -them in the past nor the fact that the old man had spent two terms in -prison. - -“Just wait outside the door, Johnson,” said Sam to the chauffeur. -“And tell Rankin to go to the rear of the house. This man must not be -allowed to escape under any circumstances. He’s one of the rascals -wanted for that hold-up.” - -Having given these orders, Sam went to the telephone and called up the -private detective agency working on the case and asked that one or two -of the detectives be sent up immediately. - -“Now then, I want your story, Crabtree, and I want it straight,” said -Sam, after these details had been taken care of. “No phony work, now!” - -“Will you promise not to prosecute me if I tell you all I know?” -pleaded Josiah Crabtree, as he sank into a chair, his hands shaking -violently on the top of his cane as he did so. “I’m an old man, now, -Rover, and I haven’t many more years to live, and I don’t want to go to -prison again. Spare me and I’ll tell you everything.” - -“Then you’re willing to turn state’s evidence?” - -“I am. I didn’t want to go into this in the first place, but, as I said -before, they promised me a thousand dollars and that was a terrible -temptation because I had less than a dollar in my pocket at that time. -But they didn’t give me a cent! This morning I was turned out of the -rooming house where I was stopping, and all I’ve had to eat was one -small ham sandwich washed down with a drink of water,” and now the -tears stood in Josiah Crabtree’s watery and shifty eyes. - -Had Sam not known this man as well as he did, he might have been sorry -for the former teacher. But he knew how crafty and cruel Crabtree had -been for many years, and so he did not allow the man’s pleadings to -soften him. - -“If you get out of this with a whole skin it will simply be because -you help us to round up those bandits and get back our securities,” he -said. “Otherwise you’ll take your medicine.” - -“I’ll do all I can!” cried Josiah Crabtree in the tone of a drowning -man clutching at a straw. And thereupon he made a revelation which -was so astonishing that Sam could hardly believe it at first. This -revelation was repeated to the two detectives who arrived a little -later, and then Josiah Crabtree was closely questioned until nothing -more could be extracted from the old man. - -Crabtree revealed that the hold-up had been planned by Slogwell Brown, -Nelson Martell and Ken Greene, the latter a nephew of their old enemy, -Tad Sobber. Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell had had, of course, to take in -their sons; and then Slugger Brown had met Crabtree when the latter -arrived in New York and through the former teacher had been enabled to -call in several other fellows, including Jerry Koswell, who had been -the Rovers’ enemy at Brill College, and Pelter and Japson, who had -tried to ruin the Rovers when they had first established themselves in -business in New York City. - -Crabtree was not certain how Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell had become -acquainted with the notorious hold-up men, Lefty Ditini and Black -Ronombo. But these men had been called into the game and they in turn -had had the assistance of several of their pals. - -The hold-up had been planned a number of weeks before it occurred, and -many of the details were carefully worked out. Slugger Brown and Nappy -Martell were to see to it that none of the Rover boys came back to New -York from Valley Brook Farm, and Josiah Crabtree had been utilized in -sending the fake messages to Dick Rover and to Dora after the telegrams -had been sent which had taken Tom and Sam out of the city. - -“I know the hold-up came off successfully,” said Josiah Crabtree. “And -I know that Ken Greene got away from the offices without being exposed. -I also know that Slugger Brown and his father met some of the bandits -at the time one of their autos broke down and they had to transfer to -another. But when I went after Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell to get what -was coming to me, they declared that they had been double-crossed by -Ditini and Ronombo and some of the others and that they hadn’t got a -cent of the loot and consequently couldn’t give me what I had been -promised. I thought they were fooling at first, but they insisted upon -it that every cent of what had been stolen had vanished and they said -they were going to skip out themselves before the officers of the law -pinched them. I tried to get ten or twenty dollars from them just to -tide me over, but they wouldn’t give me a penny.” - -“Where did the Browns and the Martells go?” questioned Sam. - -“I believe they went to Buffalo. But they said something about -Galveston Texas, and I shouldn’t be surprised but what they went there. -You see, these fellows, Ditini and Ronombo, were Mexicans, and I think -they had an idea that the rascals would go to Galveston to a place -where they used to visit and that they might have a chance of locating -them.” - -This was as much as Josiah Crabtree could tell, and after he had -been questioned for several hours Sam and the detectives came to the -conclusion that the former teacher was telling the truth so far as he -knew it. He did not know what had become of Ken Greene and they did not -enlighten him. - -That evening the wires to Galveston were kept hot by the detectives who -notified other detectives in the Texan city to be on the lookout for -all those connected with the hold-up. But day after day went by, and -no news of importance was received. Josiah Crabtree was given twenty -dollars by Sam with which to tide himself over, but soon after he left -the residence on Riverside Drive he was arrested on a technical charge -of vagrancy and held by the police, thus making sure that he would be -on hand when wanted. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - - HIDDEN EVIDENCE - - -The boys were greatly interested in the brief telegram received from -Fred’s father and they were sorry that they were not in New York City -to learn the particulars of what was taking place. - -“Gee, I hope they do clear up that affair in Wall Street!” sighed Randy. - -“Yes, and I hope Uncle Sam gets all the securities back,” added Jack. - -The boys sent a telegram home stating that they were well and that they -were going to continue the trip the following morning. - -When they returned to the _Firefly_ they found that Captain Corning, -as well as the head diver and his assistant, had gone ashore. The mate -was in charge and said that two of the sailors had had a brief leave of -absence. It was not until late that Captain Corning returned, coming in -shortly after the arrival of Olesen and Amend. The sailors did not come -in until later. - -“I had Olesen and his assistant followed,” said the commander of the -_Firefly_ in response to questions from the boys. “They visited -several questionable resorts where I suppose they got some bootleg -liquor. They did not go near any hardware stores or other places where -they might have purchased firearms. Just the same, they may have gotten -some pistols on the sly.” - -“Olesen came aboard with a package,” said Jack; “but of course I don’t -know what was in it.” - -The _Firefly_ sailed early the following morning, the course being -now southwest to the coast of Yucatan. The sun was exceedingly hot, -but the heat was tempered by a fair breeze, for which all on board -were thankful. Now that they were getting closer to the spot where the -_Margarita_ was supposed to be resting, the boys became more interested -than ever in the drawing and charts which Captain Corning possessed, -and pored over the papers by the hour, trying to figure out just where -the ill-fated steam yacht had gone down. The captain and his mate, -as well as Leif Olesen, likewise studied the papers and also studied -several books which the captain had brought along, books that gave much -information concerning the coast line of Yucatan and a study of the -shifting sandbars and of such storms as occurred along this coast from -time to time. - -“We’ve got a pretty good idea of where the _Margarita_ was abandoned,” -explained Captain Corning. “So the only question is: In what direction -did the derelict blow after the craft was left to herself? Did she -go up the coast or down, was she blown ashore or on a sandbar or the -rocks, or did she slide down into the depth of the center of the Gulf?” - -“Let’s hope she went on a sandbar or on the rocks,” answered Fred. - -“Yes, and that she is still there,” added Andy. - -“Well, boys, you mustn’t be too much disappointed if we fail to find -the _Margarita_,” warned the captain. “I’ll hate to lose my money, just -the same as you’ll hate to lose yours. But we’ve got to be prepared for -a failure just as much as for a success.” - -Sunday passed quietly and two days later found the _Firefly_ steaming -slowly along the coast of Yucatan. The yacht had several drags out, -drags which had been constructed by the head diver, and his assistant -after consultation with the captain and the mate. - -“After all it’s a good deal like looking for a needle in a haystack,” -sighed Fred, as hour after hour went by without results. - -“It won’t do to get discouraged so early in the game, Fred,” answered -the captain, with a grim smile. “If