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+----------------------------------------------------+
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
Or
The Old Lumberman's Treasure Box
by
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
Author of "The Rover Boys at School," "The Rover Boys on the Ocean,"
"The Putnam Hall Series," Etc.
Illustrated
[Illustration: JACK AND THE TWINS RESCUE THE INJURED MAN.
_Frontispiece--Page 46_]
New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers
Made in the United States of America
* * * * * *
BOOKS BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA
THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR
THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES
THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS
THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS
THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS
THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION
THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT
THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.
* * * * * *
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Copyright, 1918, by
Edward Stratemeyer
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the
second volume in a line issued under the general title, "The Second
Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."
As mentioned in several volumes of the first series, this line was
started a number of years ago with the publication of "The Rover Boys at
School," "On the Ocean," and "In the Jungle." In those volumes my young
readers were introduced to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover.
The volumes of the first series related the adventures of the three
Rover boys while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College,
and while on numerous outings.
These Rover boys were, of course, growing steadily older. They met three
young ladies in whom they became intensely interested, and, after
becoming established in business, three happy marriages followed.
Presently Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also
his brother Sam, while the fun-loving Tom became the proud father of
twin boys, who were as full of spirit as their parent had ever been. At
first the boys were kept at home, but then it was thought best to send
them to a boarding school.
At Colby Hall the young Rovers made a host of friends, and also some
enemies. They had to work hard over their studies, but they had a
thoroughly good time.
In the present volume the boys are still at Colby Hall, but presently
the scene is shifted to Snowshoe Island, where the lads go for a short
hunting season. How they ran into a most unusual mystery and helped an
old lumberman to establish his claim to the island, I will leave the
pages which follow to relate.
In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readers for the many kind
things they have said about these Rover Boys books, and especially about
the initial volume in the second series. I trust that all my readers
will like Jack, Andy and Randy, and Fred as much as they did Dick, Tom,
and Sam Rover.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I FUN ON THE ICE 1
II SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS 13
III OUT OF PERIL 23
IV OUT HUNTING 33
V UNCLE BARNEY STEVENSON 44
VI DEEP IN THE WOODS 56
VII AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 65
VIII THE SLEIGHING PARTY 76
IX A MISHAP ON THE ROAD 86
X SOMETHING ABOUT TWO GOATS 96
XI THE JOKE ON ASA LEMM 108
XII IN COLONEL COLBY'S OFFICE 119
XIII ASA LEMM IS DISMISSED 132
XIV OVERHEARING A PLOT 143
XV AN ALARM OF FIRE 152
XVI PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES 161
XVII CAUGHT IN THE ACT 168
XVIII HOME AGAIN 177
XIX OFF FOR SNOWSHOE ISLAND 188
XX CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM 197
XXI AN ASTONISHING REVELATION 207
XXII THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE ISLAND 216
XXIII UNEXPECTED VISITORS 226
XXIV A WAR OF WORDS 237
XXV FACING THE WOLVES 247
XXVI JACK FREES HIS MIND 258
XXVII THE BLUE TIN BOX 268
XXVIII UNCLE BARNEY'S SECRET 279
XXIX THE DISCOVERY 289
XXX SETTLING ACCOUNTS--CONCLUSION 298
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
CHAPTER I
FUN ON THE ICE
"Everybody ready?"
"Sure! Been ready half an hour."
"Wait a minute, Frank, till I tighten my skate strap," cried Fred Rover,
as he bent down to adjust the loosened bit of leather.
"Hurry up, Fred, we don't want to stand here all day," sang out his
Cousin Andy gaily.
"That's it! I want to win this race," broke in Randy Rover, Andy's twin
brother.
"Now remember, the race is to be to the old white pine and back,"
announced the starter. "Every contestant has got to touch the tree
before he starts to come back; otherwise he'll be counted out."
"You ought to have a pistol to start us with," came from Jack Rover.
"I guess my old locomotive whistle will do for that," answered Frank
Newberry. He paused to look at the line of skaters. "Now then, everybody
on the job!" and a loud whistle rent the air.
Instantly there was a scurry of skates, and off the line started across
Clearwater Lake to where a blasted pine tree reared its naked trunk
against the skyline.
It was a Saturday afternoon in early winter, and the cadets of Colby
Hall Military Academy were out in force to enjoy themselves on the
smooth ice of the lake, near which the school was located. The cadets
had been amusing themselves in various ways, playing tag and hockey, and
in "snapping the whip," as it is called, when Gif Garrison, at the head
of the athletic association, had suggested a race.
"We might as well find out who is the best skater in the school," Gif
had said.
"Right you are," had come from his particular chum, Spouter Powell. "Let
us get up a race by all means."
With so many cadets who could skate well, it was an easy matter to
arrange for the contest. To make the matter more interesting, one of the
Hall professors, Mr. Brice, said he would give some prizes to the pupils
coming in first, second and third.
"I'll give a fine book of adventures to the first cadet, and also books
to the others," Mr. Brice announced. He was still a young man, and in
hearty sympathy with everything in the way of outdoor sports.
Among those to enter the contest were Jack Rover and his three cousins,
Fred, Andy and Randy. All were provided with hockey skates, and each
felt confident of making a good record for himself. Yet they all knew
that the school boasted of some fine skaters, one lad in particular, Dan
Soppinger, having won several contests on the ice in years gone by.
