THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE

Or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht

by

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

1909







INTRODUCTION.

My DEAR Boys: This is a complete tale in itself, but forms the
thirteenth volume of the "Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

This line of books was started some ten years ago with the publication
of the first three volumes, "The Rover Boys at School ... .. The Rover
Boys on the Ocean" and "The Rover Boys in the Jungle." At that time I
thought to end the series with a fourth volume provided the readers
wanted another. But with the publication of "The Rover Boys Out West,"
came a cry for "more!" and so I added "On the Great Lakes," "In the
Mountains," "In Camp," "On Land and Sea," "On the River," "On the
Plains," "In Southern Waters" and "On the Farm," where we last left
our friends.

For a number of years Tom, Dick and Sam have attended a military
academy, but now their school days at Putnam Hall are at an end, and
we find them getting ready to go to college. But before leaving home
for the higher seat of learning they take a remarkable cruise on a
steam yacht, searching for an island upon which it is said a large
treasure is hidden. They are accompanied on this trip by their father
and a number of friends, and have several adventures somewhat out of
the ordinary, and also a good bit of fun for there is bound to be fun
when Tom Rover is around. They lose themselves and lose their yacht,
and once some of them come pretty close to losing their lives, but in
the end--well, the story will tell the rest.

I cannot close without again thanking my many friends for all the nice
things they have said about the "Rover Boys" stories and the "Putnam
Hall" stories. I trust the present volume will fulfill every fair
expectation.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER




CONTENTS

     I Bound For Home
    II An Important Telegram
   III Fun On The Farm
    IV A Midnight Search
     V At The Old Mill
    VI The Story Of A Treasure
   VII In Which Something Is Missing
  VIII The Rover Boys In New York
    IX A Chase On The Bowery
     X Dick Becomes A Prisoner
    XI Aboard The Steam Yacht
   XII Something About Firecrackers
  XIII A Wild Automobile Ride
   XIV What A Roman Candle Did
    XV The Sailing Of The Steam Yacht
   XVI A Row On Shipboard
  XVII A Mishap In The Fog
 XVIII The New Deck Hand
   XIX Treasure Isle At Last
    XX The Boys Make A Discovery
   XXI Scaring Off The Enemy
  XXII Prisoners In The Forest
 XXIII What Wingate Had To Tell
  XXIV A Missing Landmark
   XXV The Trail Through The Jungle
  XXVI A Dismaying Discovery
 XXVII What Happened On The Steam Yacht
XXVIII A New Move Of The Enemy
  XXIX The Hunt For The Treasure
   XXX Homeward Bound--Conclusion




CHAPTER I

BOUND FOR HOME


"HURRY Up, Sam, unless you want to be left behind!"

"I'm coming!" shouted Sam Rover, as he crossed the depot platform on
the run. "Where is Tom?"

"He went ahead, to get two good seats for us," answered Dick Rover. He
looked around the crowd that had gathered to take the train. "Hi,
there, Songbird, this way! Come in this car, Hans!"

"Say, aren't you fellows coming aboard?" came a voice from the nearest
car, and a curlytopped head with a pair of laughing eyes appeared.
"Folks crowding in to beat the band! Come on in if you want seats."

"We'll be in directly," answered Sam, and followed his brother Dick to
the car steps. Here there was quite a jam, and the Rover boys had all
they could do to get into the car, followed by half a dozen of their
school chums. But Tom Rover had managed to keep seats for all, and
they sat "in a bunch," much to their satisfaction. Then the train
rolled out of the station, and the journey homeward was begun.

The term at Putnam Hall Military Academy was at an end, and the school
days of the three Rover boys at that institution were now a thing of
the past. Each had graduated with honors, yet all were a trifle sad to
think that there would be no going back to a place where they had made
so many friends.

"It's almost like giving up your home," Dick had said, several times,
while at the actual parting Sam had had to do his best to keep back
the tears which welled up in his eyes. Even fun-loving Tom had stopped
a good deal of his whistling and had looked unusually sober.

"We'll never have such good times as we've had at Putnam Hall," Sam
had said, but he was mistaken, as later events proved.

The three Rover boys did not wish to part from their many school
chums, yet they were, more than anxious to get home, and for this
there was a very good reason. Their father had told them that he had a
very important communication to make to them one regarding how the
summer was to be spent. So far no arrangements had been made for the
vacation, and the brothers were anxious to know "what was in the
wind," as Tom expressed it.

"Maybe we are to prepare for college," said Dick.

"Perhaps we are to go on another trip to Africa?" added Sam.

"Or start on a hunt for the North Pole," put in Tom. "That would be
just the thing for this hot weather."

"I can tell you one thing," went on Dick. "Whatever father has on his
mind is of a serious nature. It is no mere outing for pleasure."

"I know that," answered Sam, "I could see it by the look on his face."

"Well, we'll know all about it by this time tomorrow," said Tom. "I
hope it is some trip--I love to travel," and his brothers nodded
their heads in approval.

To those who have read any of the twelve previous volumes in this
"Rover Boys Series" the three brothers will need no special
introduction. For the benefit of new readers allow me to state that
Dick was the oldest, fun-loving Tom next, and Sam the youngest. They
were the sons of Anderson Rover, a widower and rich mine owner. The
father was a great traveler, and for years the boys had made their
home with their uncle, Randolph Rover, and their Aunt Martha, on a
farm called Valley Brook, in the heart of New York state.

