"Don't, young gents, don't!" he would plead.  "Oh, my!  An' to
think the term's just begun!"  And he mopped his brow with his
red bandanna handkerchief.

"Peleg, you are getting handsomer every day," remarked Sam.
"It's a wonder you don't go into the beauty show in New York."

"Wot kind of a joke is that, Master Rover?"

"Oh, it's no joke.  You are handsome.  Won't you let me take your
photograph?"

"Have you got a camera?"

"To be sure.  Here it is."  Sam drew a tiny box from his pocket.

"Now stand still and I'll take a snap shot."

Snuggers had wanted to have his picture taken for some time, to
send to a certain girl in Cedarville in whom he was much
interested.  To have a photograph taken for nothing tickled him
greatly.

"Wait till I brush up a bit," he said, and got out a pocket comb,
with which he adjusted his hair and his stubby mustache.

"Now stand straight and look happy!" cried Sam as a crowd collected
around. "Raise you right hand to your breast, just as all statesmen
do. Up with your chin--don't drop your left eye--close your mouth.
Now then, don't budge on your life!"

Peleg Snuggers stood like a statue, his chin well up in the air
and his eyes set into a steady stare.  Sam elevated the tiny box
and kept the man standing for fully half a minute, while the boys
behind Snuggers could scarcely keep from roaring.

"There you are," said Sam at last.  "Now wait a minute and the
picture will be finished."

"Don't you have to print 'em in the sun?" asked Snuggers.

"No, this is a new patented process."  Sam drew a square of tin
from the box.  "There you are, Peleg, and all for nothing."

"I don't see any picture," growled Snuggers, looking at the
square blankly.

"You must breathe on it, Peleg; then the picture will come out
beautifully.  It's a little fresh yet."

Peleg Snuggers breathed on the square of tin as directed, and
then there slowly came to view the picture of a donkey's head!
The boys gathered around set up a shout.

"Hurrah, Peleg, what a fine picture!"

"You've changed a little in your looks, Peleg, since you had the
last taken, eh?"

"Your girl will fall in love with that picture, Peleg, I'm
certain of it."

"Sam Rover, I'll git square, see if I don't!" roared the utility
man, as he dashed the square of tin to the ground.  "I knowed you
was goin' to play a joke on me."  And he started to walk off.

"Why, what's the matter?" demanded Sam innocently.  "Isn't it a
good picture?'

"I'll picture you!"

"I thought I was doing my best."

"Show me off for a donkey! If it wasn't against the rules I'd--I'd
wollop you!"

"A donkey!  Oh, Peleg, I did nothing of the kind!   Here is your
picture, on my word of honor."

"It's a donkey's head, I say."

"And I say it's your picture.  I'll leave it to anybody in the
crowd."

"I guess I know a donkey's head when I see it, Master Rover.  I
didn't expect no such joke from you, though your brother Tom
might have played it."

"Boys, isn't this a good picture?" demanded Sam, showing up the
other side of the tin square.

"Why, splendid!" came from the crowd.

"Peleg, there is some mistake here."

"Oh, you can't joke me no more!" returned the utility man.

"But just look!" pleaded Sam.  "Isn't that a good picture of you?
If you don't say so yourself I'll give you five dollars."

He handed the tin over again, this time with the opposite side
toward Snuggers.  He had just breathed on it heavily.

"Now blow on it," he continued, and Snuggers did as directed.
The moisture cleared away, revealing the face of the utility man
in a bit of looking-glass!

"Oh, you're tremendously smart, you are!" muttered Snuggers, and
walked off.  But he was not half as angry as he had been a few
minutes before.




CHAPTER XII

DICK VISITS DORA STANHOPE


"Battalion, fall in.  Attention!  Carry arms!"

It was several days later, and the cadets were out for their
first parade around the grounds.  Dick still retained his
position as second lieutenant of Company A, having been
re-elected the term previous.  Tom was first sergeant of Company
B, while Sam was still "a high private in the rear rank," as the
saying goes.

The day was an ideal one in the early autumn, and Captain Putnam
and George Strong were both on hand to watch the drilling.  Major
Bart Conners had graduated the year before, and his place was now
filled by Harry Blossom, formerly captain of Company A.

"Shoulder arms!" came the next order.  "Battalion, forward
march!"

Tap! tap! tap, tap, tap! went the drums, and then the bass drum
joined in, and the two companies moved off.  Soon the fifers
struck up a lively air, and away went the cadets, down the road,
around grounds, and to the mess hall for supper.

The boys felt good to be in the ranks once more, and Captain
Putnam congratulated them on their soldierly appearance.

"It does me good to see that you have not forgotten your former
instructions in drilling and marching," he said.  "I trust that
during the present term we shall see even better results, so that
the work done here may compare favorably with that done at West
Point."

The school had now begun to settle down, and inside of a few days
everything was working smoothly.

"What a difference it makes to have Dan Baxter and Mumps absent!"
observed Tom to Dick.  "We don't have any of the old-fashion rows
any more."