"We've got our work cut out for us!" cried Fred Rover, as he skated
beside Jack.
"Save your wind, Fred," answered his cousin briefly.
"Believe me, this is going to be some race!" came from Randy, who was on
the other side of Jack, with his twin brother next to him.
"I don't care who wins so long as I'm not last," responded his twin
merrily.
Over twenty cadets had started in the contest, and soon the line, which
had been fairly even for a few seconds after the whistle had sounded,
began to take on a straggly appearance, as some skaters forged ahead and
others fell behind.
"Don't give up! Everybody keep in the race until the finish!" cried
Professor Brice encouragingly. "Remember, a race isn't over until the
end is reached."
Thus encouraged, those who were in the rear did their best to overtake
those ahead. But gradually the skaters divided into three groups; eight
in the lead, six but a short distance behind them, and the others
several yards further to the rear.
In the front group were Jack and his cousin Randy, while Fred and Andy
were less than ten feet behind.
The distance across Clearwater Lake was about half a mile, but the
blasted pine tree was located some distance down the shore, so that the
race would be close to a mile and a half in length.
Spouter Powell was in the lead when the first group of skaters came up
to the pine tree. Dan Soppinger was close behind him, with Jack and
Randy following. Behind Randy came Walt Baxter, another cadet who skated
remarkably well. The others of the first group were gradually dropping
back to the second contingent. Spouter Powell touched the tree with his
finger tips, and was followed almost immediately by Dan Soppinger. As
they turned to go back to the starting point, they were followed by Jack
and Randy.
"Hi, you fellows! what do you mean by skating so quick?" piped out Andy
Rover gaily.
"We'll leave the tree to you, Andy!" shouted his twin.
"I don't think we'll win, but, anyway, we won't be last," came from
Fred, as he and Andy touched the tree.
"Well, we can't have everything in this world," was the philosophic
reply from the other Rover boy.
It could be seen that the race had now narrowed down to the five who
were in the lead. Of these, Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were less
than two feet apart, while only a yard to the rear came Jack, Randy and
Walt Baxter.
"Go it, Randy!" sang out Andy, as he dropped still further behind. "Go
it! I know you can win!"
"Keep it up, Jack!" yelled Fred, who, being the smallest of the four
Rovers, found it impossible to keep up the pace. "Don't let Spouter and
Dan hold you back!"
There were numerous cries of encouragement for all of the skaters as
they swept forward toward the starting point. Here a line had been drawn
on the ice, and the cadets stood at either end, some with their watches
in their hands to time the winners.
"I'll bet Dan Soppinger wins!" cried one of the cadets. "He's the best
skater on the lake."
"Well, Spouter Powell is a good skater, too," returned another.
"Huh! what's the matter with the Rover boys?" burst out a third cadet,
round-faced and remarkably fat--so fat, in fact, that he had not dreamed
of participating in the contest.
"I don't know much about how they can skate," was the reply. "They
weren't here last winter, you remember."
"Yes, I know that," answered Fatty Hendry.
"Here they come!"
By this time the skaters were half way on the return from the blasted
pine. Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were still in the lead, but Walt
Baxter was crawling up steadily, while Jack and Randy were close behind.
"Say, this is going to be a neck-and-neck race!" cried one of the
cadets, Ned Lowe by name. He had wanted to race himself, but knew that
his skates were too dull for that purpose.
"Stand back! Give them plenty of room!" exclaimed Professor Brice, and
he took measures to clear the cadets away from the finishing line.
Quite a crowd had assembled to witness the contest, not only cadets, but
also some folks from the neighboring town of Haven Point, and also a
number of young ladies from Clearwater Hall, a seminary located some
distance away.
The skaters had still a distance of several hundred yards to cover when
it was seen that Spouter Powell was gradually falling behind. Then Jack
Rover forged forward, followed by his Cousin Randy.
"The Rovers are crawling up!"
"See, Jack Rover and his Cousin Randy and Dan Soppinger and Walt Baxter
are all in a line!"
"This certainly is one close race!"
The excitement increased as the racers drew closer to the finishing
line. Walt Baxter was panting painfully, showing that he had used up
almost every ounce of his strength.
"Oh, dear! I do hope the Rovers come in ahead," whispered one girl
skater to another. She was a tall girl, remarkably good looking and
dressed in a suit of brown, with furs.
"So do I hope the Rover boys win, Ruth," answered her girl companion,
"now that my Cousin Dick has fallen behind."
"It's too bad, May, that your Cousin Dick couldn't have kept up,"
answered Ruth Stevenson.
Closer and closer to the finishing line crept the four leading skaters,
Jack and Randy in the middle, with Dan Soppinger on their left and Walt
Baxter on their right. Now Spouter Powell had fallen back to the second
group of racers.
"Here they come!"
"It's Dan Soppinger's race!"
"Not much! Here comes Walt Baxter! Gee, see him strike out!"
"It's the Rovers who are coming to the front!" exclaimed Ned Lowe.
"I knew they couldn't hold those Rover boys back," was Frank Newberry's
comment. "Now then, boys, for a final dash!" he shouted.