we go over a few miles of the -bottom around here every day, we’ll be doing very well.” - -From a section of the regular chart the captain had constructed a much -larger affair, and this he had divided into numerous squares. - -“We’ll go at this thing systematically,” he said. “We’ll try to take -one square at a time, and thus sooner or later we’ll have a pretty good -idea of what is on the whole bottom around here.” - -Once or twice other vessels came close, wondering what they were -doing. But generally speaking, they were unmolested, several Mexican -fisherman, however, gibing at them when they guessed they were looking -for a treasure. - -“Ha-ha! That’s an old story,” said one of them. “If you’re lucky you -may bring up some old anchors or sea boots, and that will be all,” and, -lighting a cigarette, he waved his panama hat and sailed away. - -“Evidently those fellows don’t believe much in a treasure,” was Jack’s -comment. - -Day after day went by and the search continued, but without results. -Then the boys grew a bit depressed and so did the captain and his mate. - -“Looks a bit like a wild-goose chase,” was the way Nat Brooks expressed -himself. “It seems to me we’ve been raking over miles and miles of Gulf -bottom and got absolutely nothing for our pains.” - -“Well, we’ve covered twenty-two of those squares on the captain’s -chart,” answered Randy. “That’s something.” - -“Yes, and there are only about seventy squares left,” came from Andy. -“We’ve got to hit something sooner or later,” he added hopefully. - -“If we strike something before the whole checkerboard is crossed -off!” sighed Fred. He showed plainly that failure would mean a great -disappointment to him. - -And for the matter of that, failure would mean bitter disappointment to -all. Even the captain was beginning to look worried and spoke rather -sharply when he addressed the men. The seven thousand dollars he had -invested in the quest was practically all the money he possessed. - -Another day passed, and this was unusually warm, for the breeze had -died away. The boys sat under an awning trying to keep cool and trying -to amuse themselves by reading and talking. - -Presently Jack grew restless and began to pace the deck. He went well -forward and then, turning, found that Jake Patnak had followed him. - -“Well, Jake, this is getting to be a long-winded affair,” he remarked -pleasantly to the tall sailor. - -“Mr. Rover, I want to speak to you, but I don’t want Leif Olesen -or Nick Amend to see me,” returned the tall sailor in a low tone -of voice. “Come here, please,” and he pointed to the side of the -forecastle. - -“What is it? Have you discovered something?” asked Jack, as he stepped -to the place indicated. - -“If I were you and the captain, I’d watch Olesen and Amend very -closely,” said the sailor, and his face showed his earnestness. “I -think they’ve discovered something and they’re not going to let you -know what it is.” - -“You mean something about the treasure?” asked the oldest Rover boy -quickly. - -The sailor nodded. - -“What was it?” - -“That I can’t tell you, because I wasn’t close enough at the time to -see. It was a couple of hours ago, when Captain Corning was below and -Mr. Brooks was busy on the forward deck. Those two sailors, Larsen -and Smader, were hauling up one of the drags and Olesen and Amend -were with them. There was something on the end of the drag, a curious -shaped thing over a foot long and maybe six or eight inches around and -covered with seaweed. As soon as it came up the two divers looked at it -carefully and then Olesen put it inside his jacket and went below with -it. Maybe you had better ask Captain Corning or Mr. Brooks if they know -anything about it. But if they say anything to Olesen or Amend, please -don’t mention me, because I don’t want to have any trouble with them if -I can help it.” - -“All right, Jake, I’ll try to keep you out of it if I can,” answered -Jack. “And I’m sure Captain Corning will do what he can for you, too. -He told me he liked you very much.” - -“That so? Very good!” and Jake Patnak’s round face beamed with delight. -He was one of the kind of men who would never be anything but an -overgrown boy. - -It did not take Jack long to find the captain and tell the master of -the _Firefly_ of this new development. The captain said he would look -into the matter without delay. - -“If Olesen is hiding anything from me, he may have done that trick -before,” said the captain. - -“But what good would it do him? He can’t take the treasure away from us -until it is brought up,” replied Jack. - -“He may be trying to play an old trick on us,” was the captain’s -answer. “That trick is to locate the treasure, but not let us know -anything about it. Then, after we’ve sailed away and given the quest -up, he could come back with his own crowd and bring it to the surface.” - -“Do you think he’s up to something like that now?” - -“I don’t know what to think. But I know he has no right to hide -anything from me on board this vessel.” - -“Don’t you think it would be more advisable not to say anything just -yet? If you anger him he may throw up his job and go ashore and take -what information he’s now got with him. That would leave us in the -lurch. Why not let him and his assistant go ahead and watch every -move they make? Then, if he’s doing any crooked work, we’ll catch him -red-handed sooner or later.” - -Captain Corning was a straight-forward man, and this “beating around -the bush,” as he expressed it, did not suit him at all. However, he -took Jack’s advice and talked it over with his mate, and Mr. Brooks -agreed with the oldest Rover boy that they had better not say anything -to the divers until more evidence against them was forthcoming. - -“But I’ll tell you what we can do,” went on the mate. “When Olesen and -Amend are on deck, we’ll make sure that they stay there and then some -of us can search their staterooms and see if they have anything hidden -there that was brought up from the Gulf bottom.” - -“That’s an idea,” returned the captain. “We’ll do it.” - -Jack told the other boys of what had taken place, and Fred and Andy -were delegated to go on deck with Mr. Brooks and give warning if the -two divers attempted to come below. Then Captain Corning and the other -two boys went into Olesen’s stateroom and began a hasty examination of -its contents. - -“I suppose he’d raise a terrible rumpus if he found us going through -his things,” said Randy. - -“He can’t raise any rumpus with me,” declared the captain. “I am in -absolute command on this ship, and I have a right to search every nook -and corner if I want to.” - -“I know you have,” said Jack. “But that wouldn’t prevent Olesen from -feeling sore.” - -The majority of things in the stateroom were of the ordinary kind, and -in those the searchers took little interest. Then they opened Olesen’s -trunk, which was unlocked. - -“Nothing here that looks as if it was taken out of the water,” said the -captain after a hurried glance through the contents. - -“Wait a minute before you shove that trunk back,” said Jack, getting -down flat on the stateroom floor. “There may be something in the space -behind it.” - -He felt in under the bunk as far as he could and presently discovered -something wrapped up in an old newspaper. Both the paper and the object -wrapped in it were wet. - -“That shows that whatever the thing is, it came out of the water!” -cried Randy triumphantly. - -With eager hands the captain and Jack took the paper from the object, -which proved to be a round wicker holder woven over an empty demijohn, -the cork of which was missing. - -“Well, why would he want to hide this?” asked Randy. “Why, it’s only an -empty liquor jug!” - -“Here is why he hid it!” exclaimed Captain Corning, turning up the -bottom of the wicker holder of the demijohn. “Do you see how this is -stamped?” and he held the object closer to the light in the stateroom. - -The boys looked, and then both of them gave a cry of astonishment. The -wickerwork was plainly stamped with the name _Margarita_! - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - - THE MAN ON HORSEBACK - - -“This may mean a great deal and then again it may mean next to -nothing,” remarked Captain Corning, as all carefully examined the -demijohn marked _Margarita_. “If it was found where the abandoned steam -yacht rests, all right. But this demijohn may have floated for miles -before it lost its cork and sank.” - -“Let’s hope the spot where it was discovered marks the resting place of -the _Margarita_,” returned Jack. “Do you know where we were two hours -ago? Jake Patnak said that was when it was hauled up.” - -“Yes, we can easily calculate the locality, or pretty close to it,” was -the reply. “I think I’ll turn the _Firefly_ back and see how Olesen and -his assistant take it. I’ll not say anything to the rascal until later.” - -The demijohn was hidden away once more and the stateroom put in order, -and then all went on deck again. The necessary orders were given by the -captain, and soon the yacht was headed in the direction from whence she -had come. - -“I thought we were going to keep on going eastward,” said Olesen a few -minutes later to Mr. Brooks. - -“Captain’s orders,” was the brief reply. - -If the head diver was suspicious, he gave no