"I'd like to know what Mumps and Josiah Crabtree were up to," put
in the elder Rover.  "It's queer we didn't hear any more of them.
I'm going to get off soon and try and see Dora Stanhope.  Perhaps
she knows what Crabtree is doing."

On that day Frank Harrington received a letter from his father,
in which the senator stated that nothing more had been heard of
the men who had looted Rush & Wilder's safe.  "I fancy they have
left the State, if not the country," was Mr. Harrington's
comment.

The three Rover boys got off the next day and took a walk past
the cottages where resided the Lanings and the Stanhopes.  At the
Lanings' place Nellie and Grace came out to greet them.

"So you are back!" cried Nellie, blushing sweetly.  "Father said
you were.  He saw you come in at Cedarville."

"Yes, back again, and glad to meet you," answered Tom, and gave
the girl's hand a tight squeeze, while Sam and Dick also shook
hands with both girls.

"And how do you feel?" asked Grace of Dick.  "Wasn't that
dreadful the way Mr. Baxter treated you on that train?"

"Well, he got the worst of it," answered Dick.

"Oh, I know that!  And now they suspect him of a robbery in
Albany.  Papa was reading it in one of the Ithaca papers."

"Yes, and I guess he's guilty, Grace.  But tell me, does Josiah
Crabtree worry Mrs. Stanhope any more?" continued the boy
seriously.

"Why to be sure he does!  And, oh, let me tell you something!
Dora told me that he was terribly angry over having been sent to
Chicago on a wild-goose chase."

"I wish he had remained out there."

"So do all of us," said Nellie Laning.  "He seems bound to marry
aunty, in spite of our opposition and Dora's."

"How is your aunt now?"

"She is not very well.  Do you know, I think Mr. Crabtree
exercises some sort of a strange influence over her."

"I think that myself.  If he could do it, I think he would
hypnotize her into marrying him.  He is just rascal enough.  Of
course he is after the money Mrs. Stanhope is holding in trust
for Dora."

"He can't touch that."

"He can--if he can get hold of it.  I don't think Josiah
Crabtree cares much for the law.  Is Dora home now?"

"I believe she is.  She was this morning, I know."

"I'm going over to see her," went on Dick.  "I promised to do all
I could for her in this matter of standing Crabtree off, and I'm
going to keep my word."

As Sam and Tom wished to converse with the Laning girls a bit
longer, Dick went on ahead, telling them to follow him when they
chose.

It did not take Dick long to reach the Stanhope homestead.  As he
approached he heard loud talking on the front piazza.

"I want nothing to do with you, Dan Baxter, and I am astonished
that you should come here to see me," came in Dora Stanhope's
voice.

"That's all right, Dora; don't get ugly," was the reply from the
former bully of Putnam Hall.  "I'm not going to hurt you."

"I want you to go away and leave my mother and me alone."

"Will you come and see Mr. Crabtree, as he wanted?"

"No.  If, Mr. Crabtree wants to see me let him come here."

"But you told him you didn't want him here," said Dan Baxter.

"Neither I do--to see mamma.  But I won't go to see him; so
there!  Now please leave me."

"You're a strong-minded miss, you are," sneered Dan Baxter.  "You
want taking down."

"What's that you say?" demanded Dick, as he strode up.  "Baxter,
you deserve to be knocked down for insulting this young lady."

"Oh, Dick, is that you?" burst out Dora, her pretty face
brightening instantly.  "I'm glad you came."

"Dick Rover!" muttered the bully, and his face fell.  "What
brought you here?"

"That is my business, Baxter,  So Josiah Crabtree sent you to
annoy Miss Stanhope."

"It's none of your affair if he did."

"I say it is my affair."

"Do you want to get into another row with me, Dick Rover?" And
Dan Baxter clenched his fists.

"If we fought, the battle would end as it did before--you would
be knocked out," answered Dick.  "You have no right to come here
if these people want you to stay away, and you had better take
yourself off."

"I'll go when I please.  You can't make me go--nor the
Stanhopes neither," growled Dan Baxter.

At these words Dick grew white.  Dora, as old readers know, was
his dearest friend, and he could not stand having her spoken of
so rudely.  For a moment the two boys glared at each, other; then
Baxter aimed a blow at Dick's face.

The elder Rover ducked and hit out in return, landing upon
Baxter's neck.  Dora gave a scream.

"Oh, Dick!  Don't fight with him!"

"I won't--I'll run him out!" panted Dick, and leaping behind
the bully, he caught him by the collar and the back.  "Out you
go, you brute!" he added, and began to run Baxter toward the open
gateway.  In vain the bully tried to resist.  Dick's blood was
up, and he did not release his hold or relinquish his efforts
until the bully had been pushed along the road for a distance of
fifty yards.

"Now you dare to come back!" said Dick, shaking his fist at the
fellow.  "If you come, I'll have you locked up."

"We'll see about it, Dick Rover," snarled Dan Baxter.  He paused
for an instant.  "He laughs best who laughs last," he muttered,
and strode off as fast as his long legs would carry him, in the
direction of the lake.