All four of the leading contestants were bending forward and striking
out as powerfully as possible, their arms swinging from side to side
like pendulums and their skates ringing clearly on the smooth ice.
For an instant all were in a line, then, by a tremendous effort, Walter
Baxter forged a foot ahead. But almost instantly Dan Soppinger overtook
the other cadet. An instant later Randy Rover came up beside the others,
followed by his Cousin Jack.
The finishing line was now less than fifty yards away, and the crowd was
yelling all sorts of words of encouragement and cheering wildly, even
the girls and older folks present being much excited. Then, of a sudden,
an exclamation of wonder rent the air.
"Look at that, will you? Did you ever see such striking out in your
life?"
"He's coming forward like a cannon ball!"
These exclamations had been brought forth by the sudden change of
tactics on the part of Jack Rover. Coming back from the blasted pine he
had managed to hang close to his opponents, but without using up all his
reserve force. Now he let out "for all he was worth," as he afterwards
declared, and, with strokes that could hardly be seen for their
rapidity, he forged in front of Soppinger and Baxter.
"It's Jack Rover's race!"
"Look! Look! Here comes his Cousin Randy!" yelled Ned Lowe.
"No use in talking--you can't hold those Rover boys back," was Fatty
Hendry's comment.
What the cadets had said was true. Following the extraordinary spurt
made by Jack, Randy let himself out, and in a twinkling had passed
Baxter. Then he found himself neck-and-neck with Dan Soppinger, who was
struggling with might and main to catch up to Jack, just two feet ahead.
"Make room for the winners!"
"Jack Rover wins the race!"
"Yes, and Randy Rover is second!"
"Who takes third place?"
"Soppinger, I guess."
"No, I think Walt Baxter was a little ahead of him."
"Nonsense! It was a tie between them."
"Three cheers for the Rover boys!" shouted Ned Lowe, and many cadets
joined in the cheering.
Jack and Randy were quickly surrounded by many of their chums and
congratulated on their success.
"It was a tie race between Soppinger and Baxter," announced Professor
Brice. "And that being so, I will give each of them a third prize," and
with this those two contestants had to be contented.
"You made that race in record time, Jack," announced Gif Garrison. "It
is better time by twelve seconds than was ever made before on this
lake."
"Well, where do I come in?" demanded Randy.
"You broke the record by ten seconds," was the reply. "And believe me,
that's some stunt!"
"I guess I was beaten fairly," announced Dan Soppinger, a little
ruefully; "so there is no use of complaining."
"Oh, it was a fair and square race sure enough," answered Walt Baxter.
"All the same, if my skates had been just a little sharper I think I
might have won," he added a little wistfully.
"Well, I am glad the honors stay in our family anyhow," announced Fred,
as he skated up, followed by Andy.
"And first and second prizes, too!" cried his cousin. "That ought to be
enough to hold the other fellows for awhile."
Jack and Randy were both panting from their exertions, but their faces
showed their satisfaction, and especially did Jack look his pleasure
when he happened to glance beyond the crowd of cadets and saw Ruth
Stevenson waving her hand toward him. Beside Ruth was May Powell, who
waved gaily to all of the Rovers.
"Fine race, boys! Fine race!" was Fatty Hendry's comment. "Just the
same, none of you would have been in it for a minute if I had entered,"
and at this joke there was a general laugh.
"Say, Fatty, you should have gone into it just to lose flesh," was
Andy's dry comment. "If you tried real hard, you might lose a pound a
mile," and at this there was another laugh.
The crowd began to gather around Jack and Randy and the others who had
won the race, and many wanted to shake hands with the oldest Rover boy.
Even some of the town folks skated up, and they were followed by some of
the girls from Clearwater Hall.
"I say, boys, this may not be safe!" cried Professor Brice suddenly,
when the crowd on the ice had become unusually thick. "This ice isn't as
strong as it might be."
"Yes, and with Fatty in the crowd----" began Andy Rover. Then, of a
sudden, he stopped short because an ominous crack was heard, followed by
several other cracks.
"The ice is breaking!"
"Skate away, everybody, or we'll go down!"
Instantly there was a commotion, and all of the skaters tried to break
away from the spot where the crowd had congregated. The confusion was
tremendous, and in the mix-up six or eight persons, including Ruth
Stevenson and May Powell, were thrown down. Then came another crack, and
it looked as if in another instant the ice would give way completely and
precipitate the whole crowd into the cold waters of the lake.
CHAPTER II
SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS
It was a time of extreme peril, and it is doubtful if any one realized
that more than did Jack Rover. He, too, had been thrown down, and across
his legs was sprawled the heavy form of Fatty Hendry. It was the
toppling over of the fat youth which had caused one of the cracks which
were now so numerous in the ice.
"Hi! get off of me!" yelled Jack, and managed to pull one of his legs
free; and with this he pushed the fat youth to one side.
"Help! help! We're going down!" came in a scream from May Powell.
The ice had become depressed where she and Ruth Stevenson stood, and
both were already in a half inch of water.
"Scatter! Everybody scatter!" cried Professor Brice, and then rushed to
one side, to rescue several little boys and girls.