From the farm, and while their father was in Africa, the boys had been
sent to Putnam Hall, as related in the first volume of this series,
entitled, "The Rover Boys at School." At the Hall they made a score of
friends and several enemies, some of which will be introduced later. A
term at school was followed by a trip on the ocean, and then one into
the jungles of the Dark Continent in search of Mr. Rover, who had
mysteriously disappeared. Then the Rover boys went out west and to the
great lakes, and later spent a fine time hunting in the mountains.
They likewise spent some time in camp with their fellow cadets, and
during the summer vacation took a long trip on land and sea. Then they
returned home, and during another vacation sailed down the Ohio River
in a houseboat, spent some time on the plains, took an unexpected trip
to southern waters, and then came back to the farm.

On getting back home, as related in the twelfth volume of this series,
called "The Rover Boys on the Farm," the boys had imagined that
adventures for them were a thing of the past. They were willing to
take it easy, but this was not to be. Some bad men, including a
sharper named Sid Merrick, were responsible for the theft of some
freight from the local railroad, and Merrick, by a slick trick,
obtained possession of some traction company bonds belonging to
Randolph Rover. The Rover boys managed to locate the freight thieves,
but Sid Merrick got away from them, dropping a pocketbook containing
the traction company bonds in his flight. This was at a time when
Dick, Tom and Sam had returned to Putnam Hall for their final term at
that institution. At the Hall they had made a bitter enemy of a big,
stocky bully named Tad Sobber and of another lad named Nick Pell. Tad
Sobber, to get even with the Rovers for a fancied injury, sent to the
latter a box containing a live, poisonous snake. The snake got away
and hid in Nick Pell's desk and Nick was bitten and for some time it
was feared that he might die. He exposed Tad Sobber, and fearing
arrest the bully ran away from the Hall. Later, much to their
surprise, the Rover boys learned that the bully was a ward and nephew
of Sid Merrick, and when the sharper disappeared, Tad Sobber went with
him.

"They are certainly a bad pair," said Dick, but how bad the Rovers
were still to find out.

With the boys on the train were John Powell, better known as
"Songbird," because he had a, habit of reciting newly made doggerell
which he called poetry, Hans Mueller, a German youth who frequently
got his English badly twisted, Fred Garrison, who had graduated with
the Rovers, and some others.

"Dick, you haven't told me yet what you intended to do this summer,"
remarked Fred Garrison, as the train rolled on.

"Because I don't know, Fred," answered the elder Rover. "My father has
something in store, but I don't know what it is."

"Can't you guess?"

"No."

"I wish we could take another trip like that on the houseboat--it
was certainly a dandy."

"The best ever!" put in Tom. "Even if we did have trouble with Lew
Flapp, Dan Baxter and some others."

"Speaking of Dan Baxter puts me in mind of something," came from
Songbird Powell. "It has just leaked out that Tad Sobber sent a note
to Captain Putnam in which Tad blamed some of the cadets for his
troubles, and said he was going to get square some day."

"Did he mention any names?" questioned Sam.

"Yes."

"Mine?"

"Yes--and Dick's and Tom's, too."

"It is just like Sobber--to blame his troubles on somebody else,"
remarked Dick.

"I am not afraid of him," declared Tom. "He had better keep his
distance unless he wants to get the worst of it. We used to put up
with a whole lot from Dan Baxter before he reformed--I am not going
to put up with as much from Sobber."

"Tad certainly went off in bad company," said Sam. "His uncle ought to
be in prison this minute."

"Have the authorities heard anything of Merrick?" asked Songbird.

"Not a thing."

"I dink me dot feller has skipped to Europe alretty," vouchsafed Hans
Mueller. "He vould peen afraid to stay py der United States in, yah!"
And the German boy shook his head wisely.

"Personally I never want to set eyes on Sobber again," said Dick, with
a shrug of his broad shoulders. "The idea of introducing that deadly
snake into the school was the limit. Why, half a dozen of us might
have been bitten instead of only poor Pell."

"Maybe he did it only for a joke," said Larry Colby, another of the
cadets.

"If he did, it was carrying a joke altogether too far--endangering
one or more human lives. I don't believe in that sort of fun."

"Nor do I," came from several.

"If he is in Europe with his uncle perhaps I'll meet him there," said
Larry Colby. "I am going to France and Italy with my uncle and cousin.
Wish some of you fellows were going along," he added, wistfully.

"I am going to the Maine woods," said a lad named George Granberry.
"You can never guess who is going there, too."

"Who?"

"William Philander Tubbs and Mr. Strong."

"What, our own dude going to camp in the wilderness," cried Tom. "Oh,
if I was only along wouldn't I give him some surprises!"

"I'll have some fun don't forget that!" replied George, with a grin.
"But as Mr. Strong is going to be along, of course I'll have to be a
little careful."

"Dear Mr. Strong!" murmured Sam, with a sigh. "What a fine teacher he
is, and how I hate to give him up!"

"I envy your having him along," said Dick.

At that moment the train rolled into a station and Larry and some of
the others got off.

"We leave you at the next station," said Songbird, to the Rovers.
"When you find out what you are going to do this summer, write and let
me know."

"I certainly shall," answered Dick.

The three Rover boys soon after found themselves alone. They had to
make a change of cars, and some time later rolled into the station at
Oak Run.

"Home again!" shouted Tom, as he alighted on the depot platform.

"Yes, and there is Uncle Randolph waiting for us," added Dick, as he
hurried forward to meet his relative. "How do you do, Uncle!" he
cried.

"I am well, Richard," answered Randolph Rover, and then he shook hands
with all three boys. "Your--er--your father--" he began and
hesitated.

"Father? What of him?" asked Tom, in quick alarm, for he saw that his
uncle was much disturbed.

"Isn't he with you?"

"Why, no!" answered the three, in a chorus.

"He started for home last night," added Dick.

"Took the train after the one you and Aunt Martha took."