When Dick returned to Dora he found that the girl had sunk down
on the piazza steps nearly overcome.

"Don't be afraid, Dora; he's gone," he said kindly.

"Oh, Dick, I'm so afraid of him!" she gasped.

"Was he here long before I came up?"

"About ten minutes.  He brought a message from Mr. Crabtree, who
wants to see me in Cedarville.  I told him I wouldn't go--and I
won't."

"I shouldn't either, Dora.  Perhaps Crabtree only wants to get
you away from the house so that he can come here and see your
mother."

"I never thought of that."

"Where is your mother now?"

"Lying down with a headache.  She is getting more nervous every
day.  I wish Mr. Crabtree was--was--"

"In Halifax, I suppose," finished Dick.

"Yes, or some other place as far off.  Every time he comes near
mamma she has the strangest spells."

"He is a bad man--no doubt of it, Dora.  I almost wish we had
him back to the Hall.  Then I could keep my eye on him."

"I'm glad you are back, Dick," said the girl softly.  "If there
is any trouble, you'll let me call on you, won't you?"

"I shall expect you to call on me, Dora--the very first thing,"
he returned promptly.  "I wouldn't have anything happen to you or
your mother for anything in the world."

By this time Sam and Tom were coming up, and they had to be told
about Dan Baxter.

"He and his father are a team," said Sam.

"I wonder if he knows what his father has done.  If I meet him
I'll ask him."

Dick had expected to pay his respects to Mrs. Stanhope, but now
thought best not to disturb her.  All the boys had a short chat
with Dora, and then set out on the return to school.

On the way the three boys discussed the situation, but could get
little satisfaction out of their talk.

"Something is in the wind," was Dick's comment.  "But what it is
time alone will reveal."

And he was right, as events in the near future proved.




CHAPTER XIII

THE FIRE AT THE HALL


Sam had been right when he said that Dan Baxter was like his
father.  Parent and son were thoroughly bad, but how bad the
Rover boys and their friends were still to learn.

On Saturday the cadets had a half-holiday, and some of them went
over to the lake to fish, Sam and Tom accompanying the party.

While the boys were waiting for bites they espied a large
sail-boat skimming along the lake shore.  As it came closer Tom
and Sam were much astonished to see that the boat contained Dan
Baxter, Josiah Crabtree, and Mumps.

"By jinks, there is Mumps' yacht!" ejaculated Tom.  "How in the
world did he get her up here?"

"Brought her by way of the canal and the river, I suppose,"
answered Sam.

"Hullo there!" called out Larry Colby, who was in the crowd.
"Mumps, you might be in better company."

"You keep your mouth shut!" retorted Fenwick.

"If you talk to me, I'll come ashore and give you a thrashing,"
put in Baxter.

"I dare you to come ashore!" burst out Tom.  "You'll stay where
you are if you know when you are well off."

No more was said, and presently the boat sped out of sight around
a bend of the lake shore.  Fishing proved to be good, and in the
excitement of the sport Baxter and the others were, for the time
being, forgotten.

It was late when the boys packed up.  Sam had six fish, Tom as
many more, and all of the others a fair catch.

"We'll have fish tomorrow for breakfast, sure," said Larry.
"Hurry up, or we'll be late."

The party started off, but had only gone a short distance when
Sam remembered that he had left his knife sticking in the stump
of a tree, and ran back to get it, in the meantime turning his
fish over to Tom.

The fishing place was behind a grove of trees, and when Sam
reached it again he was much surprised to see Dan Baxter on
shore, he having just left the yacht, which was cruising some
distance away.

"Hullo! so you came back to have it out with me, eh?" cried
Baxter, and before Sam could say a word, he was hurled flat and
the bully came down on top of him.

Sam fought bravely, but was no match for the big fellow, who
began to hammer him unmercifully. Realizing how matters were
turning, the youngest Rover began to cry for help.

"You shut up!" stormed Dan Baxter.  "Shut up, or I'll give it to
you worse than ever!"

But Sam had no intention of taking such a drubbing quietly, and
he yelled louder than ever.  His cries reached Tom, who had
dropped behind to allow his brother to catch up.

"Something is wrong," he muttered, and hanging the fish on a
bush, he ran back at the top of his speed.

Dan Baxter heard him coming and tried to get away, but as Tom
called out, Sam's courage rose, and he grabbed the bully by the
foot and held him.

"Let go!" roared Dan Baxter, but Sam would not, and in a second
more Tom was at hand and hit the bully such a stinging blow in
the face that Baxter went down in a heap.

A rough-and-tumble scrimmage ensued, and it must be said that the
bully got by far the worst of it. Tom hit him again and again,
and Sam also, and when at  last he staggered to his feet, one eye
was almost closed and his nose was bleeding profusely.

"Now I guess you won't tackle any of us again," said Tom.

"I'll get even--mark my words!" roared Baxter, and ran down the
lake shore in the direction the _Falcon_ had taken.

