file which includes the original illustrations.
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      or






THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS

or, A Hunt for Fun and Fortune

by

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

Author of "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," ETC.

1902






[Illustration: DINNER ON THE WAY.--_Frontis_.
_Rover Boys in the Mountains_.]




BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER;
Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat.

THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP;
Or, The Rivals of Pine Island.

THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA;
Or, The Crusoes of Seven Islands.

THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS;
Or, A Hunt for Fun and Fortune.

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;
Or, The Secret of the Island Cave.

THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST;
Or, The Search for a Lost Mine.

THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE;
Or, Stirring Adventures in Africa.

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN;
Or, A Chase for a Fortune.

THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL;
Or, The Cadets of Putnam Hall.


12mo, finely illustrated and bound in cloth.
Price, per volume, 60 cents.





CONTENTS.

     I. THE BOYS OF PUTNAM HALL

    II. A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST

   III. TOM ON A TOUR OF DISCOVERY

    IV. DORMITORY NUMBER TWO

     V. A SCENE IN THE SCHOOLROOM

    VI. NEWS OF AN OLD ENEMY

   VII. SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE

  VIII. JASPER GRINDER IS DISMISSED

    IX. A RACE ON THE ICE, AND WHAT FOLLOWED

     X. THE END OF THE TERM

    XI. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

   XII. THE BRASS-LINED MONEY CASKET

  XIII. THE HEART OF THE ADIRONDACKS

   XIV. THE START UP THE RIVER

    XV. WILD TURKEYS

   XVI. ON THE WRONG TRAIL

  XVII. AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY

 XVIII. IN THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY

   XIX. DICK AND THE WILDCAT

    XX. BEAR POND AT LAST

   XXI. A PAIR OF PRISONERS

  XXII. JASPER GRINDER TRIES TO MAKE TERMS

 XXIII. THE BLACK BEAR

  XXIV. TOGETHER AGAIN

   XXV. SNOWED IN

  XXVI. AN UNWELCOME COMRADE

 XXVII. BRINGING DOWN TWO BEARS

XXVIII. TWO FAILURES

  XXIX. JASPER GRINDER AND THE WOLVES

   XXX. A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH--CONCLUSION




INTRODUCTION.


My dear boys: "The Rover Boys in the Mountains" is a complete story in
itself, but forms the sixth volume of the "Rover Boys Series for Young
Americans."

This series of books for wide-awake American lads was begun several
years ago with the publication of "The Rover Boys at School." At that
time the author had in mind to write not more than three volumes,
relating the adventures of Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover at Putnam Hall, "On
the Ocean," and "In the Jungle," but the publication of these books
immediately called for a fourth, "The Rover Boys Out West," and then a
fifth, "The Rover Boys on the Great Lakes." Still my young friends did
not appear to be satisfied, and so I now present to them this sixth
volume, which relates the stirring adventures of the three Rover boys in
the Adirondacks, whither they had gone to solve the mystery of a certain
brass-lined money casket found by them on an island in Lake Huron.

In writing this volume I have had a double purpose in view; not only to
pen a tale which might prove pleasing to all boys, but one which might
likewise give them a fair idea of the wonderful resources and natural
beauty of this section of the United States. Ours is a wonderful
country, and none of us can learn too much concerning it.

Again thanking my young friends for their kindness in the past, I place
this volume in their hands, trusting they will find it as much to their
liking as those which have preceded it.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.




THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS.




CHAPTER I.

THE BOYS OF PUTNAM HALL.


"Hurrah, boys, the lake is frozen over! We'll be sure to have good
skating by to-morrow afternoon!"

"That's fine news, Tom," came from Sam Rover. "I've been fairly aching
for a skate ever since that cold snap of two weeks ago."

"We'll have to start up some skating matches if good skating does really
turn up," put in Dick Rover, who had just joined his two brothers in the
gymnasium attached to Putnam Hall. "Don't you remember those matches we
had last year?"

"Certainly, Dick," answered Tom Rover. "Didn't I win one of the silver
medals?"

"Gracious! but what a lot has happened since then," said Sam, who was
the youngest of the trio. "We've gotten rid of nearly all of our
enemies, and old Crabtree is in jail and can't bother Mrs. Stanhope or
Dora any more."

"We didn't get rid of Dan Baxter," remarked Dick. "He gave us the slip
nicely."

"Do you think he'll dare to bother us again, Dick?" questioned Sam
anxiously.

"I hope not, but I'm not certain, Sam. The Baxters are a bad lot, as all
of us know, and as Dan grows older he'll be just as wicked as his
father, and maybe worse."

"What a pity a fellow like Dan can't turn over a new leaf," came from
Tom Rover. "He's bright enough in his way, and would make a first-rate
chap."

"It's not in the blood," went on Dick. "We'll have to keep our eyes
open, that's all. If anything, Dan is probably more angry at us than
ever, for he believes we were the sole means of his father being put in
prison."

"Old Baxter deserved all he got," murmured Sam.

"So he did."

"Well, if Dan Baxter ever bothers me he'll catch it warm," came from
Tom. "I shan't attempt to mince matters with him. Everybody at this
school knows what a bully he was, and they know, too, what a rascal he's
been since he left. So I say, let him beware!" And so bringing the
conversation to an end for the time being, Tom Rover ran across the
gymnasium floor, leaped up and grasped a turning-bar stationed there,
and was soon going through a number of exercises recently taught to him
by the new "gym" teacher.

"Gracious, but Tom is getting to be a regular circus gymnast!" cried
Sam, as he watched his brother in admiration. "Just see what beautiful
turns he is making."