"But he didn't come home," said Randolph Rover.

"Didn't come home?"

"No."

"Didn't he send any word?" questioned Sam.

"None that I received."

"He said he was going straight home would telephone from Lockville for
the carriage to meet the last train," said Tom. "This is mighty
queer."

It was queer and for the moment the Rover boys and their uncle stared
blankly at one another.

"Something is wrong," declared Dick, presently. "And I am going to
make it my business to find out at once what it is."




CHAPTER II

AN IMPORTANT TELEGRAM


Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's
disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover,
on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he
would take the last train home that night. This train got into Oak Run
at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the
platform usually deserted.

"Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came
in," suggested Tom.

They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and
crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had
played on him in times past. He shook his head at once.

"Don't keep the station open that long," he grunted. "I was home an'
in bed, an' I don't know anything about your father."

"Was anybody around the station, that you know of?" went on Dick.

"No."

"Did any telegram come in for our family?"

"If it did I reckon Jackson would send it over, or telephone."

"Let us ask Jackson and make sure," said Sam, and led the way to the
telegraph office. The telegraph receiver was ticking away at a lively
rate, and Jackson, who had charge of the office, was taking down a
message on a blank.

"Hullo!" cried the telegrapher, as he finished and looked up. "Here is
a message for Mr. Randolph Rover hot off the wire. It won't take long
to deliver it," and he handed it over. "It's paid for," he added. "But
you'll have to sign for it," and Mr. Rover did so.

Eagerly all the Rovers read the communication, which ran as follows:

"Am following man I want to catch if possible. May be away from home
several days or a week. Very important to see man--trip this summer
depends upon it.

"ANDERSON ROVER."

"Wonder who the man can be?" mused Dick, after reading the message
twice.

"He has something to do with this matter father was going to tell us
about," returned Sam. "It's certainly a mystery."

"Well, this relieves our anxiety," said Randolph Rover. "So long as I
know nothing has happened, your father can stay away as long as, he
pleases."

"But I am dying to know what it is all about," burst out Tom, who was
always impatient to get at the bottom of things. "Uncle Randolph, do
you know what father has in mind to do this summer?"

"He talks about taking a sea trip, but where to I don't know."

"And he wants us to go along?" queried the youngest Rover.

"I believe so, Samuel."

"Hurrah! I'd like a sea trip first rate."

"Yes, but--" Mr. Rover lowered his voice. "He doesn't want anybody to
know where to. It's some kind of a secret--very important, I imagine
--something to do with a gold mine, or something of the sort. He did
not give me any particulars."

"He said he was going to let us know about it when we got home from
the Hall," said Dick. "I hope he catches his man."

"Wonder who it can be?" came from Tom.

Nobody could answer that question, and in a thoughtful mood the three
Rover boys followed their uncle to the carriage and got in. Then the
team was touched up and away they whirled, out of the village, across
Swift River, and in the direction of Valley Brook farm.

It was a beautiful day in June and never had the country looked finer.
As they swept along the well kept road Dick drew a deep breath of
satisfaction.

"This air makes a fellow feel new all over!" he declared.

"I suppose you are going to plant and grow some wonderful things this
summer, Uncle Randolph," said Tom. His uncle had studied scientific
farming for years, but had never made any tremendous success of it in
fact his experiments usually cost him considerably more than they
brought in.

"Well--er--I am trying my hand this year on some Mexican melons
said to be very fine, Thomas," was the reply.

"Mexican melons?" said the fun-loving Tom, innocently. "That puts me
in mind when I was over to Albany last I saw a pumpkin in a restaurant
window eight feet high and at least ten feet across."

"Is it possible!" ejaculated Randolph Rover, gazing at his nephew
incredulously.

"Sure thing. The pumpkin looked to be good, too. They had a lot of
pumpkin pies set around it, just for an advertisement."

"Thomas, did you measure that pumpkin?"

"No; why should I?"

"Then how do you know it was eight feet high and ten feet across?"

"Why, Uncle Randolph, I didn't say the pumpkin was eight feet high and
ten feet across. I said I saw it in a restaurant window eight feet
high and ten feet across," and Tom drew down the corners of his mouth
soberly.

"Tom, that's the worst ever!" cried Sam.

"You ought to be made to walk home for that," added Dick.

"Thomas! Thomas! you are as bad as ever!" said Mr. Rover, with a sigh.
"But I might have been on my guard. I know there are no pumpkins of
that size."

"Uncle Randolph, you'll have to forgive me," said Tom, putting his
hand affectionately on his relative's shoulder. "I really couldn't
help it--I am just bubbling over to think that school days are over
and I won't have to do any studying for several months to come."

"I fancy we'll have to tie you down to keep you out of mischief."

"You won't have to tie me down if I go on a sea trip with dad."

"Haven't you had sea trips enough with being cast away in the middle
of the Pacific, and being wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico? It seems to
me every time you and the others leave home something serious happens
to you."

"True but we always come back right side up with care and all charges
paid," answered the fun-loving Rover airily.

They soon made a turn in the road which brought them in sight of the
big farmhouse, nestling comfortably in a group of stately trees. As
they turned into the lane their Aunt Martha came to the front piazza
and waved her hand. Down in the roadway stood Jack Ness; the hired
man, grinning broadly, and behind Mrs. Rover stood Alexander Pop, the
colored helper, his mouth open from ear to ear. At once Tom began to
sing:

"Home again! home again! Safe from Putnam Hall."

And then he made a flying leap from the carriage, rushed up the steps
and gave his aunt such a hug as made her gasp for breath.