When Baxter reached the yacht he was so weak he could scarcely
stand.  It was a long while before he could stop his nose from
bleeding, and his eye stung with a pain that was maddening.

"Did little Sam Rover do that?" asked Mumps, while Josiah
Crabtree looked on in curious silence.

"Sam Rover?" snorted Baxter.  "Not much!  Why, the whole crowd
piled on me six or seven of them at a time.  They tried to kill
me!"

"Didn't you defend yourself, Daniel?" asked Crabtree.

"Of course I did.  I knocked two of them down and another fellow
had two of his teeth broken.  But I couldn't fight all six single
handed."

"Oh, I presume not--especially such brutes as Captain Putnam is
now raising."

"It's a pity we can't get square with them," said Mumps.

"Oh, I'll get square!  You just wait," answered the bully
cunningly.  "I'm not done with them yet by any means."

"What will you do?"

"Just you wait and see."

"I don't wish to have you interfere with our plans," put in
Josiah Crabtree.

"I won't interfere with the other plans.  But I am going to get
square."

"We've had delay enough," continued Josiah Crabtree.

"Well, that wasn't my fault.  Mumps got sick, and that's all
there is to it," growled Dan Baxter, and then went to dressing
his swollen eye once more.

In the meantime Sam and Tom had rejoined their fellows and told
their story.  All of the others were indignant at Baxter's doing
and glad to learn he had been given a sound drubbing.

"I don't see why he hangs in this neighborhood," said Larry.
"It's a wonder he doesn't try to join his father."

"They are probably on the outs since Dan took that two hundred
dollars," answered Tom.

The boys were all tired that night, and the occupants of
Dormitory No. 6 retired early in consequence.

It was a little after midnight that Dick awoke with a cough.  He
sat up in bed and opened his eyes to find the room almost filled
with smoke.

"For gracious sake!" he muttered.  "What's the matter here?  Sam!
Tom!"

"What's this?" came from Larry Colby.  "Is the house on fire?"
He leaped from his bed, and so did Dick.  By this time the smoke
in the dormitory was getting thicker and thicker.  It was coming
through the door, which stood partly open.

"Wake up, boys; the Hall is on fire!"

"Fire!  Fire!  Fire!" came from all parts of the building.

One after another the cadets roused up.  Some were completely
bewildered and did not know what to do.

"We had better get out as soon as we can!" exclaimed Dick, as he
slipped into his trousers.  "Come, Tom! come, Sam!"

He ran for the hallway, to find it so thick with smoke that
escape in that direction seemed cut off.

"We can't go down that way!" came from Frank.  "We'd be smothered
to death."

"Let's jump from the windows," put in Larry, who was more
frightened than any of the others.

"No, no; don't jump yet!" cried Tom  "You'll break a leg, and
maybe your neck."

"But I don't want to be burnt up," returned Larry, his teeth
chattering.

"Hold on, we have that rope we used when we had the feast last
summer," said Sam.  "Let us tie that to the window and get down
on it."

Sam ran to the closet and found the rope just where it had been
left, on a hook in the corner.  Soon they had it out and fastened
to a bed-slat braced across the window frame.

"Down you go, Larry!" said Dick.  "Be careful; I reckon we have
plenty of time."

Larry slid down in a jiffy, and one after another the others came
after him, Dick being the last.  As the youth turned around on
the window sill he saw the fire creeping in at the door.  Their
escape had taken place none too soon.

Down on the parade ground they found a motley collection of
half-dressed cadets, instructors, servants, and others who had
been sleeping in the burning Hall.

In the midst of the group was Captain Putnam, pale but
comparatively cool, considering the excitement under which he was
laboring.

"Are all the boys out?" he asked of George Strong.  "Line them up
and call the roll."

The roll-call was put through in double-quick order.  Only two
lads were missing, a boy named Harrison and another named Leeks.

"Here comes Harrison!" cried Harry Blossom, and the boy limped
forth from the opposite side of the burning building.

"I sprang from the east wing," he explained.  "I guess my ankle
is sprained." And then he dropped down and was carried away from
the scene to a place of safety.

"Where can Leeks be?" questioned Captain Putnam.  "Leeks!  Leeks!
Where are you?" he cried with all the power of his lungs.

At first the only reply that came back was the roaring of the
flames, as they mounted from one section of the Hall to another.
Then, however, came a shriek from the rear end of the western
wing.

"Help me!  Save me!  I don't want to be burnt up!"

"It is Leeks!" cried Tom.  "See, he is on the gutter of the
roof!"

He pointed in the direction, and all saw the cadet, dressed in
nothing but his white gown, clinging desperately to the slates of
the roof above the gutter.  He had run from the second floor to
the third and sought safety by crawling out of a dormer window.

"Don't jump!" cried a dozen in concert.  "Don't jump, Leeks!"

"What shall I do?  The flames are coming up here as fast as they
can!" groaned the cadet.  "Oh, save me, somebody!"