"Humph! that aint so wonderful," came from someone at Sam's elbow, and
turning the youngest Rover found himself close to Billy Tubbs, a short,
stocky youth who had entered Putnam Hall at the opening of the fall
term. Tubbs was a boy of rich parentage, and while he was not
particularly a bully, he considered himself of great importance and
vastly superior to the majority of his associates.

"All right, Tubby; if it isn't so wonderful, just you jump up and do
it," returned Sam coldly.

"Look here, how many times have I told you not to call me Tubby!" burst
out the rich youth. "I don't like it at all."

"Then what shall we call you?" asked Sam innocently. "Tubblets?"

"No, I don't want you to call me Tubblets either. My name is
Tubbs--William Philander Tubbs."

"Gosh! Am I to say all that whenever I want to address you?" demanded
Sam, with a pretended gasp for breath.

"I don't see why you shouldn't. It's my name."

"But Tubby--I mean Tubblets--no, Willander Philliam Tubbs--the name is
altogether too long. Why, supposin' you were standing on a railroad
track looking east, and an express train was coming from the west at the
rate of seventy-five miles an hour, and it got to within a hundred yards
of you when I discovered your truly horrible peril, and I should start
to warn you of the aforesaid truly horrible peril, take my word for it,
before I could utter such an elongated personal handle as that, you'd be
struck and distributed along that track for a distance of a mile and a
quarter. No, Tubby, my conscience wouldn't allow it--really it
wouldn't." And Sam shook his head seriously.

"See here, what are you giving me?" roared Tubbs wrathfully. "Don't you
worry about my standing on a railroad track and asking you to call me
off." And then he added, with a red face, as a laugh went up from half a
dozen students standing near: "William Philander Tubbs is my name, and I
shan't answer to any other after this."

"Good for you Washtubs!" came from a boy in the rear of the crowd.

"I'd stick to that resolution, by all means, Buttertubs," came from the
opposite side of the crowd.

And then one older youth, who was given to writing songs, began to sing
softly:


    "Rub-a-dub-dub!
    One man in a tub,
      And who do you think it is,
    It's William Philander,
    Who's got up his dander,
      And isn't he mad! Gee whizz!"


The doggerel, gotten up on the spur of the moment, struck the fancy of
fully a score of boys, big and little, and in an instant all were
singing it over and over again, at the top of their lungs, and at this
those who did not sing began to laugh uproariously.

"I say, what's it all about?" demanded Tom, as he slid from the
turning-bar.

"Songbird Powell has composed a comic opera in Tubby's honor," answered
Larry Colby, one of the Rover boys' chums. "I guess he's going to have
it put on the stage after the holidays, with Tubby as leading man."

"See here, I won't have this!" roared the rich youth, waving his hand
wildly first at one boy and then another. "I don't want you to make up
any songs about me."

"Songbird won't charge you anything," put in Fred Garrison, another of
the students. "He's a true poet, and writes for nothing. You ought to
feel highly honored."

"Make a speech of thanks, that's a good fellow," put in George Granbury,
another student.

"It's an outrage!" shouted Tubbs, his face growing redder each instant.
"I won't stand it."

"All right, we won't charge you for sitting on it," came from the back
of the crowd.

"My right name is----"

"Barrel, but they call me Tubbs for short," finished another student.
"Hurrah, Tubby is discovered at last."

"Don't blush, Washtub! you don't look half as pretty as when you're
pale."

"If you feel warm, Buttertub, go out and sit on the thin ice. It will
soon cool you off," came from Fred Garrison.

"I'll cool you off, Garry!" burst out the rich youth, and made a wild
dash at his tormentor. But somebody put out a foot and the tormented boy
stumbled headlong, at which the crowd set up another shout, and then
sang louder than ever,


    "Rub-a-dub-dub!
    One man in a tub!"


"I say, who tripped me up!" gasped Tubbs, as soon as he could scramble
up. "Tell me who did it, and I'll soon settle with him."

"Who rolled over the buttertub?" asked Tom solemnly. "One peanut reward
for the first correct answer to this absorbing puzzle. Please don't all
raise your hands at once."

"I believe you did it, Tom Rover!" bellowed the rich youth.

"I? Never, Tubby, my dear boy. I never rolled over a buttertub in my
life. You've got the wrong number. Kindly ring the bell next door."

"Then it was Sam, and I'll fix him for it, see if I don't!"

"No, it wasn't Sam. He never touched a washtub in his life."

"I say it was Sam," cried Tubbs, who was almost beside himself with
rage. "And I'm going to teach him a lesson. There, Sam Rover, how do you
like that?"

As the rich youth finished, he caught the youngest Rover by the shoulder
with his left hand and with his right gave Sam a slanting blow on the
cheek.

"Stop! I didn't trip you!" exclaimed Sam; and then as Tubbs aimed
another blow at him he ducked and broke loose and hit out in return. His
blow was harder and more truly aimed than he had anticipated, and it
took Tubbs directly on the nose. A spurt of blood followed, accompanied
by a yell of pain, and the rich youth fell back.

"Oh! oh! My nose!"

"You brought it on yourself," retorted Sam. "I didn't----"

"Stop! stop! Boys, what does this mean?" came in a sudden stern voice,
and in a moment more the two combatants found themselves confronted by
Jasper Grinder, a new teacher. "Fighting, eh? How often, must you be
told that such disgraceful conduct is not allowed here? You come with
me, and I'll make an example of both of you."

And in a moment more the two lads found themselves prisoners in Jasper
Grinder's strong grasp and being marched out of the gymnasium toward the
school building proper.




CHAPTER II.

A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST.


As old readers of this series of books know, the Rover boys were three
in number, Dick being the oldest, fun-loving Tom next, and small but
sturdy Sam bringing up the rear of a trio of as bright and up-to-date a
set of American lads as could be found anywhere.

