CHAPTER I

SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS

"Sam, this isn't the path."

"I know it, Tom."

"We've missed our way," went on Tom Rover, with a serious look on his

usually sunny face.

"It looks that way to me," answered Sam Rover, his younger brother. "I

think we made a wrong turn after we slid down the cliff."

"What is keeping Dick?"

"I don't know."

"Let's call to him," went on Tom, and set up a loud cry, in which his

brother joined. The pair listened intently, but no answer came back.

"I don't like this," said Sam, an anxious look in his clear eyes. "Maybe

Dick is in trouble."

"Perhaps so," answered Tom Rover.

The two boys were far up on a mountainside, and all around them were

tall trees, thick brushwood, and immense ridges of rocks. It had been a

clear, sunshiny day, but now the sky was overcast, and it looked like

rain.

"We've got to go back for Dick," said Tom, after a painful pause. "No

use of going on without him."

"I hope he hasn't fallen over some cliff and hurt himself," returned his

younger brother.

"I don't see why he doesn't answer us, if he's all right," was the

unsatisfactory reply. "Come on, or the storm will overtake us before we

get down from the mountain and we'll be soaked by the time we reach

home."

Side by side the brothers retraced their steps--a hard task, for it is

much easier to climb down a steep mountainside than to climb up.

To those who have read the previous volumes in this "Rover Boys Series,"

the two brothers just mentioned will need no special introduction. The

Rover boys were three in number, Dick being the oldest, fun-loving Tom

coming next, and Sam bringing up the rear. All were bright, lively,

up-to-date lads, and honest and manly to the core. They lived on a farm

called Valley Brook, in New York state,--a beautiful spot owned by their

uncle, Randolph Rover, and his wife, Martha. Their father, Anderson

Rover, also lived at the farm when at home, but he was away a great deal

on business.

From the farm the boys had been sent, some years before, to Putnam Hall,

an ideal place of learning, of which we shall learn more as our tale

proceeds. What the lads did there on their arrival has already been

related in "The Rover Boys at School," the first volume of this series.

A short term at Putnam Hall was followed by a trip on the ocean, and

then a long journey to the jungles of Africa, in search of Anderson

Rover, who had disappeared. Then came a grand outing out west, and

another outing on the great lakes, followed by some stirring adventures

in the mountains of New York state.

Coming from the mountains, the three youths had expected to go back to

Putnam Hall at once, but fate ordained otherwise and they were cast away

in the Pacific Ocean, as related in "The Rover Boys on Land and Sea."

They had a hard task of it getting home, and then returned to the school

and had some splendid times while in camp with the other cadets.

When vacation was once more at hand the boys soon solved the problem of

what to do. Their Uncle Randolph had taken a houseboat for debt. The

craft was located on the Ohio River, and it was resolved to make a trip

down the Mississippi.

"It will be the best ever!" Tom declared, and they started with much

enthusiasm, taking with them "Songbird" Powell, a school chum addicted

to the making of doggerel which he called poetry, Fred Garrison, a

plucky boy who had stood by them through thick and thin, and Hans

Mueller, a German youth who was still struggling with the mysteries of

the English tongue. With the boys went an old friend, Mrs. Stanhope, and

her sister, Mrs. Laning. With Mrs. Stanhope was her only daughter Dora,

whom Dick Rover considered the sweetest girl in the whole world, and

Mrs. Laning had with her two daughters, Grace and Nellie, especial

friends of Sam and Dick.

The trip on the houseboat proved a long and eventful one, and during

that time the boys and their company fell in with Dan Baxter, Lew Flapp

and several other enemies. On the Mississippi the craft was damaged, and

while it was being repaired the party took a trip inland, as related in

"The Rover Boys on the Plains." Then the houseboat was stolen, and what

this led to has been related in detail in "The Rover Boys in Southern

Waters." In that volume they brought to book several of the rascals who

had annoyed them, and they caused Dan Baxter to feel so ashamed of

himself that the bully made up his mind to reform.

Tired out from their long trip, the Rover boys were glad enough to get

back home again. For nearly a week their friends remained with them at

Valley Brook farm and then they departed, the Stanhopes and Lanings for

their homes and Fred, Hans and Songbird for Putnam Hall.

"Of course you're coming back to the Hall?" Fred had said on leaving.

"Coming back?" had been Tom's answer. "Why, you couldn't keep us away

with a Gatling gun!"

"To be sure we'll be back," answered Dick Rover.

"And we'll have the greatest times ever," chimed in Sam. "I am fairly

aching to see the dear old school again."

"And Captain Putnam, and all the rest," continued Tom.

"And have some fun, eh, Tom?" and Sam poked his fun-loving brother in

the ribs.

"Well, when we go back we've got to do some studying," Dick had put in.

"Do you know what father said yesterday?"

"No, what?" came simultaneously from his brothers.

"He said we were getting too old to go to Putnam Hall--that we ought to

be thinking of going to college, or of getting into business."

"Hum!" murmured Tom, and he became suddenly thoughtful.

"I know why he said that," said Sam, with a wink at his big brother. "He

knows how sweet Dick is on Dora, and----"

"Hi! you let up!" cried Dick, his face reddening. "It wasn't that at

all. We are getting pretty old for Putnam Hall, and you know it."

"It seems I'd never want to leave the dear old school," murmured Tom.

"Why, it's like a second home to us. Think of all the jolly times we've

had there--and the host of friends we've made."

"And the enemies," added Sam. "Don't forget them, or they may feel

slighted."

"Dan Baxter was our worst enemy in that school, and he is going to

reform, Sam."

"Perhaps. I won't feel sure of it until I really see it," answered the

youngest Rover.

"By the way, I got a postal from Dan to-day," said Dick. "He is in

Philadelphia, and working for a carpet manufacturer."

"Well, if he's gone to work, that's a good sign," said Tom.

On their arrival at the farm the boys had been met by their father, but

now Anderson Rover had gone away on a business trip which was to last

for several days. As usual, he left the lads in charge of his brother

and the boys' aunt.

"Now just take it easy for awhile," was Mr. Rover's advice, on leaving.

"Rest up all you can, and then, when you go back to the school, you'll

feel as bright as a dollar."

"Silver or paper, dad?" asked Tom, mischievously.

"Now, Tom----"

"Oh, I know what you mean, dad, and I'll be as quiet as a mule with a

sandbag tied to his tail," answered the fun-loving offspring.

The day after Anderson Rover's departure from the farm was quiet enough,

but on the morning following the boys' uncle received a letter in the

mail which seemed to trouble him not a little.

"I must attend to this matter without delay," said Randolph Rover to his

wife.

"What is wrong, Randolph?"

"I don't think I can explain to you, Martha. It's about those traction

company bonds I purchased a few months ago."

"Those you paid ten thousand dollars for?"

"Yes."

"What about them?"

"As I said before, I can't explain--it is rather a complicated affair."

"They are yours, aren't they, Randolph?"

"Oh, yes. But----"

"Aren't they worth what you gave for them?"

"I hope so."

"Can't you find out and make sure?"

"That is what I am going to do," replied Randolph Rover, and heaved a

deep sigh. As my old readers know, he was a very retired individual,

given to scientific research, especially in regard to farming, and knew

little about business.

"If you've been swindled in any way, you must go after the men who sold

you the bonds," said Mrs. Rover. "We cannot afford to lose so much

money."

"I don't believe I've been swindled--at least, if I have, I think the

party who sold me the bonds will make them good, Martha. I'll know all

about it to-morrow," answered Randolph Rover, and there the conversation

came to an end.