"Let's get the ladder," said Dick, and started for the barn, with
a score of cadets at his heels and George Strong with them.  In
the meantime Captain Putnam again urged Leeks to remain where he
was.  "We will save you, don't fear," he added.

The fire below now made the scene as bright as day, and already the
neighbors were rushing to the scene, followed by the Cedarville
volunteer fire department, with their hose cart and old style
hand-pump engine.

Soon the ladder was brought out of the barn and rushed to the
spot directly below where Leeks stood.  Willing hands raised it
against the building.  And then a loud groan went up.  The ladder
was too short by ten feet--and it was the only ladder to be
had!




CHAPTER XIV

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DORA STANHOPE


"We can't reach him with that!  He'll be burnt up before we can
get to him.   See, the flames are already coming out of the
window beside him!"

"Save me!  Push the ladder up higher!" shrieked Leeks.  "I can't
get down to it!"

"Wait, I've got an idea," put in Dick, and ran behind the barn to
the garden patch.

Soon he came back armed with a long and knotty beanpole.  George
Strong was already on the ladder, and the beanpole was shoved up
to him.

"That's all right!" came the cry.  "Leeks, can't you get hold?"

"I'll try," said the terrorized boy.

As quickly as he could George Strong mounted to the very top of
the ladder.  Then the teacher raised the beanpole, heavy end
upward, until Leeks managed to grasp it.

"Can you steady it against the gutter?" asked the teacher.

"I--I don't know.  If I had a cord--"

"There is a string on the window blind.  Tie the end of the pole
to that."

With trembling hands Leeks did as directed.  The cord was not a
stout one, but it was sufficiently strong to keep the beanpole in
position, and that was all that was required, since the teacher
steadied it and held it up from below.

But getting over the edge of the gutter was no easy movement, and
those on the ground held their breath as Leeks crawled to where
he could grasp the beanpole.  Then the cadet came down on the run
to where his feet struck the top of the ladder.  In a minute more
he and the head teacher came to the ground.

A cheer went up.  "Hurrah!  Leeks is safe!  Good for Mr. Strong!"
In the midst of the cries Leeks fainted and had to be carried to
the gymnasium for treatment.

The fire had evidently started in the lower hallway of the
building, in a closet under the broad stairs.  It was burning
furiously in all of the halls and toward the rear.

As soon as Captain Putnam felt assured that the scholars and all
others were safe he organized the boys into a bucket brigade.  In
the meantime Mrs. Grow, with more forethought than seemed
possible to her nature, had turned on the water pipes leading
from the water tower on the Hall roof.  Thus a dozen small
streams were thrown on the fire, to which the boys soon added
their buckets of water.  Then the Cedarville fire department
added their services, and fighting the fire began in earnest,
while Captain Putnam directed the removal of all furniture and
other things which could be gotten out with safety.

"Say, but this is work!" panted Tom, as he struggled along with a
big bucket of water in each hand.

"I only hope we succeed in saving the building."

"We won't save all of it," replied Sam, who was laboring as hard
as anybody.  "And I guess all of our clothing will be burnt up."

"Don't say a word about dat!" put in Alexander Pop.  "I dun gone
an' buy me a new pair ob checked pants las' week--an' a new
silk hat, too!"  And the negro was almost ready to cry with
vexation at the thought that those new clothes, with which he had
hoped to cut such a dash, would go down in the ruin.

It was a good two hours ere the fire was gotten under control,
and not until after sunrise was the last spark put out.  Then
Captain Putnam and several of the others surveyed the damage that
had been done.

All of the stairways had been burned away, and the plastering
from top to bottom of the three hallways was down.  In the rear,
two dormitories and the garret floor had been burned out.

"A nasty fire," said the captain to his head assistant.  "I'm
afraid I will have to close down the school, at least for a
while."

"I don't know as I would do that, captain," replied George
Strong.  "The classrooms are not touched, neither are some of the
dormitories.  We can bunch the boys up a bit--and I think they
would rather be bunched up than be sent home."

The matter was talked over at some length, and in the end put to
the boys themselves, and all declared that they would rather
remain, and some added that during their spare hours they would
do all they could to put the place into shape again.

"That will be unnecessary," said Captain Putnam.  "The insurance
companies will have to do the repairing, and I shall notify them
without delay.  As to the clothing that has been lost, I will
make that good to each of you."

The fire was not yet out when Dora Stanhope appeared, in company
with John Laning and Nellie and Grace.

"I am so afraid somebody had been burnt up!" cried Dora to Dick.
"I'm awfully glad you and your brothers are all right!"

"We got out easily, answered Dick, but he gave Dora a bright
smile for the interest she had shown in him.

"How did the fire start?" questioned John Laning.

"Nobody knows," answered Tom.  "Captain Putnam says it is a
complete mystery."

"I believe the Hall was set on fire," put in Sam.  "And I believe
I can point out the party who is guilty."

"Dan Baxter?" put in Larry.

"Yes."

"Would he be wicked enough to do that?" cried Dora in horror.

"Yes, I guess Dan is bad enough to do anything," said Dick.