The home of the lads was with their father, Anderson Rover, and their
Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha, on a beautiful farm at Valley Brook, in
the heart of New York State. From this farm they had been sent to Putnam
Hall, a semi-military institute of learning situated near Cedarville, on
Cayuga Lake. This was while their father had mysteriously disappeared
while on an exploring tour into the heart of Africa.

At Putnam Hall the Rover boys made a number of friends, some of whom
have already been mentioned in these pages, and they likewise made
several enemies. Chief among the enemies were Josiah Crabtree, a
dictatorial teacher, and Dan Baxter, a bully who had done his best to
make them "knuckle under" to him.

Since those first days at school many changes had taken place; so many,
in fact, that but a few can be noted here. Crabtree had been discharged,
and was now in prison for trying to hypnotize a lady into marrying him.
This lady was Mrs. Stanhope, the mother of Dora Stanhope, who lived in
the vicinity of Putnam Hall, and a girl of whom Dick Rover thought a
good deal.

It had not taken the Rover boys long to discover that not only the
dictatorial old teacher, but also the bully, Dan Baxter, were rascals,
and, what was more, that Arnold Baxter, the father of Dan, was an old
enemy to their father. Following this had come a journey to Africa and
into the jungle in search of Mr. Rover, and this mission accomplished,
the Rover boys had gone West to establish a mining claim in which their
father was interested. This claim was disputed by the Baxters, and when
the Rovers won out and went for a pleasure trip on the Great Lakes, the
Baxters did their best to bring Dick, Tom, and Sam to grief. But instead
of accomplishing their purpose they failed once more, and Arnold Baxter
was returned to the prison from which he had escaped some months before.
What had become of Dan Baxter nobody knew, but the Rover boys were soon
to learn, as we will see in the chapters which follow.

After their stirring adventures on the Great Lakes, and especially on
Needle Point Island in Lake Huron, the Rover boys were glad enough to
get back to dear old Putnam Hall and to their studies, even though the
latter were something of a "grind," as Tom declared. They all loved
Captain Victor Putnam, the owner of the institution, and it may be added
here that the captain thought as much of the Rovers as he did of any of
the scholars under him, and that was a good deal.

The coming of Jasper Grinder as a new under-teacher was a shock to many
of the boys at the school. The principal teacher under Captain Putnam
was Professor George Strong, who was stern but fair, and almost as well
liked as the captain himself, and there were now several others, all of
whom were on a good footing with the scholars. What had induced the
captain to take in such a dictatorial and harsh master as Jasper Grinder
was a mystery which nobody could explain.

As a matter of fact, Grinder had come into the Hall under a
misrepresentation. He was from the Northwest, and claimed to have been a
professor at a well-known California college. It was true he had once
taught at this college, but his record was far from being as
satisfactory as Captain Putnam had been led to believe. It was true he
was a learned man,--quite the opposite of Josiah Crabtree, who had been
wise only in looks,--but it was also true that he was a high-strung,
passionate man, given to strange fits of anger, and that he was a miser,
never spending a cent that was not absolutely required of him.

"I say, let me go!" cried Sam, as Jasper Grinder almost dragged him
across the parade ground between the gymnasium and the school building.
"I am not to blame for this row."

"Silence! I won't listen to a word until we are in the office,"
commanded the irate teacher.

"He started the whole thing," came from Tubbs. "He called me Tubby, and
got the crowd to singing a song about me."

"I had nothing to do with the song, and all the boys have called you
Tubby since you came here," went on Sam.

"Be quiet, I tell you!" cried Jasper Grinder, and clutched the arm of
each so tightly that Tubbs set up a yell of pain. "I am master here, and
I will show you how to mind."

At these words Sam's heart gave a sudden drop. It was Friday afternoon,
and the next day would be, as usual, a holiday. Taking advantage of this
fact Professor Strong had gone to Buffalo to visit a sick relative
residing there, and only an hour before Captain Putnam had been driven
away behind his team to visit an old army friend living at Fordview,
twelve miles away. Professor Strong would not return until Monday
morning, and it was more than likely the captain would remain away over
night. During this interval Jasper Grinder would be in absolute charge
of the academy and the pupils.

In a few minutes the teacher had led the way into Captain Putnam's
office, and with a final pinch of their arms, which made Tubbs cry out
once more with pain, he flung the pair away from him.

"Don't you know it is disgraceful to fight?" he thundered.

"We weren't fighting--that is, not exactly," said Tubbs meekly.

"Silence! I saw the whole affair. Why, your nose is still bleeding."

"I don't care. It was Rover's fault, Mr. Grinder. He started the boys,
and they all began to make fun of me. He wouldn't stop----"

"And then you fought like a pair of young tigers. Disgraceful! I will
have to make an example of both of you."

"I'd like to see Captain Putnam about the matter," said Sam boldly.

At these words Jasper Grinder fairly trembled with suppressed anger.
"The captain is not here, and I shall deal with you as you deserve," he
said.

Tubbs sank down on a chair and began to attend to his nose with his
handkerchief. Sam remained standing, but his whole manner showed that he
did not consider he was being treated fairly.

"What both of you boys deserve is a good thrashing," said the teacher,
after a pause.

At this Sam looked his surprise. Thrashing was not permitted at the
Hall. The worst that could happen to a student was to place him in
solitary confinement over night, after a supper of bread and water.

"As I am not permitted by the rules to thrash you, I shall put you in
the stone cell over night," went on Jasper Grinder.

"Together?" questioned Tubbs, from behind his blood-stained
handkerchief.

"No. You shall go to the cell; and Rover shall be placed in the empty
storeroom next to it."

"The cell is ice cold, and so is the storeroom," protested Sam.

"It is not my fault that you must be placed there, and you will have to
put up with the cold," was the curt answer.

"I shan't stay in a cold room!" cried Sam. "It's not fair."