"Oh, Tom, you bear! Do let up!" she cried. "Now, there's a kiss for
you, and there's another! How do you do, Sam, and how are you, Dick?"
And she kissed them also. "I am glad you are back at last." She turned
to her husband "What of Anderson, did you hear anything?"

"Yes, he will be back in a few days."

"I'se jess too pleased fo' anything to see yo' boys back heah!" came
from Aleck Pop. "It's dun been mighty lonely since yo' went away."

"Don't worry, Aleck, we'll cheer you up," answered Tom.

"Oh, I know dat, Massa Tom yo'll turn dis place upside down in two
days suah!"

"Why, Aleck, you know I'd never do anything so rash," answered Tom,
meekly.

"Going to uncover some more freight thieves?" asked Jack Ness, as he
took charge of the team and started for the barn.

"I think dem boys had bettah cotch some of dem chicken thieves," put
in Aleck Pop. "Yo' don't seem to git holt ob dem nohow."

"Oh, never you mind about the chicken thieves," grumbled Jack Ness.

"Has somebody been stealing chickens again?" asked Dick, remembering
that they had suffered several times from such depradations.

"Yes, da has took two chickens las' Wednesday, foah on Saturday, an'
two on Monday. Jack he laid fo' 'em wid a shotgun, but he didn't cotch
nobody."

"I'll catch them yet, see if I don't," said the hired man.

"Perhaps a fox is doing it," suggested Sam. "If so, we ought to go on
a fox hunt. That would suit me first rate."

"No fox in this," answered Jack Ness. "I see the footprints of two
men,--tramps, I reckon. If I catch sight of 'em I'll fill 'em full
of shot and then have 'em locked up."




CHAPTER III

FUN ON THE FARM


Two days passed and the boys felt once more at home on the farm. The
strain of the recent examinations and the closing exercises at school
had gone and as Sam declared, "they were once more themselves," and
ready for anything that might turn up.

In those two days came another telegram from Mr. Rover, sent from
Philadelphia, in which he stated that he had caught his man, but had
lost him again. He added that he would be home probably on the
following Sunday. This message came in on Monday, so the boys knew
they would have to wait nearly a week before seeing their parent.

"I am just dying to know what it is all about," said Tom, and the
others said practically the same.

Tom could not keep down his propensities for joking and nearly drove
Sarah, the cook, to distraction by putting some barn mice in the bread
box in the pantry and by pouring ink over some small stones and then
adding them to the coal she was using in the kitchen range. He also
took a piece of old rubber bicycle tire and trimmed it up to resemble
a snake and put it in Jack Ness' bed in the barn, thereby nearly
scaring the hired man into a fit. Ness ran out of the room in his
night dress and raised such a yell that he aroused everybody in the
house. He got his shotgun and blazed away at the supposed snake,
thereby ruining a blanket, two sheets, and filling the mattress with
shot. When he found out how he had been hoaxed he was the most foolish
looking man to be imagined.

"You just wait, Master Tom, I'll get square," he said.

"Who said I put a snake in your bed?" demanded Tom. "I never did such
a thing in my life."

"No, but you put that old rubber in, and I know it," grumbled the
hired man and then went back to bed.

Tom also had his little joke on Aleck Pop. One evening he saw the
colored man dressing up to go out and learned that he was going to
call on a colored widow living at Dexter's Corners, a nearby village.

"We can't allow this," said the fun-loving Rover to his younger
brother. "The next thing you know Aleck will be getting married and
leaving us."

"What do you think of doing?" asked Sam.

"Come on, and I'll show you."

Now, Aleck was rather a good looking and well formed darkey and he was
proud of his shape. He had a fine black coat, with trousers to match,
and a gorgeous colored vest. This suit Tom was certain he would wear
when calling on the widow.

When in Ithaca on his way home the fun-loving Rover had purchased an
imitation rabbit, made of thin rubber. This rabbit had a small rubber
hose attached, and by blowing into the hose the rabbit could be blown
up to life size or larger.

Leading the way to Aleck's room, Tom got out the colored man's coat
and placed the rubber rabbit in the middle of the back, between the
cloth and the lining. It was put in flat and the hose was allowed to
dangle down under the lining to within an inch of the split of the
coat tails, and at this point Tom put a hole in the lining, so he
could get at the end of the hose with ease.

It was not long before Aleck came in to dress. It was late and he was
in a hurry, for he knew he had a rival, a man named Jim Johnson, and
he did not want Johnson to get to the widow's home ahead of him. He
washed up and donned his clothing with rapidity, and never noticed
that anything was wrong with the coat.

"Now, Sam, you fix his necktie for him," whispered Tom, who, with his
younger brother, was lying in wait outside the house. "Tell him it
doesn't set just straight."

Sam understood, and as soon as Aleck appeared he sauntered up side by
side with Tom.

"Hullo, Aleck, going to see your best girl?" he said pleasantly.

"I'se gwine to make a little call, dat's all."

"He's after the widow Taylor," put in Tom. "He knows she's got ten
thousand or so in the bank."

"Massa Tom, you dun quit yo' foolin'," expostulated Aleck.

"If you are going to make a society call you want your necktie on
straight," said Sam. "It's a fine tie, but it's no good the way you
have it tied. Here, let me fix it," and he pulled the tie loose.

"I did hab a lot ob trubble wid dat tie," agreed the colored man.

"It's too far around," went on Sam, and gave the tie a jerk, first one
way and another. Then he began to tie it, shoving Aleck again as he
did so.

In the meantime Tom had gotten behind the colored man and was blowing
up the rubber rabbit. As the rubber expanded Aleck's coat went up with
it, until it looked as if the man was humpbacked. Then Tom fastened
the hose, so the wind could not get out of it. Next the youth brought
out a bit of chalk and in big letters wrote on the black coat as
follows:

I have got to HUMP to catch the widow.