"Come on, Jack, we've got to help those girls!" cried Randy, and caught
his cousin by the arm, thus assisting him to his feet. Then off the
pair skated, with Andy and Fred behind them, all bent on going to the
assistance of the girls from Clearwater Hall.
Now, I know quite well that to the readers of the former volumes in
these two "Rover Boys Series," all of the Rovers, both old and young,
will need no introduction. But for the benefit of those who have not
perused any of the previous volumes in this line, a few words concerning
our characters will not be amiss.
In my first volume, entitled "The Rover Boys at School," I told how
three brothers, Dick, Tom and Sam Rover, had been sent off to Putnam
Hall Military Academy, where they made a host of friends, including a
manly and straightforward cadet, named Lawrence Colby. From Putnam Hall,
the Rovers were sent to Brill College, and after leaving that
institution of learning they went into business in Wall Street, New York
City, where they organized The Rover Company, of which Dick was now
president; Tom, secretary; and Sam, treasurer.
While at Putnam Hall the three Rovers had become acquainted with three
charming girls, Dora Stanhope and her cousins Nellie and Grace Laning.
This acquaintance had ripened into loving intimacy, and when Dick went
into business he had made Dora Stanhope his life-long partner. A short
while after this Tom married Nellie Laning and Sam married Grace.
When first married, Dick and his beautiful wife Dora had begun
housekeeping in a small apartment, but a few years later the three
brothers had purchased a plot of ground on Riverside Drive, overlooking
the Hudson river, and there they had built three handsome houses, Dick
living in the middle house, and Tom on one side and Sam on the other.
Before the young people had moved into the new homes, Dick and Dora
became the proud parents of a little son, who was named John, after Mr.
Laning. The son was followed by a daughter, Martha, so named after her
Great Aunt Martha of Valley Brook Farm, where the older boys had spent
many of their youthful days. Little Jack, as he was called, was a bright
lad with many of the qualities which had made his father so well liked
and so successful in life.
About the time Jack's sister Martha was born, Tom and Nellie Rover came
forward with twin boys, one of whom they named Anderson, after his
grandfather, and the other Randolph, after Uncle Randolph, of Valley
Brook Farm. Andy and Randy, as they were always called for short, were
exceedingly clever and active lads, in this particular being a second
edition of their father. Andy was usually saying things that were more
or less funny, and Randy thought that playing some trick was the finest
thing in the world.
"You can't find fault with those kids, Tom," Dick Rover said more than
once. "They are chips off the old block."
"Well, I suppose they are," Tom Rover would reply, with a twinkle in his
eye. "But if they never do anything that is really mean or harmful, I
won't care."
About the same time the twins were born, Sam and Grace Rover came along
with a beautiful little girl, whom they named Mary, after Mrs. Laning.
Then, a year later, the girl was followed by a sturdy little boy, who
was christened Fred, after Sam Rover's old school chum, Fred Garrison.
Living so close together--the three stone mansions on Riverside Drive
were connected--the younger generation of Rover boys, as well as the
girls, were brought up very much like one big family. The winters were
spent in New York City, while during the summer the young folks were
generally bundled off to Valley Brook Farm, where their grandfather,
Anderson Rover, still resided with his brother Randolph and wife
Martha.
At first both the girls and the boys had been sent to private schools in
the metropolis. But the boys showed such a propensity for "cutting up,"
as Dick Rover expressed it, that the fathers were compelled to hold a
consultation.
"The best thing we can do is to send them to some strict boarding
school," was Dick Rover's comment, and in this the brothers agreed.
Some time before, their old school chum, Lawrence Colby, who had since
become a colonel in the state militia, had opened a military academy,
which he called Colby Hall. The place was gaining an enviable reputation
as a first-class institution of learning, being modeled after Putnam
Hall, which, in its day, had been run somewhat on the lines of West
Point.
"We'll send them to Colby Hall," had been the decision of the older
Rovers, and to that place Jack, Andy and Randy, and Fred had gone, as
related in detail in the volume entitled "The Rover Boys at Colby Hall."
The military school presided over by Colonel Colby was located about
half a mile from the town of Haven Point, on Clearwater Lake, a
beautiful sheet of water about two miles long and half a mile wide. At
the head of the lake was the Rick Rack River, running down from the
hills and woods beyond. The school consisted of a large stone building
shaped somewhat in the form of a cross, the upper portion facing the
river. It was three stories in height, and contained, not only the
classrooms and the mess hall, but also the dormitories and private rooms
for the scholars. To one side was a brick building, which at one time
had been a private dwelling, but which was now occupied by Colonel Colby
and his family and some of the professors. On the opposite side was a
new and up-to-date gymnasium. Down at the water's edge were a number of
small buildings used as boathouses and bathhouses. Behind the Hall were
a stable and a barn, and also a garage; and still further back there
were a large vegetable garden and numerous farm fields.
On their arrival at Colby Hall, the Rover boys had found several of
their friends awaiting them. One of these was Dick Powell, the son of
Songbird Powell, a former schoolmate of their fathers, a fellow who was
usually called Spouter because of his fondness for making speeches.
Another lad was Gifford Garrison, usually called Gif for short, who was
at the head of the school athletics. Gif was the son of Fred Garrison,
after whom Fred Rover had been named.