"You shall, and I'll put you there myself!" ejaculated Jasper Grinder.
"Tubbs, don't dare to stir until I return."

So speaking, the unreasonable teacher caught hold of Sam once more, and
despite the youngest Rover's struggles hustled him out of the office and
through a long hallway, at the end of which was located the storeroom he
had mentioned. The key to the room was in the lock.

"Now stay there until you are willing to behave yourself," said Jasper
Grinder, and shoved Sam into the apartment. "For your impudence to me
you shall go without your supper to-night."

"That remains to be seen," replied Sam, but in such a low voice that the
teacher did not hear. Then the door was closed and locked, and Jasper
Grinder hurried away with the key in his pocket, to make poor Tubbs a
prisoner in the stone cell.

"Here's a pretty mess, and no mistake," thought Sam, as he sank on a
bench, the only article of furniture the room contained. "I'm being
treated worse than Tom was treated by old Crabtree when first we came to
the Hall. And all because I called Tubby by his nickname! If this keeps
on a fellow won't dare to breathe out loud when Grinder is around. What
a passionate fellow he is at times! He glares at a fellow as if he was
going to eat you up!"

While Sam remained on the bench he heard footsteps in the hallway and a
howling protest from Tubbs. Then he heard the rich youth thrown into the
stone cell next to the storeroom and left to his fate.

It was nipping cold, and, even with the window tightly closed and
nailed over with slats, Sam could not endure it to remain on the bench
long. Leaping up he began to stamp his feet and slap his arms across his
chest to get them warm. Soon he heard Tubbs doing the same thing.

"I guess he's worse off than I am," thought the youngest Rover. "That
stone cell hasn't any bench in it any more, and it must be twice as cold
and damp as this room. It's a shame to put anyone there in this freezing
weather. I don't believe Captain Putnam would stand for it if he was
here."

He tried to speak to Tubbs, but the wall between was too thick, and he
soon gave up the idea. Then he continued to stamp his feet and slap his
arms, and even went through an imaginary prize fight, in order to warm
up. It was now growing dark, and with the darkness the atmosphere of the
storeroom became colder and colder.




CHAPTER III.

TOM ON A TOUR OF DISCOVERY.


Poor Sam was removed from the gymnasium so quickly that neither Dick nor
Tom had time to protest, and when they reached the main door of the
school building they found it shut and locked in their faces.

"Say, this is an outrage," burst out Tom. "Sam wasn't to blame for that
fight. He didn't trip Tubby up."

"I know he didn't," put in Fred Garrison, who had come up also. "It was
Larry Mason. But I shan't give Larry away."

"Neither will I."

"Mr. Grinder always carries matters with a high hand when the captain is
away," put in Dick. "And he gets red-hot at the least little thing."

"He doesn't deserve to be a teacher here," came from George Granbury,
who had followed the others. "To my way of thinking, he's worse than old
Crabtree was, even though he is perhaps better educated."

"I'd like to know what he is going to do with Sam," said Dick, with a
serious look on his face. "Sam has made such a good record this term I
hate to see it broken."

"He'll do something to punish 'em both," came from Fred. "It will be too
bad, though, if he puts 'em in the stone cell. They'll freeze to death
such a night as this is going to be."

"I won't allow it," ejaculated Dick. "Why, that would be inhuman!"

"I'm going in by the back way and find out what's going on," said Tom,
and promptly disappeared around the corner of the Hall. He was soon
inside the building, but to his chagrin found every door leading to
Captain Putnam's private apartments and to the stone cell and the
storeroom locked. Having gone through the mess-rooms and through several
of the classrooms, he rejoined the others, who had gathered around the
fire in what was called the students' general living room,--an apartment
set aside during cold weather solely for the boys' comfort, where they
might read, study, play quiet games, or do similar things in order to
make themselves feel at home.

"How did you make out?" was the question immediately put.

"Made out, and that's all," said Tom gloomily.

"What do you mean?" came from Dick.

"Every blessed door is locked, and so are the windows. I can't get
within two rooms of the office."

"Did you hear anything?" asked George.

"Yes; I heard a noise like somebody stamping."

"Where did it come from?"

"I think it came from the stone cell. But it sounded like somebody
stamping on wood."

"Perhaps it came from the empty storeroom," cried Dick. "More than
likely Mr. Grinder has placed Sam and Tubby there. I wish he'd come
here. I'd question him."

"Your wish is gratified," whispered George. "Here he comes now!"

The door at the far end of the room had opened, and now Jasper Grinder
came forth in a hurry. He was about to pass to another room at the rear
of the school when Dick stopped him.

"Mr. Grinder, may I ask what you have done with Sam?" he asked.

"I have placed him in confinement until Captain Putnam returns," was the
snappy answer.

"Did you put him in the stone cell?"

"It is not for you to question me, Rover."

"In this cold weather it isn't fit for anybody to be in that stone cell.
Sam may catch his death of cold."

"I am the best judge of my own actions, Rover, and need no advice from
you. Your brother has broken the rules of this school, and must suffer
for so doing."

"It's inhuman to make a fellow freeze," burst out Tom. "I don't believe
Captain Putnam would do that."

"Not another word from either of you," came sharply from the teacher.
"Your brother will not freeze to death, but the cold may teach him a
useful lesson."

"If he gets sick, I'll get my father to hold you legally responsible,"
went on Tom.

At these words the teacher turned slightly pale, a vision of a lawsuit
with damages to pay floating across his miserly mind.

"To ease your mind Rover, let me say I'll see to it that he doesn't get
sick," he said, and before Tom or Dick could question him further he
passed out of the room.

"If he isn't the worst yet!" burst out Fred, who had listened with
interest to what was said.

"I shan't stand it," returned Tom. "Will you, Dick?"