"He was terribly mad over the way we mauled him," came from Tom.
"He was just about ready to kill us."

"If that's the case Captain Putnam had better have Baxter
arrested," suggested John Laning.  "He is a dangerous boy to be
at large."

Captain Putnam came up and was soon told of what had occurred.
He had not heard of the fight down at the lake, but was not
greatly surprised.

"I do not blame you boys, since Baxter began the attack," he
said.  "And I agree, he is a thoroughly bad fellow.  Yes, I'll
have him arrested--providing we can locate him."

Word had already been sent to a clothier, and a gentlemen's
outfitter, both of whom had stores in Cedarville, and before noon
these men came to the Hall, and the students were fitted out
temporarily--that is, the portion who had lost the majority of
their clothing.  Then a gang of laborers and scrub-women were
sent to work to clean up the mess and make the classrooms and
unburned dormitories fit for occupation.  In two days Putnam Hall
was once more in full sway, as though nothing out of the ordinary
had happened, the burnt section being boarded entirely off from
the other.

The search for Dan Baxter began at once, but nothing could be
ascertained concerning him.  A search was also made for the
_Falcon_, but that craft had disappeared from the lake.

"Well, I hope we never hear or see anything more of Baxter," said
Sam.  "I declare, he is worse than a snake in the grass."

"I'd rather see him locked up," answered Dick grimly.  "Then I'd
know he was out of the way of harming us further."

Several days slipped by and the boys were deep in their studies,
when, late one afternoon, Dick was greatly astonished by being
told that Mrs. Stanhope was in the parlor waiting to see him.

"She seems very much agitated," said Captain Putnam.  "I am
afraid something is wrong."

"Can you say what it is, Richard?"

"No, sir; excepting Dan Baxter or Josiah Crabtree may have been
worrying them again."

 "Do you mean to tell me that Baxter goes to their house?"

"He has been there several times to my knowledge. He's as sweet on
Dora Stanhope as Josiah Crabtree is anxious over Mrs. Stanhope--and
neither person deserves any encouragement."

"I thought the engagement between Mrs. Stanhope and Crabtree was
off."

"It was--for the time being.  But it seems Mr. Crabtree isn't
going to give her up--he is too anxious to get hold of Dora's
money," and with this remark Dick hurried to the parlor.

"Oh, Dick Rover!" cried Mrs. Stanhope, when he entered, "do tell
me what has become of Dora."

"Dora!" he repeated in bewilderment.  "I don't know, I am sure.
Has she left home?"

"She hasn't been home since she answered your note yesterday
afternoon."

"My note?  I sent her no note."

"But I found it lying on the dining-room table last evening, when
I came from my room.  You see, I had been lying down with a
headache."

"Mrs. Stanhope, I sent Dora no note.  If she got one that was
signed with my name it was a forgery."

"Oh, Dick Rover!"  The lady had arisen on his entrance, now she
sank back into a faint.

The youth was greatly alarmed, and at once rang for one of the
servants and also for Captain Putnam.

"What is the matter?" asked the master of the Hall.

"Something is very much wrong, sir," replied Dick.  "Dora
Stanhope has disappeared."

"Disappeared!"

"Yes, sir. She received some sort of a note signed with my name."

No more was said just then, Dick, the captain, and the servant
doing all they could to restore Mrs. Stanhope to consciousness.
When the lady finally came to her senses she could not keep from
crying bitterly.

"Oh, where can my Dora be?" she moaned.  "Something dreadful has
happened to her--I feel certain of it."

"Where is that note?" asked Dick.

"I left it on the mantelpiece in our dining room.  It said: 'Dear
Friend Dora: Meet me as soon as you can down at the old boathouse
on the lake.  I have something important to tell you,' and it was
signed 'Richard Rover.'"

"Mrs. Stanhope, as true as I stand here, I never wrote that note
or sent it."

"I believe you, Dick.  But who did send it?"

"Some enemy who wanted to get her away from the house--Dan
Baxter or--"  Dick paused.

"Or who?"

"Well, Josiah Crabtree, if you must know.  He hates her and he
wants to separate her from you."

At the mention of Josiah Crabtree's name a curious shiver passed
over Mrs. Stanhope.  "We--we'll not talk about Mr. Crabtree,"
she faltered.  "But, oh, I must have my Dora back!"  And then she
came near to fainting again.

"I would like to go over to the Stanhope cottage and
investigate," said Dick, after the lady had been placed in Mrs.
Green's care.  "To my mind it won't do to lose time, either."

"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam.  "But be careful
and keep out of trouble."

"Can I take Tom and Sam with me?"

At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly.  "Always like
to be together, eh?  All right, I don't know but what it will be
safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and Dick
lost no time in telling his brothers.  In a few minutes the trio
set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long
time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again.




CHAPTER XV

DICK'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD


The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to
find nobody in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some
clothing in the back yard.

Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went
inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned.

"I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said Dick slowly.

"It is," came from Sam.  "I know it from the flourishes on the
capitals.  He was always great on flourishes."