They also made friends of a number of others, some of whom we have
already met. These included Walter Baxter, the son of Dan Baxter, who
in years gone by had been an enemy to the older Rovers, but who had long
since reformed.
Before coming to Colby Hall Jack Rover had had a quarrel in New York
with a tall, dudish youth named Napoleon Martell, and this had almost
led to a fight. Nappy Martell, as he was usually called by his cronies,
was a pupil at the military academy, and soon he and his crony, a big,
overgrown bully, named Slogwell Brown, did what they could to make life
miserable for all of the Rovers. But in one of their dirty tricks they
over-reached themselves, and as a consequence they had been exposed and
sent away from the institution of learning for the time being.
"But they are coming back," Walt Baxter had told the Rover boys; "and
they say when they do, they will make it hot for you."
"Well, when Slugger and Nappy return we will be ready for them," had
been Jack Rover's reply.
"And the next time we won't be as easy on them as we were before," Fred
had added.
All of the cadets formed a battalion of several companies, commanded by
one of the older cadets, Major Ralph Mason. The Rovers took to the
military drill and general exercises readily, and soon learned how to
march and how to handle a gun. They enjoyed drilling very much--in
fact, they enjoyed it more than they did studying, although all of them
were good scholars.
As has been stated, Colby Hall was located about half a mile out of
Haven Point. On the other side of the town was located Clearwater Hall,
a boarding school for girls. During a panic in a moving picture theater
in the town, Jack and his cousins had become acquainted with a number of
these girls, including Ruth Stevenson and May Powell. After that the
four boys had taken four of the girls rowing on the lake and on other
outings, and through this had become quite well acquainted with a number
of the Clearwater Hall pupils. Jack was particularly interested in Ruth
Stevenson, and thought her a very beautiful and entertaining young lady.
The others did not seem to have any particular preference, although Fred
was often seen to side up to May Powell, the entertaining cousin of
Spouter.
And now, having introduced these young ladies in a proper manner, let us
return to them at the time when they were struggling on the ice and in
the midst of the frightened crowd rushing hither and thither, striving
to save itself from being immersed in the icy waters of the lake.
"Oh! oh! What shall we do?" cried May in terror, as she clung to her
companion's arm.
"Come on! We'll have to skate away from here!" burst out Ruth. "Come!
let us see if we can't get to shore," and she started off, her companion
still clinging to her.
In the meanwhile, Jack and Randy were skating as fast as possible in the
direction where they had seen the two girls. But now a crowd of cadets
and town folks swept in front of them, and the next instant Randy was
hurled flat on his back and went spinning across the smooth ice.
By this time one of the spots on the lake had broken through, and the
water was rapidly rising all around it and covering the sinking surface.
Men, women and children mingled with the cadets and hurried in all
directions, but most of them toward the shore.
"Come on! We've got to help those girls somehow!" panted Jack, as he
skated over to where Randy had been flung. He assisted his cousin to his
feet just as Fred and Andy flashed up.
"The girls! Don't you see them over there? They are going down!" yelled
Fred.
"Yes, I see them! Come on!" answered Jack.
As tired as he was because of the race, the oldest Rover struck out with
all the vigor he could muster. Soon he found himself sloshing through
water that was several inches deep. The next moment he stood beside the
two girls, who had become almost too frightened to move.
"Come on! Don't stand here!" he called, catching Ruth by the arm.
He looked back and saw that Fred and the others were close behind him,
and that Fred already had hold of May. Then he started off up the lake.
"Oh, Jack, hadn't we better head for the shore?" gasped the frightened
girl.
"No. There is too much of a crowd in that direction already," he
answered quickly. "If they don't look out they'll all go in. Come on!
The best thing to do is to get out where there isn't anybody."
He skated on, allowing the girl to rest on his arm as he did so. Soon
they seemed to be out of the danger zone, and then he looked back.
The sight that met his gaze filled him with new alarm. Fred had been
skating with May close beside him, but their feet had caught in one of
the new cracks, and both of them had gone down headlong. Andy and Randy
had been close behind, and now they too went sprawling, while the ice
cracked ominously, as if ready to let them down into the water at any
instant!
CHAPTER III
OUT OF PERIL
"Oh look! May and Fred have both gone down!" cried Ruth.
"Yes, and there go Andy and Randy over them!" exclaimed Jack.
"And look, Jack, the ice is cracking everywhere!" continued the
frightened girl. She clutched his arm and looked appealingly into his
face. "Oh! what shall we do?"
"Spread out, you fellows! Spread out!" yelled the oldest Rover boy.
"Spread out! Don't keep together!"
His cry was heard, and an instant later Andy commenced to roll over on
the ice in one direction while his twin rolled in another. In the
meantime, Fred had managed to scramble to his feet, and now he pulled up
May.
"Come on, we'll soon be out of danger," encouraged the youngest Rover;
and, striking out, he pulled May behind him, the girl being too excited
to skate.
In less than a minute the danger, so far as it concerned the Rovers and
the two girls from Clearwater Hall, was past. All reached a point where
the ice was perfectly firm. Here Ruth speedily gained her
self-possession, but May continued to cling closely to Fred's arm.
"I'm going to see how they are making out in front of the boathouse!"
cried Randy. "Some of the skaters must have gotten in."