Dick, older and more thoughtful, mused for a moment.

"I'd certainly like to help Sam," he said. "But we must be careful and
not get into trouble with Captain Putnam."

"I'm going to find my way to the door of the cell somehow," went on Tom.

"Old Grinder left that door unlocked when he came out," said George,
who had joined them.

"Good! I'm going through before he comes back."

As good as his word, Tom slipped past the various tables at which the
students were sitting, until he reached the door which connected with
Captain Putnam's private apartments.

Usually this portion of the Hall was forbidden ground to the scholars.
But Tom had been inside the rooms a number of times, so knew the way
well. Passing through a private sitting room and a small library, he
came to a narrow hall connecting with the main hall, at the end of which
were the stone cell and the empty storeroom.

He was just about to step into the main hall when he heard somebody
coming down from the floor above. The party was Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper, a good-natured lady upon whom Tom had played many a joke in
the past.

"Gosh! I mustn't be discovered!" he muttered, and looked around for some
place to hide. Under the staircase was a recess containing a number of
hooks with cloaks and overcoats, and into this he crowded, drawing one
of the overcoats so as to completely cover the upper portion of his
body.

Hardly had he gained the hiding place when Mrs. Green reached the lower
hallway. Tom heard her pause at the foot of the stairs, strike a match,
and light the big swinging lamp hanging from overhead.

"I might as well mend that overcoat now, while the captain is away," Tom
heard her murmur to herself. "It's only a buttonhole that's torn out,
and a tailor would charge him four times what it's worth--and he always
so good at Christmas-time!"

"She's looking out for her present," thought Tom, with a grin. "But
that's none of my affair. If only she isn't after this overcoat!"

He heard the housekeeper approach the recess and pause for a moment in
front of it. He hardly dared to breathe, fearing that he would surely be
discovered.

"Well, I declare, if he hasn't gone and worn the very overcoat itself!"
he heard Mrs. Green cry. "Just like him, and two good coats a-hanging
here. Well, I suppose it's the warmest he's got, and he'll have a cold
ride back, especially if he returns to-night." And so speaking Mrs.
Green hurried away.

"A narrow shave, and no mistake," murmured Tom to himself, and listened
until he heard a distant door close. Then all was quiet, save the
distant murmur of the student's voices, coming from the sitting room.

Without losing more time, Tom left the recess and hurried to the door of
the stone cell.

"Sam!" he called out softly. "Are you in there?"

"No; _I'm_ in here," came in the voice of Tubbs. "And--I'm almost frozen
to--to--death." The last words with a chattering of teeth that told only
too plainly how the rich youth was suffering.

"Sorry for you, Tubby, really I am. But where is Sam?"

"In the--the storeroom. Oh, Rover, won't you please ask Mr. Grinder to
let me out? I'll freeze to death here, I know I will!"

"I'll do what I can. But he won't let you out. He isn't that kind of a
fellow."

"You might buy him off, Rover. I've heard he's a regular miser, and I'll
give you five dollars of my Christmas money if he'll let me go."

"I'll see what I can do after I've talked to Sam." And so speaking Tom
hurried to the door of the storeroom.

"Tom, is it really you?" cried the youngest Rover joyfully.

"Yes. How are you making out?"

"Horribly. I believe my feet and ears are already frozen!"

"Grinder is a beast to put you in here, Sam."

"I know that well enough. He won't give me any supper, I'm afraid."

"Then I'll try to get some supper to you."

"Is the key of this door on a hook outside?"

"No. If it was I'd have the door open long ago."

Sam gave a deep sigh, and then began to dance around once more to keep
warm.

"Perhaps I can find a key to fit this lock," went on Tom. "I know there
are keys in some of the other doors."

He ran off and soon returned with four keys, which he tried, one after
another. The third was a fair fit, and with an effort the bolt of the
lock was forced back.

"Hurrah! the door's open!" exclaimed Tom. "Now you can go where you
please."

"Then you wouldn't stay here?" questioned Sam anxiously.

"Not much! I'd hide in one of the dormitories, and I wouldn't show
myself until Captain Putnam gets back. I'll see to it that you get
something to eat, and when the captain returns you can tell him that if
you had remained in this place all night you would have been frozen to
death."

Sam was willing enough to take Tom's advice, and was soon in the
hallway. Then the door was locked again.

"It's heartless to leave poor Tubby in that cell," said Tom. "Let's get
him out too."

"All right--if you can find a key to fit the lock."

Losing no time, the brothers tried one key after another in the lock to
the door of the stone cell.

"Who's that?" came in a chatter from Tubbs.

"Tom Rover," was the answer. "I've just released Sam, and now we are
going to release you, if we can."

"Good for you Rover."

"There she goes!" cried Tom a few seconds later, and in a moment more
the door was opened and Tubbs stood in the hallway with the Rover boys.

Tubbs was about to say something, when Sam suddenly caught him by the
arm.

"Hush!" he whispered. "Somebody is coming! I hope it isn't old
Grinder!"




CHAPTER IV.

DORMITORY NUMBER TWO.


For the moment none of the three students knew what to do. They felt
that if the approaching personage should be Jasper Grinder there would
certainly be "a warm time of it," to say the least.

Yet the approaching man was not the teacher, but Peleg Snuggers, the man
of all work around the Hall, a good-natured individual, well liked by
nearly all the students. Snuggers was in the habit of taking many a joke
from the scholars, yet he rarely retaliated, contenting himself with the
saying that "boys will be boys."

"It's Snuggers!" whispered Sam, after a painful pause. "What shall we
do?"

"Perhaps we can get him to keep quiet," returned Tom, also in a low
voice. "He's a pretty good sort."

"Do--don't trust him," put in Tubbs, in a trembling voice. "If I'm put
back in that cell I'll die; I know I will!"