sign. However, a little -later he went below and locked himself in his stateroom. - -“He’s going to take another look at the demijohn to see if it’s still -safe,” remarked Jack. - -Evidently Leif Olesen did more than look at the demijohn. When he came -on deck again his face was red and he showed unmistakable signs of -having been drinking. - -“Looks to me as if this treasure hunt would amount to nothing,” he -grumbled. “I’m sorry I came on this trip. It’s terribly hot down here.” - -“Well, any time you wish to quit, say so and I’ll put you on shore,” -answered Captain Corning sharply. - -He apparently paid no more attention to the head diver, and the boys -saw Olesen and Amend consult together. Then, when the ship sailed close -to the spot where they imagined the empty demijohn had been hauled up, -Fred and Andy caught sight of Amend as he dropped something overboard. -A little later they saw Olesen throw something into the waters of the -Gulf. - -“I wonder what that was!” exclaimed Andy. “Here, give me those glasses, -quick!” - -The boys had a pair of marine glasses handy, and as quickly as it could -be done Andy adjusted these and gazed earnestly at the waters behind -the yacht. - -“I see something sticking up in the water. It’s bobbing around like a -little yellow flag.” - -“And that’s just what it is!” cried Fred. - -All of the boys looked at the object in the water and then hurried off -to tell Captain Corning. - -They found the captain in an exceedingly angry mood. The two Norwegian -sailors, Larsen and Smader, were partly under the influence of drink -and had admitted that they had received the liquor from Olesen. - -“They’re not going to play any more tricks on me,” roared the master of -the _Firefly_. “I’m going to run for the nearest town on the coast and -put them ashore――I mean Olesen and Amend. The men can remain if they’ll -promise to keep sober and behave themselves.” - -“What do you suppose the yellow flag means?” asked Randy. - -“I suppose it’s some kind of a buoy. The water around here isn’t over -eighty feet deep, and he could easily attach a small flag to a large -cork and then let down a line with a small weight attached. With a -good pair of glasses the flag could be seen from quite a distance. -Evidently those rascals intended to mark that spot. Probably they found -something else besides the demijohn and feel pretty certain the wreck -is somewhere in this vicinity.” - -The captain lost no time in carrying out what he had decided to do. He -went below and armed himself and also armed his mate. Then he called -Olesen and Amend to him. - -There was almost an explosion when the head diver realized that his -tricks had been discovered. He had just enough liquor in him to be -ugly, and he was on the point of attacking the captain when the latter -ordered him back, producing his pistol as he spoke. - -“We’re going to land at the nearest town, and both of you are going -ashore,” said the master of the _Firefly_. “I’ll pay you off, and give -you your passage money back to New York, and we’ll let that end it.” - -Olesen wanted to argue the matter, and when not allowed to do this -tried to become abusive. Then the captain told him to be quiet or he -would be put in irons. Amend was scared and lost no time in going -below to get his effects into shape to take away, and presently Olesen -staggered down to his own stateroom. - -Another storm was coming up, following the extra hot spell, and before -they could make a landing it was blowing furiously. However, they got -into a small bay in safety, and then Olesen and Amend were put off in a -small boat for town, their effects going with them. - -“You haven’t heard the end of this!” roared the head diver, as he shook -his fist when taking his departure. “Just wait and see what I’ll do!” - -“Hot air! Hot air!” shouted Nat Brooks after him. “You keep a civil -tongue in your head or you’ll never do any diver’s work around New York -again.” - -As soon as the divers were gone Captain Corning set sail once more, -this time for a place further up the coast, called Progreso. - -“I’m going to look for another diver,” said he. “I understand that some -of these Mexicans are very good at the game. This time I’ll hire a -fellow who’ll do exactly what I order――no more and no less.” - -On going ashore at Progreso, from which a number of Gulf ships run to -various points in the United States and the West Indies, the boys were -delighted to learn that they could get into communication by telegraph -and cable with the folks at home. And so, while the captain was busy -trying to find another diver, they sent a message to New York. - -It was not until three hours later that a reply came in. This was in -code and had to be deciphered with care. - -“Here is certainly news!” cried Jack. “Hurrah! They’re getting on the -track of those rascals at last!” - -In the message Sam Rover told of Josiah Crabtree’s revelations and of -how the Browns and Martells and the others were being followed. Then -came an announcement that was even more interesting to the lads. - - “Antonio Ditini lived originally at Mendelopaz on the - outskirts of Merida in Yucatan. Possibly he went home. - Can you investigate?” - -“This is certainly remarkable!” cried Jack. “Merida is not many miles -from here, and for all we know this Lefty Ditini may be there right -now!” - -“And don’t forget that there is a big reward for his capture!” burst -out Randy. “Gosh, I wish we could get hold of him!” - -“If Ditini is in Yucatan we’ll have to get some official to place him -under arrest for us,” said Fred. - -“Yes, and we’ll have to use some native for an interpreter,” declared -Jack. “I can’t speak a dozen words of their language.” All of the boys -had seen pictures of Ditini and Ronombo in the Rogues’ Gallery at New -York City. - -As Captain Corning was still away trying to hunt up another deep-sea -diver, the boys consulted Mr. Brooks, who fortunately had been in -Yucatan before and who could speak a little Mexican. As a result of -this, they were introduced a little later to a Yucatan official who -could speak fairly good English and who immediately became interested -in the story they had to tell. - -“I have an automobile handy,” said the official, “and we can ride over -in that. I think I’ll have no trouble in locating the place where -Antonio Ditini lives. Many folks must know this man who has become such -a notorious bandit.” - -A little later the four boys and Captain Astora were on the way. The -ride was anything but a comfortable one, but to this none of the lads -paid any attention. - -Arriving at Merida, the official made a number of inquiries and then -learned that the wife of Ditini was living, as had been said in the -cablegram, on the outskirts of Merida with her eight children. It was -said that Ditini had deserted her, leaving her practically penniless. - -“If Ditini is anywhere around I think I can make sure of it by letting -his wife think that I must collect an old debt or throw her out of her -home,” said the Yucatan official. “Then, if he has brought money, or if -he is expected to come with money, she will probably promise to pay.” - -It did not take the crowd long to reach the place where Señora Ditini -lived with her many children, and while the boys kept out of sight in -a grove of bushes the Yucatan official proceeded to put his trick into -execution. He was gone the best part of half an hour, and when he came -back his face showed his satisfaction. - -“I tricked her very nicely,” he declared. “I made her believe that she -must pay me an old debt of four years’ standing. She said she knew -nothing of it, but would find out about it to-night. And she said -further that she would surely have the money with which to pay by -to-morrow morning. That proves to me that Antonio Ditini is either here -or will arrive some time to-night.” - -The place was rather an isolated one, and, not to be discovered by any -children or servants, the crowd drove away. Then the automobile was -secreted in a nearby woods, and all went back to remain on guard. - -Slowly the hours went by until night came on. They saw no one except -two old Mexican servants and three or four children of various ages. -Then, however, as it grew darker, they saw a man come up a side -trail on horseback. He was a small, dark-skinned fellow dressed in -Mexican costume. - -“I’ll wager that’s Ditini,” said the Yucatan official. “I’ll go to the -house and make sure. If I want your assistance I’ll call you.” - -He walked rapidly toward the building and soon disappeared within. Ten -minutes followed, the waiting boys growing more anxious every second. -Suddenly angry words arose and they heard a woman cry out in dismay. -Then followed two pistol shots. A moment later they saw a side door of -the house burst open and the Mexican who had gone in but a short while -before came rushing out, running towards where he had left his horse -tied to a post. - -“It’s Ditini!” gasped Fred. - -“He must have shot Captain Astora!” came from Andy. - -“Come on――let’s go after him!” shouted Jack. “We mustn’t let him get -away!