"I'm with you," returned his twin. He looked back at his cousins. "I
suppose you will look after the girls?"
"Sure!" answered Jack quickly. "Go ahead."
"I don't suppose we can be of any assistance down there?" came from
Fred.
"I don't think so, Fred. There is too much of a crowd as it is; they
will simply be in one another's way."
"Oh! oh! suppose some one should be drowned!" moaned May.
"Let us hope for the best," answered Jack. He did not want to add to the
girls' fright, yet he was decidedly anxious over the outcome of the
unexpected catastrophe.
They skated toward the shore at a point between Colby Hall and the town,
and then they worked their way along shore up to the vicinity of the
military academy. Here men and cadets were rushing hither and thither,
some with planks and others with ropes.
"Six of the cadets broke through," announced Spouter Powell, as he came
up to learn if his cousin was safe.
"They are all out, aren't they?" questioned Jack quickly.
"Yes. But there may have been others that went under the ice. Professor
Brice and Mr. Crews are going to make a thorough search." Crews was the
gymnastic instructor.
The excitement continued for fully half an hour. By that time it was
ascertained that every one had gotten off of the ice or out of the water
in safety. Those who had gone down were rushed to shelter, so that they
might not catch cold. Gradually the crowd dispersed, and then Professor
Brice had danger signs placed at various points on the ice, so that
there should not be a repetition of the accident.
"The thing would not have occurred had not the entire crowd happened to
congregate around the winners of the skating race," explained Professor
Brice to Colonel Colby.
"You think the ice is thick enough for any ordinary crowd?" questioned
the master of the school anxiously.
"Yes, sir. You can test it for yourself."
"Well, we must be more careful in the future, Mr. Brice. We don't want
any of our cadets drowned."
"We won't have any such crowd again if I can avoid it," was the reply.
"It's all nonsense to have such races anyway. It encourages too much
rowdyism," was the comment of Asa Lemm, one of the language professors.
Lemm was the least liked of all the teachers at the Hall. He did not
believe in a boy's having any fun, but expected the cadets to spend
their entire time in studying. He had once been fairly wealthy, and the
loss of his money had made him sour-minded and disagreeable.
"I cannot agree with that opinion," returned Colonel Colby coldly. "The
boys must have some exercise. And to be out in the fresh air is a very
good thing for them. They will study so much the better for it."
"Maybe; but I doubt it," answered Asa Lemm shortly. "You let a boy go
out and carouse around, and the first thing you know he won't care for
anything else," and he strode away with his chin held high in the air
and his lips tightly compressed. He was a man of very positive ideas,
which he tried at every opportunity to impress upon others.
"Aren't your feet wet?" questioned Jack suddenly, as he looked down at
the skating shoes worn by Ruth and May.
"Well, they are rather damp," answered Ruth.
"Mine are both wet and cold," said May. "I shouldn't mind it if I could
dry them off and warm them somewhere."
"Come on up to the Hall," went on Jack. "I'm sure they will let you dry
them in front of the open fire in the big living-room."
"Oh, Jack, we don't want to go there in such a crowd of cadets!"
"Don't worry about the cadets," put in Fred.
When they arrived at the living-room of the military academy, they found
it practically deserted, the great majority of the cadets being at the
lake front or in the big boathouse, where a pot stove was kept going for
the benefit of the skaters.
"My, but this is a cozy place!" remarked Ruth, after she had become
comfortably settled in a big armchair with her feet resting close to the
blaze.
"I wish I was a cadet here," sighed May. "It's more fun being a boy than
being a girl."
"How do you know? You never were a boy," returned Fred, with a grin.
"I know, just the same," May answered. "I'm sure you boys have a much
better time of it than we girls."
This started quite an argument, in which all of the young people,
including Spouter, joined. In the midst of the talk Andy and Randy came
in, having been told where the others had gone.
"It's all over and everybody is safe," announced Randy.
"And the only thing lost, so far as we can find out, was Fatty's skating
cap," put in Andy.
"Well, if that's all, we can chip in and buy him another cap," remarked
Jack, and at this there was a short laugh. Now that the peril was a
thing of the past all felt greatly relieved, and their manner showed it.
Jack and Fred had the pleasure of skating all the way to Clearwater Hall
with Ruth and May. During that time the young folks grew quite
confidential.
"Why don't you get your sister Martha to come to Clearwater Hall?" said
Ruth to Jack. "I'm sure I'd like very much to meet her."
"Yes, and why not have your sister Mary come too?" added May to Fred.
"Say, that's a great idea!" burst out Jack.
"Let's put it up to the folks at home without delay," added his cousin.
"But they might not like to leave the private school they are now
attending," he continued, his face falling.
"That's true, for they are getting along very nicely," said Jack. "Just
the same, we can put it up to the folks at home and let them know all
about what a nice place Clearwater Hall is--and what awfully nice girls
there are here." And at this latter remark Ruth and May blushed.
"I sent a letter to Mary a year or two ago," said May; "but at that time
I wasn't here. I think I'll send her another letter."
"Do, by all means," returned Fred quickly. "And let her know all about
how nice a place it is. That may help."
"It would be a fine thing if they were at this school--it would give us
more chances to call here," remarked Jack to Ruth.