"I have it," said Tom, struck by a sudden idea. "Into the storeroom with
you, quick!

"But he may be coming after me!" said Sam.

"Never mind--I'll fix it. Be quick, or the game will be up!"

On tiptoe the three students hurried into the storeroom and Tom shut the
door noiselessly. Then he slipped the key he still held into the lock
and turned it.

"Now groan, Sam," he whispered. "Pretend to be nearly dead, and ask
Peleg to bring Grinder here."

Catching the idea, Sam began to moan and groan most dismally, in the
midst of which Peleg Snuggers came up.

"Poor boy, I reckon as how he's nearly stiff from the cold," murmured
Snuggers. "And this bread and water won't warm him up nohow. I've most a
mind to bring him some hot tea on the sly, and a sandwich, too."

The general utility man tried to insert a key in the lock, but failed on
account of the key on the inside.

"Oh! oh!" moaned Sam. "Help! help!"

"What's the row?" questioned Snuggers.

"Is that you, Snuggers?"

"Yes, Master Rover."

"I'm most frozen to death! My feet and ears are frozen stiff already!"

"It's a shame!"

"Tell Mr. Grinder to come here."

"He won't come, I'm afraid. He just sent me with some bread and water
for you and for Master Tubbs."

"Water? Do you want me to turn into ice? Oh, Snuggers, please send him.
I know I can't stand this half an hour longer. I'll be a corpse!"

"All right, I'll fetch him," answered Snuggers. And setting down the
pitcher of water and loaf of bread he had been carrying he hurried off.

"Now is our time!" whispered Tom, as soon as he was certain the man of
all work was gone.

"But which way shall we go?" questioned Sam

"Follow me, and I'll show you."

Leaving the storeroom, Tom led the way through the semi-dark hallway and
up the stairs. At the rear of the upper hall was a bedroom reserved for
the captain's private guests.

"Come in here for the present," said Tom. "And when I tap on the window
unlock the sash and be prepared to climb from the window to the next,
which connects with Dormitory No. 2."

"Good for you!" said Sam. "But how are you going to get to the
dormitory?"

"Leave that to me."

Leaving Sam and Tubbs to take care of themselves, Tom left the bedroom
and walked out in the upper hall once more.

He was just in time to hear Peleg Snuggers returning with Jasper
Grinder.

"It's all nonsense," he heard, in the teacher's harsh voice. "The cold
will do both of the boys good."

"He said he was half frozen," insisted Snuggers. "If anything
serious-like happened to them, I dunno what the captain would say."

"I know nothing serious will happen," growled Jasper Grinder. "He was
merely trying to work upon your sympathies. Both could stay there till
morning easily enough."

"The wretch!" murmured Tom to himself. "I'm mighty glad I let them out!"

A few seconds later he heard a cry of dismay.

"Rover is gone!"

"Gone?" came from Snuggers.

"Yes, gone. Snuggers did you leave the door unlocked?"

"No, sir, I couldn't get the key in the lock. Here it is." And the
general utility man produced it.

"Ah! here is a key on the inside. What can this mean?"

"I don't know, sir. I left him a-groanin' only a few minutes ago."

"It is very strange." Jasper Grinder gazed around the empty storeroom.
"Did you hear anything from Master Tubbs?"

"No, sir."

The teacher stepped out of the storeroom and made his way to the stone
cell.

"He is gone too!" he ejaculated.

"Really, sir, did you say 'gone'?" cried Peleg Snuggers, in dismay.

"Yes. This is--ah--outrageous, Snuggers. Where can they be?"

"I'm sure I don't know, sir. Master Rover got out mighty quick."

"Look for them among the students, and if you find them bring them to me
at once."

"I will, sir."

As soon as Peleg Snuggers had departed Jasper Grinder looked around the
storeroom and the stone cell to learn if he could find any trace of the
boys.

This gave Tom the chance to slip through the captain's private rooms and
into the students' quarters.

"Well, how did you make out?" was Dick's impatient question. "You've
been gone an age."

"Come with me and I'll tell you," said Tom, and taking his brother and
several chums aside he related what had occurred.

"Keep them there all night, and on bread and water!" cried Dick. "It is
awful. I'm sure the captain won't stand for it."

"To be sure he won't," came from Fred Garrison. "But what are you going
to do next?"

"Let them in the dormitory window."

Tom led the way upstairs and into Dormitory No. 2. There were four
windows in a row, and six beds, three occupied by the Rovers and the
others by Fred, Larry, and George Granbury.

Going to the corner window Tom threw it wide open. It was growing dark
outside, for it was now half-past six. As he stuck his head out of the
window there was the rattle of a drum down in the mess hall.

"Supper time!" cried Fred.

"You go down," said Tom. "No use of all of us being late."

"No, you go down," answered Dick. "You've run risk enough. Besides, if
you are absent from the crowd too long somebody may grow suspicious of
you. I'll help Sam and Tubbs to a safe hiding-place."

"Find out if they are there first--and lock the door after we are gone."

Leaning out of the window Dick tapped on the next glass. At once Sam
showed himself.

"It's quite a climb, but I reckon I can make it," said the youngest
Rover.

Waiting to hear no more, Tom hurried below, followed by Fred, and
mingled with the crowd of students entering the mess hall.

Many of the boys were talking about the quarrel between Sam and Tubbs,
and all condemned the actions of Jasper Grinder.

"He ought to have set them to doing extra lessons; that would have been
punishment enough," said one of the big boys, who was captain of Company
A of the students for that term.

This opinion was that held by the majority. Several of the boys came to
Tom to learn what he had to say. But he merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Wait and we'll see what we will see," he said

"Rover's got a card up his sleeve, that's as sure as you're born," said
one of the students, and winked at Tom. But Tom only looked wise and
turned away.