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - - THE MAN IN THE HAMMOCK - - -The Mexican bandit had thought that the only person after him was -Captain Astora, and he was taken completely by surprise when the four -boys rushed up to him just after he had liberated his steed and was in -the act of leaping into the saddle. - -“Stop!” cried Jack, as he caught the horse by the bridle. - -“Ha! Who are you?” demanded Ditini in his native tongue, and then, -remembering that Jack had spoken in English, he repeated: “Who are you?” - -“Never mind, Ditini! You get off that horse!” answered Randy. - -“American boys, eh?” sneered the bandit. “Get out of my way!” and he -tried to urge his steed forward. - -[Illustration: “AMERICAN BOYS, EH? GET OUT OF MY WAY!”] - -As he did this Fred and Andy rushed closer, one on either side of the -horse. Each grabbed Ditini by a foot, and as a consequence as the steed -made a plunge, in spite of Jack’s effort to hold him, the bandit slid -backwards and then came down to the ground with a thump. - -“Let go of me, you little pigs!” roared the Mexican, as he lay on the -ground. Then, as he scrambled to his feet, he tried to draw his pistol. - -But the four Rovers knew that they had a desperate character with whom -to deal, and they took no chances. Fred pounced on the rascal from -behind, grabbing him by the throat, while Randy caught hold of the -pistol before the man could get it from its holster. Andy threw himself -on the bandit’s legs, and Jack, letting the horse go, came forward and -caught Ditini by the left hand. - -“You might as well give in, Ditini,” said the oldest of the Rover boys. -“If you don’t we’ll knock you senseless.” - -For several seconds the bandit continued to struggle. But then, as Fred -continued to choke him and Randy took away his pistol, he suddenly -subsided. - -“It’s all a mistake. I don’t know why you’ve attacked me,” said he. - -He had scarcely spoken when out of the house limped the Yucatan -official who had received a slight flesh wound in his left thigh. He -had his pistol in his hand and after him came Señora Ditini, begging -loudly for mercy for her husband. The official had handcuffs with him, -and soon Ditini was made a close prisoner. - -The fellow was astonished when he learned who the Rover boys were and -how it had been discovered that he and Ronombo had been the principal -actors in the hold-up in New York City. - -“But Ronombo is the man who got most of the securities,” declared -Ditini. “He did not divide with me as he promised. I was to have half, -but he gave me less than ten thousand dollars!” - -“Where is Ronombo now?” questioned Jack. - -“He went to his home in Nogistalia a few miles from here,” answered -Ditini. “I hope you catch him! It will serve him right for the way he -has treated me!” The rascal did not for a moment give consideration to -the way he and Ronombo had treated the Americans who had been in the -plot against the Rovers. - -Captain Astora was in no condition to go after Ronombo, but managed to -accompany the boys back to town, where Ditini was placed in custody. -Then the four boys hired another auto and set out for Nogistalia. - -“If only we can locate this Ronombo!” said Jack. He was trying his best -to remember how the bandit looked. - -“If he’s so close, I don’t see why Ditini didn’t go after him for his -share of the loot,” said Randy. - -“Well, perhaps we won’t get to the bottom of this until everybody in -the plot is rounded up,” came from Fred. - -They had received word concerning where Ronombo’s people lived and -arrived at the place some time after nightfall. They were directed to -the proper house by a native, and then told the driver of the auto to -wait for them and moved forward alone. - -“We want to have our pistols ready,” said Jack. “We’ll take no chances -on this fellow. They said in New York he was the more desperate -character of the two.” - -They approached the house and heard the faint tinkle of a guitar and -some singing by two girls. Then they moved around to where they saw a -light and found an elderly man reading. - -“Ronombo doesn’t seem to be around,” whispered Fred. “What shall we -do――wait?” - -“I don’t think so,” answered Jack. “The news of Ditini’s capture may -travel fast, and if Ronombo hears of it, he’ll lose no time in getting -away. I think I’ll try a ruse, just as Captain Astora did.” - -He walked up to the door of the place and knocked gently. - -At first the old man who was reading paid no attention. But then he -started and confronted his visitor. - -“Hush! Make no noise,” whispered Jack in a low voice. “Do you -understand English?” - -“A leetle,” answered the old man, his eyes staring in wonder. - -“I have news! I must see Ronombo at once! Ditini is in the hands of the -police!” - -“Ditini captured? Who are you?” - -“Ronombo knows me. I was mixed up in that affair in New York. I must -see Ronombo at once. I guess you’re his father, aren’t you?” - -“I am his grandfather. You say you took part in that affair in New York -and that Ditini is under arrest? Ha, I told Gozo to be careful!” - -“But where is he? I must see him at once! I can take him to a ship on -the seacoast. We can go to Havana to-night.” - -“Ah, that is fine!” The old man’s eyes showed his pleasure. “Come with -me.” - -He led the way to the rear of the house and Jack followed. They went -outside and as they advanced along a path, Jack motioned for his -cousins to follow but to keep out of sight. They walked to a small -house built at the end of a long garden. The place was of stone, cool -and inviting. Here there was a hammock, and in this rested a small, -dark-skinned man, his hat thrown on the floor. - -The others had drawn closer, afraid that Jack might be walking into -danger, and before the old man could say a word the oldest of the Rover -boys clapped his hand over the old fellow’s mouth. - -“Grab him and don’t let him make any noise,” whispered Jack, and Andy -and Fred understood and pushed the old man away from the summer house. - -Ronombo was evidently exhausted and sleeping heavily. This being so, -it was an easy matter for Jack and Randy to disarm him. From Captain -Astora they had procured a pair of handcuffs, and these they slipped on -the bandit just as he was awakening. - -Black Ronombo’s rage when he found himself a prisoner was indescribable. -He almost foamed at the mouth and threw himself at the boys in a wild -endeavor to annihilate them. He was not subdued until he had received -several blows on the body and on the head and found himself menaced by -the boys’ pistols. - -In the meantime, the old grandfather set up shriek after shriek which -soon brought the two girls who had been singing to the spot, and -likewise the driver of the automobile and some of the neighbors. - -There followed a wordy war and for a few minutes it looked as if the -Rover boys would be unable to take their prisoner away. The old man, -as well as the girls, tried to fight them and had to be restrained by -the neighbors and had it not been for the exhibition of firearms on the -part of the Rovers there is no telling what would have happened next. -But at last they got Ronombo into the automobile and then the prisoner -was whisked away to town as speedily as possible. - -“We’ve got to get a search warrant at once!” exclaimed Jack. “Not only -for Ronombo’s home but also for Ditini’s.” - -This move did not come a minute too soon, for while it availed little -at the Ditini place, it came just in the nick of time at the place -where Ronombo resided. The authorities found the old grandfather -hard at work in a cellar under the house and there was uncovered a -fair-sized iron chest which, when opened, was found to contain about -one quarter of the securities taken from The Rover Company’s offices. - -“Well, anyway, we’ve got that much,” declared Jack. “Now the question -is――what did these rascals do with the rest?” - -Ditini and Ronombo refused to talk, but Captain Astora said he would -make them speak later, indicating that he would have the bandits put -through what is popularly called by the police “the third degree.” - -As speedily as it could be done word was sent to New York of what had -been accomplished at Mendelopaz, Nogistalia and in Merida, and how the -securities so far obtained were safe in a bank in the city. Then the -folks at home were assured that the authorities would do all in their -power to get from Ditini and Ronombo whatever was left of the rest of -the loot. - -“Well, we’ve got those two rascals and we’ve got between forty and -fifty thousand dollars’ worth of the securities they took,” said Jack, -when the excitement had somewhat subsided. “I call that a pretty good -night’s work!” - -“It certainly is a good piece of work!” declared Fred. “Especially -as there is such a good reward offered for the capture of those two -bandits. Just the same, I hope we can get on the track of the rest of -those securities. If not, it’s going to be a terrible blow to The Rover -Company.” - -The boys had communicated with Captain Corning and he at once came up -from Progreso to Merida to see if he could be of any assistance. - -“Of course if you boys want to stay here and see what the authorities -can get out of these two bandits, you can do so,” said the master of -the _Firefly_. “But now that I have let Olesen and Amend go, I feel -that I ought to continue the hunt for the _Margarita_ without delay. If -I don’t, those fellows may organize a hunt of their own and get ahead -of me.” - -“Well, I don’t see what more we can do here,” replied Fred, who, now -that the excitement over the capture of the bandits had come to an end, -was as eager as ever to look for the lost yacht. “I move we start on -the hunt again and then come back here in a few days or a week and see -what is doing.” - -“Did you manage to find another diver?” asked Jack. - -“Yes. I ran into a fellow who came from New Orleans,” answered the -captain. “A very fine chap named Barker. He says he’ll be glad to go -with me and do what he can, and at a reasonable price. He looks like a -square man.” - -“Then let’s continue the hunt!” came from Andy and Randy. And so it was -decided. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - - THE EXPLOSION - - -Twenty-four hours later found the Rover boys once more on board the -_Firefly_. Extra water and provisions had been procured and Captain -Corning was accompanied by Fred Barker, the new diver, a middle-aged -and rather silent man but one who was said to understand his business -thoroughly. - -Before leaving Progreso the boys had received another message from -home congratulating them on what had been accomplished by them. Sam -Rover sent word that he would at once communicate with the Mexican -authorities and send two first-class men down to Yucatan to see what -could be done toward locating such of the securities as were still -missing. - -“They’ll probably get Ditini and Ronombo to talk when they put the -screws on those rascals,” said Jack, after this message came in. “Maybe -the bandits placed the other stuff in hiding, thinking to let it remain -there until this whole affair blew over.” - -So far the boys had talked of little else but the capture of the -bandits and what this might lead to. But now, when they once more trod -the deck of the _Firefly_, their thoughts again reverted to the hunt -for the lost _Margarita_. - -“We’ll steam at once for the spot where that demijohn was found and -where Olesen and Amend threw overboard the floating yellow flags,” said -Captain Corning. - -It took the best part of the day to reach the vicinity the master of -the _Firefly_ had in mind. Then over an hour was lost before one of the -tiny flags was located. It was pulled on board with care and they found -the flag set in a piece of flat cork under which was a long fishline, -at the end of which a small weight was attached, this intended to -anchor it at the bottom of the Gulf. - -Several drags were put overboard and they worked until nightfall in -that vicinity trying to bring up something else of value. - -But their efforts proved useless. Nothing was brought up but some -seaweed and other marine plants, which the diver stated were quite -numerous in that vicinity. - -“Didn’t even find another demijohn!” exclaimed Andy ruefully. “Tough -luck!” - -“What did you expect, Andy?” demanded Fred. “Did you think we were -going to hit the _Margarita_ first clap?” - -The next day the search was renewed with vigor, and Barker made two -trips under the waters of the Gulf. He took with him the most powerful -searchlight of which the _Firefly_ boasted. - -“Nothing doing here,” he announced. “There isn’t a bit of wreckage in -sight.” - -It must be confessed that the boys, as well as the captain, were rather -disheartened by the diver’s announcement and it was with heavy hearts -that the search was continued the next day and the morning following. -Then the mate announced that another storm was coming. - -The blow reached them less than an hour later and the Rover boys -noticed that Captain Corning was more than ordinarily interested as the -storm increased in violence. - -“It’s just the kind of a storm that Henry Swall told me they had when -the _Margarita_ was wrecked and abandoned,” said the master of the -_Firefly_ to the others. “I’m going to let the boat drift for a while -and see where the storm takes us. That may give us some idea of what -actually did happen to the _Margarita_.” - -A little while later the blow was on them in earnest, and with engines -stopped the steam yacht drifted rapidly southeastward, heading for a -part of the coast containing many indentations where there were rocks -and sandbars, all backed up by a heavy tropical growth of trees, -bushes and vines. - -“We’re getting toward shallow water now,” announced Mr. Brooks a little -later. “We’ll have to be careful that we don’t get on a sandbar or on -the rocks.” - -The bottom at this point shelved gradually and now they were in water -not over ten or twelve feet deep. The spot was noted with care by the -captain, and then the _Firefly’s_ engines were started once more and -they headed out into the Gulf in the teeth of the storm. - -“Do you think that was the spot to which the _Margarita_ drifted after -she was abandoned?” questioned Jack eagerly. - -“Well, doesn’t it look plausible?” was the captain’s counter question. - -“I’ll say so――that is, if the wind was blowing then as it’s blowing -now.” - -The storm lasted until after midnight, but when day broke the sun came -out as clear as ever and the Gulf was once more, comparatively calm. - -They ran southward with care, taking many soundings so that they might -not hit the rocks or run up on a sandbar. Thus they managed to reach a -point not over a hundred yards from the shore and here anchored. - -“We’ll have to take to the gasoline launch,” announced the captain, and -this was done. Mr. Brooks was left in charge of the _Firefly_, much to -his disgust, and the captain and the four boys, along with the diver -and Jake Patnak, set off. - -The remainder of the day was spent in moving in and out of innumerable -coves. As they did this, all of the party kept their eyes open for -some sign of the abandoned vessel. Once or twice they sighted some old -wreckage, but this stuff proved of no value. - -“Looks as if there was nothing to it, after all,” sighed Fred, as they -went back to the _Firefly_ to spend the night. “Gee, I sure will be -disappointed if we don’t find something!” - -The next morning they went out again, taking their lunch with them. -The tank was filled with gasoline, and they told Mr. Brooks they would -probably not be back before night. - -The whole morning was spent in a search as useless as that of the day -before. Then, tired out and more than warm, they sat down in the shade -of some trees on the shore and there ate their midday meal, washing it -down with the water they had brought along. - -The land formation at this point was exceedingly irregular, and, having -eaten and rested, Jack and Randy strolled off around the shore of a -cove which, they presently discovered, opened into another cove. - -The boys had moved along the shore of the second cove for a short -distance when both of them set up a shout. - -“There is something!” - -“It’s the wreck of a vessel!” - -The shouts attracted the attention of the others and all came hurrying -forward to learn what the cries meant. For answer, Jack and Randy -pointed across the cove. Here there was a small sandbar and numerous -trees and bushes, and half hidden by the latter rested a dismantled -yacht almost ready to fall to pieces. - -“It must be the _Margarita_!” exclaimed Fred joyfully. - -“Come on, let’s get over there as fast as we can!” came from Andy. - -On account of the rocks and the thick jungle it would have been almost -impossible to walk around the shore of the inner cove; so all rushed -back to where the launch had been left and in a minute more they were -on their way to the abandoned vessel. - -“It’s the _Margarita_, all right enough!” shouted Fred, as they -approached. “There’s the name as plain as can be!” - -“Yes, it’s the _Margarita_,” answered Captain Corning, and the tone of -his voice was full of hope, yet his face showed keen anxiety. - -“Looks as if somebody had been here ahead of us,” was Jack’s comment. -“She looks as if she’d been stripped of everything of value.” - -“Oh, Jack, don’t say that!” cried Fred, in dismay. - -“Well, look for yourself. There isn’t a bit of brasswork or an anchor -or a chain left anywhere.” - -Telling the diver and Jake Patnak to remain on board the launch, -Captain Corning led the way on board the abandoned yacht followed by -the four Rovers. The yacht lay partly on her side so that walking on -the deck was difficult. - -“Be careful or you may break a leg or your neck,” cautioned the -captain. “There’s a lot of rotten wood here, and you don’t want to fall -through into the hold.” - -As the boys advanced they grew more and more heavy hearted. They could -easily see that the wreck of the _Margarita_ had been visited many -times and that almost everything of value had been carried off. The -deck was practically bare and so were the cabin and the forecastle. -Here and there lay bits of broken glasses and dishes, as well as -water-soaked and moldy pieces of clothing and sailcloth. Down in the -engine room the lighter parts of the machinery had been carted away. - -“Well, I guess this is the end of the treasure hunt,” remarked Captain -Corning in a hopeless tone of voice. - -“It certainly looks like it,” returned Randy dolefully. - -“You don’t suppose Olesen was here?” questioned Andy. - -“Oh, no,” answered the captain. “Whatever has been taken away was taken -long ago. I don’t believe