"We won't waste time here," went on Dick.  "Let us go down to the
old boathouse."

They were soon on the way, along a road lined with brush and
scrubby cedars, the trees which in years gone by had given
Cedarville its name.

At the old boathouse everything was quiet and not a soul was in
sight.  Walking to the end of the house float they gazed out on
the lake.

"Not a boat anywhere," murmured Dick.  "Now, what could have
become of Dora, do you suppose?"

"It's ten to one that Baxter took her off in Mumps' boat!" cried
Tom.  "By jinks, I think I see through this.  Don't you remember
the plot Josiah Crabtree and Mumps were hatching?  I'll wager
they are all in this, to get Dora away from her mother."

"I believe Tom is right," came from Sam.  "And if that is true,
Dora was taken off on a boat beyond a doubt.'

"If she was it won't take very long to find her," returned Dick.
"Let us go to Cedarville and see if anybody has seen the _Falcon_."

Dick had scarcely spoken when a small steam tug hove into sight,
bound up the lake.

"There's a tug now!" exclaimed Tom.  "Hi there!  Hi!" he yelled.
"Stop!"

The captain of the tug heard him and saw him waving his hand,
and, slowing up, made a half circle toward shore.

"What's wanted, young man?" he asked.  "Anything wrong?"

"Yes, a good deal is wrong," replied Tom.  "Have you seen a yacht
named the _Falcon_ today?"

"No, but I saw her late yesterday afternoon," was the reply.

"Around here?"

"No, further down the lake.  I think she was bound for Cayuga."

"Did you notice who was on board?"

"You seem to be very particular about it."

"We are particular.  A young lady has disappeared, and we think
she was taken away on that yacht," explained Dick, as the steam
tug came to a halt.

"Is that so?  Yes, I did see a young lady on board of her.  She
called to our boat as we passed, but I thought it was only in
fun."

"I guess she wanted you to help her," said Dick bitterly.  Then
he continued suddenly:  "Have you anything to do just now?"

"No; I was going up to Ithaca to look for a tow."

"What will you charge to take us down to Cayuga?"

The captain of the tug thought for a moment.  "Three dollars.  It
ought to be worth that to find the young lady."

"We'll go you," answered Dick promptly.  "Swing in and we'll jump
aboard."

Captain Lambert did as requested, and in a moment more the three
Rover boys were on board of the _Cedar Queen_, as the craft was
named.  The captain proved to be a nice man and became thoroughly
interested in the story the lads had to tell.

"I hope we spot the rascals," he said.  "I'll certainly do all I
can for you."

The _Cedar Queen_ was a little craft and somewhat slow, and the
boys fretted a good bit at the long time it took to reach Cayuga.

When they ran into the harbor of the town at the foot of the lake
they looked in vain for the _Falcon_.

"We'll take a sail around," said Captain Lambert; and this they
did, continuing the hunt until long after dark.

"It's no use!" groaned Dick.  "We've missed her."

It took nearly all the money the boys could scrape up between
them to pay off the captain of the tug, and when they had been
landed at one of the docks they wondered what they had best do
next.

"We've got to stay here over night," said Dick.

"We may as well telegraph to Captain Putnam for cash," and this
they did, and put up at one of the hotels.

The place was crowded, for there was a circus in the town and a
public auction of real estate had also taken place that day.  The
boys could get only a small room, but over this they did not
complain.  Their one thought was of Dora and of the rascals who had
carried her off.

"We must get on the track somehow," said Dick.  But how, was the
question.  He could not sleep and after the others had retired
took a long walk, just to settle his nerves.

Dick's walk brought him to the lot where the circus had held
forth, and for some time he watched the men as they worked under
the flaring gasoline torches, packing up what still remained on
the grounds.  The tent men had to labor like slaves in rolling up
the huge stretches of canvas and in hoisting the long poles into
the wagons, and he shook his head grimly as he turned away.

"No circus life in mine," he mused, "at least, not that part of
it."

Dick had moved away from the grounds but a short distance when
his attention was attracted to the strange movements of two
rough-looking individuals who were hurrying off with a third man
between them.

"I don't want to go, I tell you," the middle man muttered;  "I
don't want more to drink."

"That's all right, Mr. Castor," said one of the other men glibly.
"Just have one more glass, that's a good fellow."

"I won't take it, so there!" cried the man called Castor.  "I
know when I've had enough."

"You've got to come along with us," put in the third man
savagely.  "You owe us some money."

"I don't owe you a cent, Fusty."

"Yes, you do--and I'm bound to have it.  Hold him, Mike, till I
go through him."

Of a sudden there was a struggle, and the man called Castor found
himself helpless, while the fellow called Fusty began to go
through his pockets with great rapidity.

The scene alarmed Dick, and he wondered what he had best do.
Then he made up his mind to go to Castor's assistance, and ran
forward.

"Here, let that man alone!" he cried, as he picked up a fence
picket which happened to lie handy. "Leave him alone, I say!"

"The Old Nick take the luck!" muttered one of the other men.
"Who's this?"