"Now your tie is something like," declared Sam, after a wink from Tom.
"It outshines everything I ever saw."

"I'se got to be a going," answered Aleck. "Much obliged."

"Now, Aleck, hump yourself and you'll get the widow sure along with
her fourteen children."

"She ain't got but two children," returned the colored man, and
hurried away. His appearance, with the hump on his back and the sign,
caused both the Rovers to burst out laughing.

"Come on, I've got to see the end of this," said Tom, and led the way
by a side path to the Widow Taylor's cottage. This was a short cut,
but Aleck would not take it, because of the briar bushes and the dust.
As the boys were in their knockaround suits they did not mind this.

The widow's cottage was a tumbled down affair on a side street of
Dexter's Corners. A stovepipe stuck out of a back window, and the
front door lacked the lower hinge. In the front yard the weeds were
several feet high.

"I don't see why Aleck wants to come and see such a person as this,"
observed Sam. "She may be pretty, as colored widows go, but she is
certainly lazy and shiftless."

"Yes, and she has more than two children and I know it. Why, once I
came past here and I saw her with at least seven or eight."

When the boys came up they saw several colored children hurrying away
from the house. As they did this the widow came to the door and called
after them:

"Now, Arabella, go to the cemetery, jest as I tole yo', an' stay
thar!"

"I ain't gwine to stay long," answered Arabella.

"You stay an hour or two," answered the widow. "To morrow, I'll give
yo' money fer lolly pops."

"What is she sending the children to the cemetery for?" asked Tom, in
a whisper.

"Maybe to keep 'em quiet," answered Sam, with a grin.

"Must be wanting to keep them out of Aleck's way."

At that moment the figure of a tall, lanky colored man came down a
side street. The man entered the widow's cottage and received a warm
welcome.

"Glad to see you, Mistah Thomas. Hopes yo' is feelin' fine this
ebenin'," said the widow graciously.

"I'se come fo' to make yo' an offah," said Mr. Thomas. "Yo' said yo'
would mahrry me soon as I had a job. Well, I'se got de job now."

"Is it a steady job?"

"Yes, at de stone quarry dribin' a stone wagon."

"How much yo' gits a week, Peter?"

"Twelve dollahs," was the proud answer.

"Den I closes wid you," said the widow, and allowed the suitor to
embrace her.

Just then Aleck came in sight. As he saw the couple through the open
door he straightened up.

"Maybe yo' didn't look fo' me around, Mrs. Taylor," he said, stiffly.

"Oh, Yes, I did, Mistah Pop," she said, sweetly. "But yo' see--I--
dat is--" She stopped short. "Wot's dat?" she cried.

"Wot?"

"Dat hump on yo' back?"

"Ain't no hump on my back," answered Aleck.

"Suah da is."

"He's got a sign on, too," put in Peter Thomas. "Look wot it reads, 'I
hab got to hump to cotch de widow.' Hah! hah! hah! Dot's a good one."

"Yo' needn't hump yo'self to cotch me," cried the widow, wrathfully.
"I'se engaged to Mistah Thomas." And she smiled on the individual in
question.

Crestfallen and bewildered, Aleck felt of his back and took off his
coat. He squeezed the rubber rabbit so hard that it exploded with a
bang, scaring himself and the others.

"Dat's a trick on me!" roared the Rover's man, and tore the rabbit
from his coat. "Dem boys did dat!"

"I can't see yo' to night, or any udder night, Mistah Pop," said the
widow. "I'se engaged to Mistah Thomas."

"Den good night," growled Aleck, and turning on his heel he started
for home.

Tom and Sam saw that he was angry, yet they had to roar at the scene
presented. They wondered what Aleck would say when he got back to the
farm.

"We have got to square ourselves," said Tom.

"How are you going to do it?"

"Oh, we'll do it somehow."

They took the short cut, but so did Aleck, and consequently all three
soon met.

"Yo' played dat joke yo' can't go fo' to deny it!" cried the colored
man.

"We are not going to deny it, Aleck," said Tom. "But it was no joke.
We did it for your good."

"Huh!"

"We certainly did," put in Sam. "Why, Aleck, we can't bear to think of
your getting married and leaving us."

"Huh!"

"We want you to stay with us," said Tom. "Besides, that widow has a
lot of children and is after your money."

"She ain't got but two chillen. She had moah, but she dun told me all
but two was in de seminary."

"The seminary?" queried Tom. Then a light broke in on him. "You mean
the cemetery."

"Persackly--de place da puts de dead folks."

"Well, they are in the cemetery right enough--but they are a long
way from being dead."

"Wot yo' mean, Tom?"

"We saw her send five of them away this evening--she told 'em to go
to the cemetery and stay there awhile."

"Wot! Yo' is fooling dis chile!"

"It is absolutely true," said Sam. "I am quite sure she has seven
children."

"Huh! If dat's de case dat Thomas nigger can hab her," grumbled Aleck,
and walked on. "But I ain't takin' yo' word fo' dis," he added
cautiously. "I'se gwine to make a few investigations to morrow."

"Do so--and you'll thank us from the bottom of your heart," answered
Tom; and there the subject was dropped. It may be added here that
later on Aleck discovered that the widow had ten children and was head
over heels in debt, and he was more than glad that the boys had played
the trick on him, and that the other colored man had gained Mrs.
Taylor's hand.




CHAPTER IV

A MIDNIGHT SEARCH


That night was destined to be an eventful one on the Rover farm.
Arriving home, Sam and Tom told of the fun they had had and Dick
laughed heartily. Then all three of the boys went to bed.