anybody has been around here for months.” - -“Let’s take another look around,” said Jack. - -This was done, the new search lasting the best part of two hours. In -the dirt they found a few small trinkets, the value of which would -probably amount to several dollars. - -“I’ve been thinking,” said Jack, as they stood on the deck of the -wreck, not knowing what to do next. “Wouldn’t it be just like that -fellow, Miguel Torra, to secrete the treasure so that the others on -board couldn’t get at it?” - -“Well, we’ve looked into every place where the treasure might be put,” -answered Captain Corning. “I even smashed in a part of that bulkhead in -the bow and smashed down that pantry in the back of the cabin.” - -“I’m not in favor of leaving this wreck until we’ve made positive that -there’s nothing on board of value,” declared Jack. “You told me you -had a box of dynamite aboard the _Firefly_, didn’t you?” - -“Yes, lad, I did. I brought it along thinking we might have to blow the -wreck up if the divers had trouble in getting into it.” - -“Well, why not blow this wreck up? Then we’ll be sure that we haven’t -missed anything,” went on the oldest Rover boy. - -All agreed to this, and lost no time in getting back to the _Firefly_. -Then the dynamite was transferred to the launch, along with the -batteries and wires necessary for exploding the same. - -Running with care, they presently returned to the _Margarita_ and then, -with the aid of the diver, who had handled dynamite charges before, the -sticks of explosive were placed in various parts of the wreck and the -batteries and wires were placed in position. - -“Now then, we’ll get behind the largest of these trees,” cautioned the -captain, “for there’s no telling what that dynamite will do.” - -The launch was run to a safe spot and all took positions where they -thought they would be well protected from the blast. A minute later -Captain Corning pressed the button to set off the explosion. - -There was a rumble and a roar and for the next fifteen seconds the air -was filled with sticks of wood flying in all directions. The wreck was -blown completely apart and even the rocks and trees in that immediate -vicinity were split and crushed. - -“Gee, talk about the Fourth of July!” cried Andy. “That was the biggest -noise I ever heard!” - -“If there are any folks living around here they’ll think it’s an -earthquake or something like that,” added his twin. - -Waiting to make certain that there would not be a second explosion, -they moved forward with caution and soon stood close to the spot where -the _Margarita_ had lain. Split timbers and bits of woodwork lay in all -directions and many of the pieces floated on the surface of the cove. - -But neither the boys nor the captain were interested in these pieces of -woodwork. With eager eyes they scanned one section of wreckage after -another. Then Randy set up a shout. - -“Look here! What’s this?” - -“An iron box!” came simultaneously from the others, and they rushed -toward the object as speedily as their uncertain footing permitted. - -“And here’s another box!” came from Jack. - -“Look yonder!” yelled Captain Corning, in intense excitement. “Gold and -silver dishes, as sure as you’re born!” - -The master of the _Firefly_ was right. There, amid the shattered -wreckage, lay fully a score of elaborately engraved dishes and vases, a -few of them silver and the others gold. - -“That shows Torra hid his loot when he was aboard the yacht!” cried -Jack. “And he hid it so well that up to the present time no one who has -visited the wreck was able to locate it!” - -They looked around further and in the end brought to light six iron -boxes, as well as several other articles of gold and silver. - -“Now to see what the boxes contain!” cried Jack. - -The iron receptacles were much rusted. Each had two heavy padlocks, -both of them locked. - -“We’ll have to take them aboard the _Firefly_ before we can open them,” -said Captain Corning. Then without delay the transfer of the boxes and -the silver- and goldware was begun. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - - HOME AGAIN――CONCLUSION - - -“Gee, suppose the boxes are empty!” murmured Andy while on the way to -the yacht. - -“If they were they wouldn’t be so heavy,” answered Jack. - -“And it isn’t likely they’d be locked,” added Fred. - -They were soon aboard the _Firefly_ and then Captain Corning had one -of the men bring a cold chisel and a hammer, and with these implements -the rusty and worn padlocks on the six chests were knocked off without -great trouble. - -A cry of amazement and delight burst from the boys when the covers of -the various boxes were pried open and thrown back. There before their -gaze was revealed a confused mass of gold and silver coins, jewelry, -and many golden medals, and also eighteen small cases which when opened -in their turn revealed articles set with diamonds and other precious -stones. One case contained two strings of beautiful pearls and another -a cross set in the finest kind of diamonds. - -“This sure is a treasure, and no mistake!” was Captain Corning’s remark -as he gazed from one precious object to another. - -“Worth real money, I’ll say!” cried Fred, his eyes glistening. - -“Worth thousands of dollars!” murmured Randy. - -“I suppose those jewels and pearls are worth a small fortune in -themselves,” was Jack’s comment. He picked up one of the strings only -to have it fall apart, the pearls bouncing in all directions. And then -all four of the lads lost no time in getting on their hands and knees -to gather the precious objects together again. - -It was a happy time and it was shared in by every man on board, even -including the two Norwegian sailors who had been friendly with Olesen -and Amend, for all of the men had been promised double wages and more -by the captain should the quest for the treasure prove successful. - -“Do you think we ought to land in Yucatan and telegraph to the folks -about this?” asked Fred. - -“I don’t think I’d do that,” returned Jack promptly. “If we went -ashore, the Mexican authorities might put in some claim for this -treasure, and we might have all sorts of difficulties in proving our -rights to it.” - -“That’s just the way I look at it,” came from Captain Corning. “We’re -the finders of this, and nobody else, and it’s ours by right of -discovery. The ship was abandoned on the high sea, so to speak, and -even Olesen and Amend had no idea where it drifted to. I think the best -thing we can do is to set sail for Texas and place the stuff where the -Mexicans can’t get their hands on it.” - -“Have you any idea what this stuff is worth?” asked Andy. - -“No, my lad. But it’s worth a good many thousands of dollars. Why, -those pearls alone would foot up to a good many thousands, and so would -that diamond cross and the other jewelry.” - -Much of the stuff recovered was tarnished and dirty, and while the -_Firefly_ was on the way to Galveston the boys spent many hours in -sorting out the various things and cleaning them. After this the money, -jewelry, and pearls were placed in two trunks and the silver- and -goldware wrapped in paper and placed in pillow cases. - -“Gosh all gingersnaps!” exclaimed Randy, after this task had been -finished. “I’ll say we’re the lucky fellows! First we capture those two -bandits and then we discover this treasure!” - -“It’s going to mean a lot to our folks, Randy,” answered Jack. “If we -get a fair amount from this discovery and also get the rewards for -capturing Ditini and Ronombo, we’ll be able to help our folks very -much.” - -As soon as the yacht arrived at Galveston the boys and the captain -had the treasure properly boxed and then shipped to New York City in -care of The Rover Company. This done, the diver was paid off and the -_Firefly_ was placed in charge of Nat Brooks, who had orders to take -the vessel back to Brooklyn. In the meanwhile the boys sent a telegram -home, telling briefly of what had been accomplished. - -Then another surprise awaited the youths. Less than two hours later -came a reply from Tom Rover who had just gone back to New York from the -mines in the West, where he had fixed up all the difficulties to his -satisfaction. - - “Telegram received. Congratulations. Richard Rover at Old - Plantation Hotel Galveston. Great News.” - -“Why, my dad is at the Old Plantation Hotel!” exclaimed Jack. “And -Uncle Tom says there is great news! Come on, we’ll go to the hotel at -once!” - -At the old hostelry they ran into Dick Rover as he was about to go out. -Jack’s father was more than astonished to see them and delighted when -told of their success in locating the _Margarita_. - -“I’ve heard already about the capture of Ditini and Ronombo,” said -Dick Rover. “And we’ve been able to make Ronombo confess that he and -Ditini got half of the loot while Brown and Martell got the other half -which they were to divide between themselves, Greene, Koswell, Pelter, -Japson, and several others.” - -“I suppose the others included Crabtree,” remarked Fred. - -“No, the old man was to be left out in the cold, along with another man -who has also been rounded up. Those fellows are going to turn state’s -evidence if it becomes necessary to use them. But there is still more -to tell,” went on Dick Rover, with a smile. - -“What’s