When the students sat down to eat it was noticed that Dick's chair was
vacant.

"Master Thomas Rover, do you know anything of your brother Richard?"
asked an under-teacher.

"Perhaps he is having a talk with Mr. Grinder," said Tom.

"Oh!" Then the under-teacher noticed that Mr. Grinder's chair was also
vacant, and said no more.

While the boys were eating, Peleg Snuggers came to the door and looked
carefully about the mess hall.

"You won't find them here, Peleg," said Tom to himself. Then the man of
all work disappeared, and the supper continued as if nothing out of the
ordinary was happening.




CHAPTER V.

A SCENE IN THE SCHOOLROOM.


In the meantime, what of affairs in the dormitory? Was all going as
quietly as Tom had anticipated?

As soon as Tom went below Dick locked the door, then turned again to the
window. Sam was trying to climb from one room to the next, but could not
get a satisfactory hold.

"Here, give me your hand," cried Dick softly, and reaching forth he soon
helped his brother to a position of safety.

"Say, aint it dangerous?" asked Tubbs anxiously, as he gazed to the
ground, twenty feet below.

"You've got to run some risks, Tubbs," said Dick. "Quick, or you may be
too late."

Fearful of a fall, the rich youth put out one foot and a hand. Dick
tried to reach him, but was unable to do so.

"A little further, Tubbs," he said encouragingly.

[Illustration: A PERILOUS CLIMB.
_Rover Boys in the Mountains_.]

"I--I'm afraid I'll fall," was the trembling answer. Then the rich
youth let out a cry of alarm. "Somebody is coming!"

"Come," cried Dick, and reached out a trifle further. As Tubbs gave the
eldest Rover his fingers Dick hauled him from the window and literally
swung him into the dormitory. Then, as Tubbs landed in a heap on the
floor, Sam closed the window and locked it.

"Now you must clear out to another room!" cried Dick. "Whoever was
coming will find that window wide open, and guess you have escaped in
this direction."

"But where can we go to?" asked the rich youth.

"Go to Dormitory No. 6. Only young Adler is in there, and Hemmingway,
and they are on a vacation until after Christmas. The closet is a big
one, and you can both hide on the upper shelf. Quick! I'll bring you
some supper."

All three left the dormitory, and Sam and Tubbs scurried off in the
direction indicated. As for Dick, he lost no time in reaching the mess
hall.

"Sorry, sir," he said to the under-teacher. "The bell couldn't have rung
very loud."

"It rang as loud as usual," was the answer, and no more was said, the
teacher's head being just then full of other matters.

Glad to get off so easily, Dick lost no time in eating his supper. While
making way with the food he stowed a goodly portion in his pockets, in
a couple of spare napkins, and by some silent motions from Tom learned
that his brother was doing the same.

Just as the students were finishing the meal, Jasper Grinder came in and
walked down the aisles between the tables. He looked both angry and
perplexed. As he came close to Tom he paused.

"Excuse me, Mr. Grinder, but won't you let Sam out of the stone cell?"
asked Tom, to avoid being questioned.

"You be silent Rover," muttered the teacher, and passed on without
saying more.

After the supper hour it was usual for the students to have half an hour
to themselves, during which they might read, play games, or do as they
pleased. But now Mr. Grinder called them together in the main classroom.

"I wish to talk to you young gentlemen," said the teacher, when all were
seated.

"We're going to catch it now," whispered Tom to Dick. "Don't you give
the secret away."

"Indeed I won't," answered the eldest Rover. "I intend to lay the whole
case before Captain Putnam as soon as he returns."

"Silence!" thundered Jasper Grinder. "I want you boys to stop talking
instantly."

"I didn't say anything," murmured several in an undertone.

"Silence, I say!" repeated the master, and then all became so quiet that
the ticking of the clock could be heard distinctly.

The teacher gazed around at the scores of faces and looked more stem
than ever.

"I am going to question all of you separately, and I trust each of you
will tell the truth. The question is, Do you know what has become of
Samuel Rover and William Tubbs? or Do you know what they have done? I
shall start with the first boy. Hickley, what have you to say?"

"I don't know anything about them," answered the boy named Hickley.

"Brainard, do you know?"

"No, sir."

"Parkham?"

"I know they had a little set-to in the gymnasium, but that's all. The
whole thing was a friendly bout, I guess."

"I am the best judge of that. It was a disgraceful fight. What have you
to say, Griggs?"

"If you say it was disgraceful I suppose it was, sir. I thought it was
only a friendly dispute----"

"Stop! I want you to answer the original questions, yes, or no."

"No."

"No, what?"

"No, to both original questions."

"No, sir!" and Jasper Grinder stamped his foot.

"Oh! All right, sir. No, sir, to both questions, sir."

There was a titter at this, which caused Jasper Grinder to grow red in
the face.

"Boys, be quiet!" he shouted. "If you do not be still I will keep all of
you in to-morrow."

As this would have spoiled the chances for a good skate and some
exciting races, the boys immediately subsided. Then the questioning went
on until Dick Rover was reached.

"I don't know where Sam and Tubbs are now," said Dick. "Perhaps they are
frozen stiff."

"Did you aid them in escaping from the stone cell and the storeroom?"

"No, sir."

"Have you seen them since I placed them there?"

"Yes, I have," answered Dick boldly, seeing it was useless to beat about
the bush longer.

"Oh! Then you did aid them to escape?"

"Not from the stone cell and the storeroom. I met them after they had
escaped."

"Where did you see them last?"

"I decline to answer that question."

"Decline!" thundered Jasper Grinder.