About midnight came a loud shouting from the barn, followed by the
report of a shotgun. This was followed by a shriek from Sarah, the
cook, who was afraid that burglars had come to murder her.

"What's that?" questioned Dick, as he hopped out of bed.

"That's Jack Ness' gun," answered Tom. "Something must be wrong at the
barn."

"Chicken thieves again--I'll bet a new hat," said Sam. By this time
Randolph Rover and his wife were up and were lighting a lamp. Without
waiting for them, the boys slipped on some clothing and their shoes
and ran downstairs. Dick took with him a pistol and each of the others
a baseball bat.

"Boys! boys! be careful!" shouted their uncle after them.

"All right," returned Dick, readily.

He was the first outside, but Sam and Tom were close upon his heels.
He heard Jack Ness running to the edge of a cornfield, shouting
lustily. Then came another report of the shotgun.

"What is it, Jack?" shouted Dick. "Who are you shooting at?"

"I'm after two men," was the hired man's reply. "They jest run into
the cornfield."

"Chicken thieves?" queried Tom.

"I guess so--anyway they was prowlin' around the hen house an' the
barn. I called an' asked 'em what they wanted and they ran for dear
life--so I knew they was up to no good."

"They certainly must have been chicken thieves, or worse," was Sam's
comment. "Really, this is getting to be too much," he added. "We ought
to catch them and have them locked up."

"I'm willing to go after them," answered Tom, readily.

"Did you get a good look at the rascals?" asked Dick.

"Not very good," answered Jack Ness.

"They weren't boys, were they?"

"No--they were men--both tall and heavy fellows."

"Did you ever see them before?" asked Tom. "Not that I can remember."

While they were talking the party of four had run down to the edge of
the cornfield. This spot was really a peach orchard, but the trees
were still so small that the ground was being utilized that season for
corn, planted in rows between the trees. The corn was not yet full
grown, but it was high enough to conceal a man lying flat or crouching
down.

The sky was filled with stars and the old moon was beginning to show
over the hills beyond the valley, so it was fairly light across the
field. The boys kept their eyes on the corn and the peach trees, but
failed to discover any persons moving among them.

"My shotgun is empty--maybe I had better go back and load up," said
the hired man.

"Yes, do it, but hurry up," answered Dick. "I'll stay here on guard
with the pistol."

The hired man ran off toward the barn. Hardly had he disappeared when
Sam gave a short cry and pointed into the field with his hand.

"I saw somebody raise up just now and look around," he said. "He is
out of sight now."

"Where?" came from Dick and Tom quickly. "Over yonder by the twisted
peach tree."

"I'll investigate," said Dick. "You can come along if you want to.
Keep your eyes open for both men. We don't want either to get away if
we can help it."

The three lads spread out in something of a semi circle and advanced
slowly into the field, keeping their eyes and ears on the alert for
anything out of the ordinary. Thus they covered fifty yards, when Tom
found himself near one of the largest of the peach trees. As he passed
this a form arose quickly from under a bough, caught him by the waist
and threw him forcibly to the ground.

"Hi!" yelled Tom. "Let up!" And then he made a clutch for his
assailant, catching him by the foot. But the man broke away and went
crashing through the corn, calling on "Shelley" to follow him.

The yell from Tom attracted the attention of Dick and Sam, and they
turned to learn what had happened to their brother. As they did this a
second man leaped up from the corn in front of them and started to run
in the direction of the river.

"Stop!" called out Dick. "Stop, or I'll fire on you!" And then he
discharged his pistol into the air as a warning. The man promptly
dodged behind a row of peach trees, but kept on running as hard as
ever.

The Rover boys were now thoroughly aroused, and all three started in
pursuit of the two men. They saw the fellows leave the field and hurry
down a lane leading to Swift River.

"I believe they are going to the river. Maybe they have a boat," said
Tom.

"I shouldn't wonder," answered Dick.

"I wish they would take to a boat," said Sam. "We could follow them
easily--in Dan Bailey's boat."

"Hi, where are you?" came a shout from behind, and they saw Jack Ness
returning. "Your uncle and aunt want you to be careful--they are
afraid those villains will shoot you."

"We'll be careful," answered Tom. "But we are going to capture them if
it can be done," he added, sturdily.

The hired man had reloaded the shotgun and also brought some
additional ammunition with him. He was nervous and the boys could
readily see that he did not relish continuing the pursuit.

"We can't do nothin' in the dark," he grumbled. "Let us wait till
morning."

"No, I am going after them now," answered Dick, decidedly.

"So am I," added Sam and Tom.

They were going forward as rapidly as the semi darkness would permit.
The ground was more or less uncertain, and once the youngest Rover
went into a mud hole, splashing the mud up into Jack Ness' face.

"Hi, stop that!" spluttered the hired man. "Want to put my eye out?"

"Excuse me, Jack, I didn't see the hole," answered Sam.

"It ain't safe to walk here in the dark--somebody might break a
leg."

"If you want to go back you can do so," put in Dick. "Give Tom the
shotgun."

"Oh--er--I'm goin' if you be," answered Jack Ness. He was ashamed
to let them know how much of a coward he really was.

It was quite a distance to Swift River, which at this point ran among
a number of stately willows. As the boys gained the water's edge they
saw a boat putting out not a hundred feet away.

"There they are!" cried Dick.

"Stop!" yelled Tom. "Stop, unless you want to be shot!"

"We'll do a little shooting ourselves if you are not careful!" came
back in a harsh voice.

"Take care! Take care!" cried Jack Ness, in terror, and ran to hide
behind a handy tree.