that, Dad?” questioned Jack quickly. - -“The detectives followed Ken Greene to Galveston after you found out -where he was bound, and later they learned that the Martells and the -Browns had left Buffalo for this same city. They came down here, and as -soon as I heard of what was going on I left the oil fields in the upper -part of the state and came down also. After some difficulty we located -Greene and then found out where the whole gang were to assemble. We -notified the authorities and they set a guard, and as a consequence the -whole crowd are now in custody in this city. As soon as we can get the -necessary extradition papers we’ll have them taken to New York.” - -“And what of the securities?” put in Randy. - -“The securities apportioned to Slogwell Brown and Nelson Martell were -found in a room at their hotel and are now in my possession. We have -also recovered eight thousand dollars’ worth of the ten thousand -dollars that Ditini had and about three-quarters of the stuff with -which Black Ronombo made off. He had sold some of the bonds, and these -we are now trying to trace.” - -It may be added here that the search for the missing securities was -prosecuted with vigor, and as a result of this all of the valuables -taken from the offices in Wall Street were recovered with the single -exception of one one-thousand-dollar Liberty Bond. And let us also add -that before the year came to a close every one of those concerned in -the hold-up but Josiah Crabtree was tried for the crime and sent to -prison. Crabtree, old and broken, was allowed to go his way, the Rovers -giving him a small amount of money to keep him from starving. - -There was some dispute regarding the rewards offered for the capture -of Ditini and Ronombo, but the claim of the Rover boys was prosecuted -with vigor and in the end they received forty thousand dollars, which -amount they divided equally. - -Experts had to be called in to inspect the treasure from the -_Margarita_, and then the various articles were disposed of, some in a -purely commercial way and others as art treasures. The total value of -the collection footed up to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, of -which the boys received eighty thousand dollars. - -“Gee, we’ll be millionaires before we know it!” cried Andy, dancing -around when he heard of this. “I’ll be getting twenty thousand dollars -out of this and ten thousand dollars for capturing those bandits. That -will give me thirty thousand dollars. Why, I won’t know what to do with -so much money!” - -“I’m going to invest my money in The Rover Company,” said Jack promptly. - -“And so am I,” added Fred. - -“Well, I guess we can do that too, even if we aren’t going into the -business,” came from Randy, and his twin nodded assent. - -In addition to the money received as a reward for the capture of the -bandits and the sum received from the treasure the four lads also got -back nearly nine thousand dollars of the money advanced to finance the -hunt for the _Margarita_. - -There was one thing that pleased Jack even more than the finding -of the treasure. This was a letter he received from Ruth. In that -communication the girl told how her mother had recovered from the -illness caused by the hold-up and how sorry her parent was over what -she had said concerning the loss. Then Ruth told of how her father, -after fixing up his troubles with the contractors who were building his -new home, had changed his mind and gone to Sam Rover while Dick and -Tom were away on business and offered to assist the Company in every -way possible. She added that her father was evidently ashamed of the -attitude he had first taken and hoped that Jack would forget it. - -A little later in the communication Ruth mentioned some social affairs -and said that Joe Sedley had called upon her twice and had wanted her -and her mother to go on an extended automobile tour with him, but that -she had declined. - -“On an auto tour with Sedley!” grumbled Jack. “I like that! I’ll make -that fellow keep off the grass!” Thereupon he wrote an eight-page -letter to Ruth, telling her of the many things that had occurred and of -how he now intended to settle down and go into business with his father -and of some things that he hoped would happen afterwards. Then he said -he was coming to see Ruth as soon as he could get away. - -While Jack was writing this letter to Ruth Fred was equally busy on a -communication addressed to May Powell. Andy caught the youngest Rover -writing this letter and did not hesitate to poke fun at him. - -“Sour grapes, Andy!” returned Fred shamelessly. “You’d fall for a girl -like May in a minute if you could only find one.” - -“No girls in mine――at least, not yet,” returned the fun-loving Rover. -“I’m going to be a happy bachelor, and Randy says he’s going to be the -same.” - -It must be confessed that Jack’s heart beat as it had never beat before -when he took the train to call on Ruth. How would she receive him after -all that had passed and after the letter he had written? - -But if he had any fears, they were all groundless, for when the train -arrived at the town where Ruth lived he found her waiting for him at -the railroad station and when she came up she not only shook hands but -showed that she expected far more, and after one searching look into -her clear and steady eyes, he kissed her. - -“Is it all right, Ruth?” he whispered. “Tell me, is it?” - -“Why, of course it is, Jack,” she answered softly. “It always was.” - -“Then Joe Sedley――――” - -“Oh, Jack, please don’t mention that fellow! I’d rather forget him!” - -“Then we can announce our engagement?” - -“Any time you want to,” and thereupon Ruth led the happiest fellow in -the world to the automobile she had waiting. - - * * * * * - -And now let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this -story of the Rover boys. - -As he had said he would do, Jack that winter invested his money in The -Rover Company and Fred did likewise. At the same time Ruth’s engagement -to the oldest of the Rover boys was announced, and this was followed -shortly by the announcement of May Powell’s engagement to Fred. Then -the two girls were tendered a reception at the homes on Riverside Drive -and the three houses there were thrown wide open to the Stevensons, -the Powells, and the many friends and relatives of all the interested -families. - -“I’m going to buckle down to business first,” said Jack, in answer to a -question from his old chum, Gif. “Mrs. Stevenson thinks that Ruth might -wait a little bit before we have the knot tied.” And as Fred and May -were even younger, it was decided that they should wait also. - -“Well, Randy and I haven’t got to wait for anybody!” said Andy gayly. -“So we’ll just continue to roam around and have good times.” - -And roam he and his brother did for many years, having all sorts of -adventures in which Jack and Fred often joined. - -“I’ll tell you this is a pretty good old world after all,” declared -Jack one day, when talking over their various adventures with his -cousins. - -“I’ll say it is!” answered Fred. - -“I wouldn’t want it any better!” came from Randy. - -“It’s all to the merry!” chimed in Andy. - -And here, wishing all of the Rover boys the best of luck, we will say -good-bye. - - - THE END - - - - - _This Isn’t All!_ - - -Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in -this book? - -Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and -experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author? - -On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you -will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same -store where you got this book. - - - _Don’t throw away the Wrapper_ - -_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. -But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete -catalog._ - - - - - THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES - - By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD - - (EDWARD STRATEMEYER) - - =Beautiful Wrappers in Full Color= - - -[Illustration] - -No stories for boys ever published have attained the tremendous -popularity of this famous series. Since the publication of the first -volume, The Rover Boys at School, some years ago, over three million -copies of these books have been sold. They are well written stories -dealing with the Rover boys in a great many different kinds of -activities and adventures. Each volume holds something of interest to -every adventure loving boy. - -A complete list of titles is printed on the opposite page. - - - - - FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES - - BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD - (Edward Stratemeyer) - - OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES. - - =Uniform Style of Binding. Colored Wrappers.= - =Every Volume Complete in Itself.= - - - THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE - THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS - THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA - THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS - THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS - THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM - THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE - THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE - THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR - THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK - THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA - THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS - THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR - THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL - THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND - THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS - THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT - THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK - THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH - THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE - THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED - THE ROVER BOYS ON SUNSET TRAIL - THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - - - - THE TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES - - By FRANKLIN W. DIXON - - =Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.= - - -No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as -aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the -air, and is dedicated to Lindberg, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of -the skies. - - OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS; - _or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight_. - - RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS; - _or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_. - - OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL; - _or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness_. - - FIRST STOP HONOLULU; - _or, Ted Scott, Over the Pacific_. - - THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS; - _or, Ted Scott, Over the West Indies_. - - SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE; - _or, Ted Scott, On a Secret Mission_. - - ACROSS THE PACIFIC; - _or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia_. - - THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER; - _or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_. - - FLYING AGAINST TIME; - _or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_. - - OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS; - _or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_. - - LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE; - _or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_. - - THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA; - _or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley_. - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - - - - WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS - - By JAMES CODY FERRIS - - =Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by= - =WALTER S. ROGERS= - =Each Volume Complete in Itself.= - - -Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which -will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures in -the great open spaces. - -The Manly Boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the -owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride, -how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any and all -circumstances. - -The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when -required but full of fun and daring――a bunch any reader will be -delighted to know. - - THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH - THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON - THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER - THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL - THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP - THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP - THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP - THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS - THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK - - - - - THE HARDY BOY’S SERIES - - By FRANKLIN W. DIXON - - =Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.= - - -The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during -vacations and their off time from school they help their father by -hunting down clues themselves. - - -THE TOWER TREASURE - -A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been secreted “in the -tower.” It remained for the Hardy Boys to make an astonishing discovery -that cleared up the mystery. - - -THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF - -The house had been vacant and was supposed to be haunted. Mr. Hardy -started to investigate――and disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of -excitement. - - -THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL - -Counterfeit money was in circulation, and the limit was reached when -Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale full of thrills. - - -THE MISSING CHUMS - -Two of the Hardy Boys’ chums take a motor trip down the coast. They -disappear and are almost rescued by their friends when all are -captured. A thrilling story of adventure. - - -HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD - -Mr. Hardy is injured in tracing some stolen gold. A hunt by the boys -leads to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen. A western -story all boys will enjoy. - - -THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY - -Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously from the Shore Road. It -remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the mystery. - - -THE SECRET OF THE CAVES - -When the boys reached the caves they came unexpectedly upon a queer old -hermit. - - -THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND - -A story of queer adventures on a rockbound island. - - -THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY - -The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the disappearance of some valuable -mail. - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - - THE TOM SWIFT SERIES - - By VICTOR APPLETON - - =Uniform Style of Binding, Individual Colored Wrappers.= - =Every Volume Complete in Itself.= - -Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a -bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most -interesting kind of reading. - - TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT - TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP - TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT - TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT - TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS - TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER - TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE - TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD - TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER - TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY - TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA - TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT - TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON - TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP - TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL - TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS - TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK - TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT - TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH - TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS - TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT - TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER - TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS - TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS - TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE - TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES - TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS - TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - - - - THE DON STURDY SERIES - - By VICTOR APPLETON - - Author of “The Tom Swift Series” - - -Every red-blooded boy will enjoy the thrilling adventures of Don -Sturdy. In company with his uncles, one a big game hunter, the other -a noted scientist, he travels far and wide――into the jungles of South -America, across the Sahara, deep into the African jungle, up where the -Alaskan volcanoes spout, down among the head hunters of Borneo and many -other places where there is danger and excitement. Every boy who has -known Tom Swift will at once become the boon companion of daring Don -Sturdy. - - DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY - DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS - DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD - DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE - DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES - DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS - DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS - DON STURDY CAPTURED BY HEAD HUNTERS - DON STURDY IN LION LAND - DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF GIANTS - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in - bold by “equal” signs (=bold=). - - ――Printer’s, punctuation, and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected. - - ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A -FORTUNE *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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