"Last week I met Cousin Dick in town," said May, "and he was telling me
how that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell had left the Hall. He said the
pair were terribly down on all you Rovers."
"Yes, they were very much enraged over the way we exposed them,"
answered Fred.
"They deserved to be exposed!" cried Ruth. "The idea of their shooting
two of Mr. Lacy's valuable cows and then trying to prove that you did
it! It was shameful!"
"Well, their folks had to pay Lacy for the cows," answered Jack.
"And then to think how they tampered with the chains on that lumber
raft so that the raft went to pieces in that storm on the lake!" added
May. "Oh, I think they must be very wicked boys!"
"They are certainly no angels."
"Jack, if they should come back to Colby Hall, won't you be afraid that
they will try to do something more to get you into trouble?"
"More than likely they will; but I am not afraid of them."
"We intend to keep our eyes wide open, and if Slugger or Nappy try any
funny work, we'll jump on 'em like a ton of bricks," added Fred.
Then the subject was changed, and a few minutes later the cadets bid the
girls good-bye, promising to see them again if possible in the near
future.
"I'll tell you what, Jack, they are a pair of mighty fine girls," was
Fred's comment, as he and his cousin skated back in the direction of the
military academy.
"I agree with you, Fred."
"I wish we could persuade Martha and Mary to go to Clearwater Hall,"
went on the youngest Rover boy, wistfully. "I'd like first rate to have
'em get better acquainted with May and get acquainted with the other
girls there."
"We'll have to be careful how we write home about it," cautioned his
cousin. "If we aren't, they'll think we want them to come just on
account of Ruth and May, and then they'll tease the life out of us."
"Oh, sure, we'll be careful! Just the same, it would be a fine boarding
school for them. I don't think much of that fashionable private school
where they are now going. Most of the girls there think more of how they
are dressed and what dances they are learning than anything else."
"By the way, do you think Spouter knows more about what Slugger and
Nappy intend to do than he told?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why, perhaps he heard something, but didn't want to tell all of it for
fear of alarming us."
"I don't think Spouter would do that. He knows well enough that we
aren't afraid of that pair."
"Just the same, Fred, if they do come back we'll have to keep our eyes
wide open, for they surely will do their best to put one over on us, and
any fellows who would be mean enough to do what they have done, wouldn't
hesitate to do worse."
"I can't understand why Colonel Colby is going to let them come back at
all."
"Oh, I suppose he feels that he ought to give them at least one more
chance. He probably remembers how Dan Baxter acted toward our fathers
and the colonel himself, as well as their chums, and how Baxter
afterwards reformed."
"Yes, that may be true. But when one fellow like Walt Baxter's father
reforms, a dozen others remain as bad as ever, or grow worse. To my
mind, there isn't much in the way of reform in Slugger Brown's make-up,
or in Nappy Martell either."
"Oh, I agree with you there. Slugger Brown is nothing short of a brute,
and Nappy Martell is as sly and vicious as any fellow I ever ran up
against. We'll certainly have to watch them when they get back here."
CHAPTER IV
OUT HUNTING
After the excitement attending the skating races, matters moved along
quietly at Colby Hall for several days. The Rover boys, as was their
custom, paid close attention to their studies.
"We've got to make a record for ourselves," was the way Jack put it. "If
we don't, our folks may take it in their heads to send us to some other
boarding school, thinking Colonel Colby is too easy with us."
"And to take Jack away from this vicinity when he is getting so sweet on
Ruth Steven----" began Randy, when he was cut short by a book flung by
his cousin, landing on his shoulder.
"You cut out that talk, Randy!" cried Jack.
"Let's talk about the weather," murmured Andy, who had passed to the
window. "Say, fellows, do you know, I think it's going to snow!"
"Hurrah! That means some fun snowballing!" cried Fred.
The snow came down all that night, and in the morning covered the
ground to the depth of several inches. A great many of the cadets rushed
out in glee, and half a dozen impromptu snowballing matches were soon in
progress.
It was almost time to go in for the morning session when several of the
cadets noticed a figure, huddled up in a slouch hat and a heavy
overcoat, coming up from behind the Hall toward a side door.
"Here comes Bob Nixon!" yelled one of the cadets, mentioning the name of
Colonel Colby's chauffeur. "Let's give him a volley."
"Right you are!" exclaimed Andy gleefully.
"Stop! Can't you see----" commenced Jack, but before he could finish his
sentence both Andy and Randy had let drive at the advancing figure. One
snowball took the man in the shoulder and the other landed just below
his left ear.
"Here! here! what do you mean by such proceedings?" cried the attacked
individual in great wrath, and then, as he held up his head and pushed
back his slouch hat, all saw that it was Asa Lemm.
"Great watermelons!" groaned Andy. "I thought sure it was Nixon!"
"I knew it wasn't, and that's why I tried to stop you," said Jack.
"Say, he's some mad," whispered Randy, as the language teacher strode
toward them. "I wonder what he'll do."
"How dare you boys attack me?" roared Asa Lemm, as he shook his fist at
the crowd. "How dare you do it?"
"It was all a mistake, Mr. Lemm," said Randy meekly.
"We didn't know it was you--really we didn't," came from Andy. "We
thought it was Bob Nixon. He likes to snowball with us."