The two men in the boat were putting down the stream with all speed.
The current, always strong, soon carried them around a bend and out of
sight.

It must be confessed that the boys were in a quandary. They did not
wish to give up the chase, yet they realized that the escaping men
might be desperate characters and ready to put up a hard fight if
cornered.

"Jack, I think you had better run over to the Ditwold house and tell
them what is up," said Dick, after a moment's thought. "Tell Ike and
Joe we are going to follow in Dan Bailey's boat." The Ditwolds were
neighboring farmers and Ike and Joe were strong young men ever ready
to lend a hand in time of trouble.

"All right," answered the hired man, and set off, first, however,
turning his firearm over to Tom.

The three Rover boys were well acquainted with the river, and had had
more than one adventure on its swiftly flowing waters, as my old
readers know. They skirted a number of the willows and came to a small
creek, where they found Dan Bailey's craft tied to a stake. But there
were no oars, and they gazed at one another in dismay.

"We might have known it," said Dick, in disgust. "He always takes the
oars up to the barn with him."

The barn was a good distance off and none of the boys relished running
that far for oars. More than this, they felt that by the time the oars
were brought the other craft would be out of sight and hearing, and
thus the trail of the midnight prowlers would be lost.

"Here is a bit of board," said Sam, searching around. "Let us use that
for a paddle. The current will carry us almost as swiftly as if we
were rowing. The main thing will be to keep out of the way of the
rocks."

"I wish those chaps would run on the rocks and smash their boat to
bits," grumbled Tom, who had gotten a stone in his loose shoe and was
consequently limping.

The boys shoved the rowboat from the creek to the river and leaped in.
Dick, being the largest and strongest, took the board and using it as
a sweep, sent the craft well out where the current could catch it.
Down the stream went the boat, with Sam in the middle and Tom in the
stern. There was no rudder, so they had to depend entirely upon Dick,
who stood up near the bow, peering ahead for rocks, of which the river
boasted a great number.

"Those fellows must know this river," remarked Sam, as he started to
lace his shoes, there being nothing else just then to do.

"They ought to--if they are the fellows who visited our henhouse
before," answered Tom. "Dick, can you see them?"

"No, but I know they must be ahead."

"Perhaps they went ashore--just to fool us."

"They couldn't get ashore here very well--it is too rocky, you know
that as well as I do. Listen!"

They listened, but the only sound that broke the stillness was the
distant roar of Humpback Falls, where Sam had once had such a
thrilling adventure, as related in "The Rover Boys at School." Even
now, so long afterward, it made the youngest Rover shiver to think of
that happening.

A minute later the boat came clear of the tree shadows and the boys
saw a long stretch ahead of them, shimmering like silver in the
moonbeams. Sam, looking in the direction of the opposite shore, made
out a rowboat moving thither.

"There they are!" he cried.

At once Dick essayed to turn their own craft in that direction. But
with only a bit of a board for a paddle, and with the current tearing
along wildly, this was not easy. The rowboat was turned partly, but
then scraped some rocks, and they were in dire peril of upsetting.

"I see where they are going!" cried Tom. "To the old Henderson mill."

"We'll have to land below that point," said his oldest brother. "If I
try to get in there with only this board I'll hit the rocks sure."

"They are taking chances, even with oars," was Sam's comment. "See,
they have struck some rocks!"

He was right, and the Rovers saw the boat ahead spin around and the
two men leap to their feet in alarm. But then the craft steadied
itself, and a moment later shot into the shadows of the trees beside
the old flour mill.

It was not until five minutes later that Dick was able to guide their
own rowboat to the shore upon which the mill was located. They hit
several rocks, but at last came in where there was a sandy stretch.
All leaped out, and the craft was hauled up to a point out of the
current's reach.

"Now to get back to the mill as soon as possible, and corner those
fellows if we can," said Tom, and without delay the three Rover boys
started through the woods in the direction of the spot where the two
men had landed.




CHAPTER V

AT THE OLD MILL


The Henderson mill was now largely so only in name. So far back as the
Rover boys could remember, it had been a tenantless structure going
slowly to decay. The water wheel was gone, and so were the grinding
stones, and the roof and sides were full of holes. Henderson, the
owner, had years ago fallen heir to a fortune, and had moved away,
leaving the building at the mercy of the tramps who frequently stopped
there.

It was no easy matter to climb around or over the rocks which lay
between the boys and the old mill, and the darkness under the thick
trees was intense. They felt their way along slowly, and Tom was
careful to carry the shotgun with the barrel pointed downward, that
there might be no accident.

"More than likely those fellows have been putting up at the old mill,"
said Dick.

"They'll leave now--if they think we are coming," answered Sam.

"Let us keep quiet," put in Tom. "If they hear us talking they will
surely skip out."

After that but little was said. Foot by foot they drew closer to the
dilapidated structure, until it loomed up dimly before them. Then Dick
motioned for the others to halt.

With bated breath the boys listened. At first they heard little but
the rushing of the water over the rocks. Then came a sudden cracking
of a rotten floor board, followed by an exclamation.

"Confound the luck! I've put my foot through the floor again," growled
a man's voice. "Shelley, why don't you light the lantern? Do you want
me to break my neck?"

"If I light the lantern the Rovers may come here," was the answer from
the man called Shelley.

"Oh, they went down the river I saw them."

"They may have turned in nearby."

Some more words followed, but spoken so low that the boys could not
understand them. They heard a faint creaking of the flooring of the
old mill, but that was all.

"They are there, that's certain," whispered Dick. "But I don't see how
we are going to capture them in this darkness."

"I wish we had a lantern," said the youngest Rover.