"I do, sir. As soon as Captain Putnam arrives I shall lay this whole
matter before him, and learn if you have any authority for placing my
brother in a place where he is liable to catch a cold which may give him
pneumonia and be the cause of his death. As it is, my brother suffered a
great deal, and so did Tubbs, and if they get sick from it you may be
sure that you will be held legally accountable. It was an inhuman thing
to do."

As Dick finished there was a murmur, and then a number of the students
broke out into applause, while Tom clapped his hands as hard as he
could. Jasper Grinder stood at his desk dumbstruck, with his face
growing paler each instant.

"Silence! silence!" he exclaimed, when he could control his voice.
"Silence, I say, or I will cane you all! This is--is most unseemly--it
is--er--mutiny! Silence!"

"I mean just what I say, Mr. Grinder," went on Dick, when he could be
heard. "You are master here, and we are bound to obey you, in certain
things. But you shan't keep my brother in an icy room all night, and on
a supper of stale bread and cold water. Such treatment would almost make
a mule sick."

"Rover, will you be silent, or must I get the cane?" gasped Jasper
Grinder, almost beside himself with rage.

"If you get your cane, sir, you won't hit me more than once with it."

"Won't I? We'll see who is master here."

"My gracious! Is he really going to try to cane you, Dick!" exclaimed
Tom.

"I suppose he is," was the cool answer. "He is so angry he doesn't know
what he is doing."

Rushing from the classroom Jasper Grinder presently reappeared, carrying
a cane which looked as if it might hurt a good deal, if vigorously
applied.

Tom could not help but grin. Dick was almost as tall as the
school-teacher, and probably just as strong, and the idea of a caning
appeared ridiculous in the extreme.

Caning was not allowed at Putnam Hall, but evidently Jasper Grinder
meant to take matters in his own hands.

"Richard Rover, come up here," he thundered.

"What for, sir?"

"To receive the punishment you so richly deserve."

"Mr. Grinder, you haven't any right to cane me. It's against Captain
Putnam's rules."

"I don't care for the rules--I mean, you have acted in such an
outrageous manner that I must do whatever I think necessary to uphold
law and order."

"I am willing to stand whatever punishment Captain Putnam sees fit to
inflict. But I shall not take a caning from you."

"Won't you? We'll see."

As Jasper Grinder spoke he leaped from the platform and strode rapidly
toward the spot where Dick was standing.

The eldest Rover did not budge, but remained where he was, eying the
enraged school-teacher determinedly.

"Don't you dare to strike!" he said warningly, as the cane was raised
over his head.

"I will!" cried Jasper Grinder, and was about to bring the cane down
with all force when Tom caught it from behind and wrenched it from his
grasp.




CHAPTER VI.

NEWS OF AN OLD ENEMY.


Dick had not intended that the cane should hit him. He was prepared to
dodge. But he wanted to make certain that Jasper Grinder would really
try to carry out his ill-advised threat.

"Hi! give me that cane!" cried the schoolmaster, as he whirled around.

"I shall not," answered Tom, and began to run down one of the aisles to
the door.

Instantly Jasper Grinder made after him. But the boys had gathered in a
crowd, and it was with difficulty that the man could get through.

As Tom ran for one door Dick ran for another, and it was not long before
both met in a hallway leading to the mess hall and the dormitories.

"Dick, what shall we do next?" questioned Tom. "We can't stay here,
that's certain."

"We'll get out," answered Dick. "I think Mrs. Stanhope will keep us all
night."

"And if she won't, I know the Lanings will," said Tom, with a grin.

"We must let Sam know," went on Dick. "He can go along. I shan't come
back until Captain Putnam returns."

"Right you are."

Up the stairs they rushed, and into the dormitory where Sam and Tubbs
were in hiding.

"Sam!" called Dick, and the youngest Rover at once appeared.

"What's up now? What are you in such a hurry for?"

"Get your overcoat and hat, and come on. We are going to the Stanhopes
for the night. Here, Tubbs, is some supper," and Dick passed over what
he had in the napkins, while Tom did the same.

"Thanks," said the rich boy. "But--but must I stay here alone?"

"I don't think we can take you along," answered Dick. "But you want to
be careful. Old Grinder is as mad as a hornet. He was going to cane me
for helping you two. Come, Sam, there is no time to waste. Tubbs, you
had better let Fred Garrison know where you are. He's all right."

In a moment more Dick, Tom, and Sam were in their own room and putting
on their heavy overcoats and their hats. They lost no time, and as they
heard Jasper Grinder coming up one flight of stairs they ran down
another pair leading into the kitchen.

Here the servants, directed by Mrs. Green, were putting away what was
left of the students' supper.

"Oh, dear!" burst out the matron, on catching sight of the boys. "What
do you want here?"

"Good-by, Mrs. Green," said Dick. "Tell the captain when he comes that
we were driven away from the school by Mr. Grinder, and that we'll
return as soon as we learn that he is back." And before the housekeeper
could answer they opened the kitchen door and ran outside.

It was a dark night and the air was filled with snow, some of which was
already sifting lazily downward. But they knew the way well, so the want
of light did hot bother them. They crossed the parade ground on a run
and made directly for the road leading to the Stanhopes' cottage.

"I reckon it will be quite a surprise for Mrs. Stanhope and Dora," said
Tom, after they had told Sam of what had happened in the school-room.
"They won't be looking for us."

"I know they'll treat us well," said Dick.

"To be sure they will--especially after all we did for them on the
Lakes," put in Sam. "But let me tell you, I am curious to know how this
thing is going to end."

"I think Mr. Grinder will get the worst of it," returned Tom
confidently. "He must know he was doing wrong to put you in that icy
storeroom and poor Tubbs in the stone cell. How did you make out with
Tubbs in the closet?"

"Oh, he became quite friendly, and we decided to let the past drop. I
promised I wouldn't call him Tubby any more."

"That's fair," came from Dick. "He isn't such a bad sort."