"I do not believe a word of it!" cried the irate instructor. "How many
of you threw at me?" he questioned, glaring at the crowd.
To this there was no immediate answer, and then Randy stepped forward.
"I did, for one," he said.
"And so did I," came from his twin.
"Anybody else?"
"No. We were the only ones, Professor," answered Randy. "And I hope you
will overlook it this time," he continued. "We did not know it was you."
"Both of you report to me after school this afternoon," said the
instructor harshly; and then without another word he turned and tramped
off into the Hall.
"Now we are in for it, Andy," was Randy's dismal comment.
"Oh, well, he can't do any more than kill us," was the light-hearted
reply of the other.
"Do you want to be killed, Andy?" quizzed Jack.
"I know what he'll do," was Randy's comment. "He'll keep us both in and
give us extra lessons to learn." And in this surmise the fun-loving
Rover boy was correct. For their rashness in snowballing the teacher
they were made to stay in after school for two afternoons, and in
addition had two extra pages of Latin to translate.
"He's a lemon, if ever there was one," was what Andy said after his
punishment had come to an end. "Oh, wouldn't I just like to get square
with him!"
"We'll have to think something up, Andy," answered his twin.
Following the first fall of snow, came another, but then the sun came
out brightly, packing down the snow so that sleighing became quite
popular.
"If we only had a big sleigh up here, we could go and get the girls from
Clearwater Hall and give them a ride," said Fred one day to Jack.
"I was thinking we might hire a big sleigh in town some Saturday
afternoon and do just that," answered his cousin. "I'll look into it the
first chance I get."
Fred and Jack had not forgotten the sport they had had earlier in the
season, when they had gone out with Frank Newberry and some others on a
hunt for rabbits and other small game.
"The hunting season is still open, Fred," said Jack one day. "What do
you say if we ask Colonel Colby for permission to go out."
"Suits me," answered his cousin quickly.
"Do you think Andy and Randy would like to go, too?"
"More than likely. They have been wanting to go ever since we brought
down that game."
When the subject was mentioned to the twins, they quickly agreed that it
would be a fine thing if they could all obtain permission to go on a
hunting trip the coming Saturday. Colonel Colby was appealed to without
delay.
"Well, boys, I have no objection to your going out," he said. "I know
you all understand the use of firearms, and I know, also, that your
fathers loved to go out in their day and hunt. And I did a little bit in
that line myself," and he smiled faintly. "But I want you to be very
careful in what you shoot at; and do your level best to keep out of
trouble of all kinds," and he looked at Jack and Fred as he uttered the
latter words.
"Getting into trouble before, Colonel Colby, wasn't our fault," answered
Jack quickly.
"I know that."
"By the way, Colonel Colby, if it isn't asking too much, would you mind
letting us know if Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell are really going to
return here?" questioned Fred.
"They have asked for permission to come back--at least, their parents
have asked for them--and I have the matter under consideration,"
answered the master of the Hall. He gazed questioningly at the Rovers.
"I meant to mention this subject to you, and I am glad you have brought
it up. In one way, I don't feel like having them here; but in another
way I should like to give them another chance in case they feel like
turning over a new leaf and making a fresh start. What do you boys think
of it?"
For a moment all of the Rover boys were silent, looking at each other
questioningly. Then the others showed that they expected Jack to speak.
"Well, if you want my candid opinion, it's just this, Colonel Colby,"
said the oldest Rover boy earnestly. "Personally I would much prefer to
have Brown and Martell stay away from Colby Hall. But if you think they
ought to be given another chance to make good here, why, I am sure I'm
not going to stand in their way. Just the same, if they do come here,
I'm going to watch them pretty closely so that they won't be able to
play any more of their dirty tricks."
"I shall not blame you for watching them, Rover. After what happened to
you and your Cousin Fred, it is no more than right that you should be on
your guard. Yet, I trust that you will give Brown and Martell a chance
to prove themselves, provided they really do want to turn over a new
leaf and make amends for what has happened."
"Oh, we'll give them plenty of chances to make good if it is in them;
won't we?" and Jack turned to his cousins.
"Sure!" came in a chorus.
"Then that is settled, and I am glad of it. Now you have my permission
to go on your hunting trip, and I trust you will bring down all the
small game you desire. But, as I said before, be very careful. So far, I
have allowed all of my pupils to go out hunting whenever they have so
desired, and without any accidents happening. I don't want to break that
record." And with these words the master of the Hall dismissed them.
This conversation took place on Thursday evening, and all day Friday the
boys were anxiously looking forward to the proposed outing and wondering
what the weather would prove to be. They obtained permission to take
two small rifles and two double-barreled shotguns belonging to the
institution, and these they cleaned and oiled so that they would be in
prime condition.
Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, and the four Rovers obtained
their breakfast as early as the rules of the school permitted. Then,
with game bags and guns slung over their shoulders, they set out on
their skates up the lake shore and then along the Rick Rack River, the
wind of the day previous having cleared large portions of the ice of
snow.
"Come on, let's have a race!" cried Andy gleefully. Had he not been on
his skates he would have attempted a handspring in the exuberance of his
spirits.
"No racing to-day!" warned Jack. "You save your breath, Andy. We expect
to skate and tramp a good many miles to-day before we get back to the
school."