"We wouldn't dare to light it, Sam," answered Tom. "Let us crawl up
close to the building. Maybe we can find out something more about the
men. They may be some good for nothing fellows from the village."

As there seemed nothing else to do, this advice was followed, and soon
the boys were at one of the broken out windows of the mill. They
listened and looked inside, but saw and heard nothing.

"They are not here," whispered Sam, disappointedly.

"They are not far off," answered his big brother confidently.

"Look!" came from Tom. "A light!"

He pointed through the window to the flooring inside. From between the
loose boards shone several streaks of light. As the boys gazed the
light vanished and all was as dark as before.

"They are in the lower room, the one where the water wheel used to be,"
whispered Tom. "Maybe that is where they have been hanging out."

"Come after me--but don't make any noise," said Dick, cautiously.
"If they have gone into the second room down there maybe we can make
them prisoners!"

"That's the idea!" cried Sam. "Just the thing!"

"Hush, Sam, or you'll spoil all."

Scarcely daring to breathe, now that they knew the strange men were so
close, the three Rover boys walked to the open doorway of the old mill
and went inside. Dick led the way and crossed to where an enclosed
stairs ran to the floor below. On tiptoes he went down, not trusting a
step until he was sure of his footing. It was well he did this, for
two of the steps were entirely rotted away, and he had to warn his
brothers, otherwise one or another might have had a fall.

Standing in the wheel room of the old mill the boys saw another streak
of light, coming from the room which Dick had suggested. The door to
this was closed, a bolt on the inner side holding it in place. There
was another bolt on the outside, which Dick remembered having seen on
a previous visit.

"We can lock them in if we wish," he whispered.

"Do it," answered his brothers promptly.

The bolt was large and old fashioned, and Dick had considerable
trouble in moving it into its socket. It made a rasping sound, but
this was not noticed by the two men, who were conversing earnestly.

"Well, we made a mess of it," growled the man called Shelley.

"So we did. But I didn't think that hired man would wake up. Neither
of us made a bit of noise. He must be a light sleeper."

"I only hope they think we were after chickens, Cuffer. If they knew
the truth--" The man named Shelley broke off with a coarse laugh.

"Well, we got chickens the other night, didn't we?" and now the man
called Cuffer laughed also. "But say, this is getting serious," he
went on presently. "Merrick expects us to do this job for him and do
it quick, and he won't like it at all when he finds out how we have
missed it."

"We can't do the impossible. Those Rovers are too wide awake for us."

"They certainly were too wide awake for Merrick in that traction
company bond matter. He was a chump not to sell those bonds as soon as
he got hold of them."

"He didn't dare--he was afraid the market was being watched."

"What does he want of those papers, anyway?"

"I don't know exactly. But you know what he said--there would be a
small fortune in it for us if we got 'em. He says he's got some papers
--or a map I guess it is--but he wants these papers, too. He didn't
dare show himself around here--you know the reason why."

"Sure--those Rovers would recognize him, even if he tried to
disguise himself."

Dick, Tom and Sam listened to this conversation with keenest interest
and amazement. These men had mentioned the name of Sid Merrick, the
rascal who had in the past tried so hard to harm them and who had up
to the present time escaped the clutches of the law. Evidently they
were in league with Merrick and under his directions.

"We must capture those fellows by all means," whispered Tom,
excitedly. "If we do, maybe we can find out where Merrick is."

"Yes, and Tad Sobber, too," added Sam, who had not forgotten the
poisonous snake episode at Putnam Hall.

"They weren't after chickens--that was only a blind," said Dick.
"They want to get something from the house--some papers that Merrick
wants."

"They must be valuable," said Sam.

"Father has all sorts of valuable papers," went on Tom. "Bonds, deeds
to mining properties, and such. But I thought he had the most of those
in a safe deposit vault in the city."

"So he has," answered Dick. "Maybe these fellows would be fooled even
if they got into Uncle Randolph's house. They--Listen!"

Shelley and Cuffer had begun to talk again. They mentioned a tramp
steamer called the _Josephine_, and Shelley said she was now in port
being repaired. Then the conversation drifted to sporting matters, and
Cuffer told how he had lost a hundred dollars on a prize fight.

"That's why I'm here," he added. "And I want some money the next time
I see Sid Merrick."

"He won't give us any unless we--" said Shelley, and the boys did
not hear the end of the sentence, for the speaker tried the door as he
spoke, throwing the inner bolt back. Of course with the outer bolt in
place, the door refused to budge. The boys drew back, and Tom raised
the shotgun and Dick his pistol.

"The door is caught!" cried Shelley, and pushed on it as hard as he
could.

"What!" exclaimed Cuffer and leaped forward. He, too, tried to move
the barrier. "This is a trick! Somebody has bolted the door on the
outside."

"Was there a bolt there?"

"Yes, a heavy one, too."

"Then somebody has trapped us!"

"Open that door!" sang out Cuffer, before his companion could stop
him.

"We are not going to open that door," answered Dick, in an equally
loud voice. "We have got you fast and we intend to keep you so."

"Who are you?"

"I am Dick Rover, and my two brothers are with me. We are well armed,
and we'll shoot if you try to break that door down."

"Caught!" cried Shelley in a rage, and then uttered several
exclamations under his breath.

"What are you going to do?" asked Cuffer, after a moment of silence.

"Hold you prisoners until we can get help and then turn you over to
the officers of the law."

"We haven't done anything wrong."

"That remains to be seen."

"You haven't any right to lock us in here."

"Then we take the right," answered Tom grimly.

"Let us smash the door down," came in a low tone from inside the room.

"If you try it we'll surely fire," said Dick, and cocked his pistol so
the men might hear the click. Tom did the same with the shotgun.