"Help!  Help!" cried Castor.

"Let him alone, I say!" repeated Dick, and then struck at one of
the men and hit him on the arm.

Seeing himself thus re-enforced, Castor also struck out, and
continued to call for help.

"We might as well give it up, Fusty!" cried one of the rascals,
and took to his heels, and then there was nothing to do for the
other man but to follow him.

"Are you hurt?" asked Dick as he helped the man who had been
assaulted to his feet.

"Not much," was the slow reply.  "Young man, you came in time and
no more."

"Do you know those fellows who just ran away?"

"I met them at the circus this afternoon.  We had several drinks
and they became very friendly.  I believe they were after my
money."

"I think so too, Mr."

"My name is George Castor. And who are you?"

"I am Dick Rover, sir."

"Rover, I must thank you for your services.  I shan't forget you,
not me!" and George Castor held out his hand cordially.  "I think
I made a mistake by drinking with those fellows."

"I haven't any doubt of it, Mr. Castor."

"Do you reside in town?"

"No, sir; I am stopping at the hotel with my brothers.  We just
came into town tonight on rather a curious errand."

"Indeed, and what was that?"

In a few words Dick explained the situation.  He had not yet
finished when George Castor interrupted him.

"My boy, you have done me a good turn, and now I think I can
return the compliment."

"Do you mean to say you know something of this case?" demanded
Dick eagerly.

"Perhaps I do.  Describe this Dan Baxter as well as you can, will
you?"

"Certainly."  And Dick did so.

"It is the same fellow.  I met him last night, down near the
lumber wharves.  You see, I am a lumber merchant from Brooklyn,
and I have an interest in a lumber company up here."

"You saw Baxter?  Was he alone?"

"No, there was another man with him, a tall, slim fellow, with an
unusually sour face."

"Josiah Crabtree to a T!" burst out Dick.  "Did you notice where
they went?"

"I did not.  But I overheard their talk.  They spoke about a boat
on the Hudson River, the _Flyaway_.  They were to join her at
Albany."

"Who was to join her?"

"This Baxter, if it was he, and somebody else--a man called
Muff, or something like that."

"Mumps!  You struck them, sure enough!  But did they say anything
about the girl?"

"The tall man said that he would see to it that she was
there--whatever he meant by that."

"I can't say any more than you, Mr. Castor.  But I guess they are
going to carry Dora Stanhope through to Albany from all
appearances."

"Then perhaps you had better follow."

"I'd go at once if I had the money that I have telegraphed for.
You see, my brothers and I came away in a hurry, for the
Stanhopes are close friends of ours."

"Don't let the matter of money worry you.  Do you know how much I
have with me?

"I haven't the slightest idea, sir."

"Nearly eleven hundred dollars--and if those rascals had had
the chance they would have robbed me of every dollar of it."

"I shouldn't think you would carry so much."

"I don't usually; but I was paid a large bill today, and went to
the circus instead of the bank--not having seen such a show in
years.  But to come back to business.  Will a hundred dollars see
you through?"

"You mean to say you will loan me that much?"

"Perhaps I had better give it to you, as a reward for your
services."

"I won't take it, for I don't want any reward.  But I'll accept a
loan, if you'll make it, and be very much obliged to you,"
continued Dick.

"All right, then, we'll call it a loan," concluded George Castor,
and the transfer of the amount was made on the spot.  Later on
Dick insisted upon returning the money.




CHAPTER XVI

THE SEARCH FOR THE "FLYAWAY"


"Tom!  Sam!  Get up at once!"

"What's the row now, Dick?" came sleepily from Tom.  "Have you
discovered anything?"

"Yes!  I've discovered a whole lot. Get up if you want to catch
the next train."

"The next train for where?" demanded Tom, as he hopped out of
bed.

"The next train for Albany."

"Have they taken Dora to Albany?" questioned Sam, as he too arose
and began to don his garments.

"I think so," was the elder brother's reply, and while the pair
dressed, Dick told of what had occurred and what he had heard.

"This is getting to be quite a chase," was Tom's remark.  "But I
reckon you are right, and we'll land on them in the capital."

"If we aren't too late," answered Dick.

"I'd like to know how they are going to take Dora to Albany if
she doesn't want to go?" came from Tom, when they were dressed
and on their way to the railroad station.

No one could answer this question. "Josiah Crabtree is a queer
stick and can do lots of queer things," was what Dick said.

The train left at half past two in the morning, and they had not
long to wait.  Once on board, they proceeded to make themselves
as comfortable as possible, each having a whole seat to himself,
and Sam and Tom went to sleep without much trouble.  But Dick was
wide awake, wondering what would be the next move on reaching
Albany.

"Poor Dora!" he murmured.  "Oh, but that crowd shall be punished
for this!  If she comes to harm it will almost kill Mrs.
Stanhope."  And his heart sank like a lump of lead as he thought
of his dearest friend in the power of her unscrupulous enemies.

It was just getting daylight when the long train rolled into the
spacious depot at the state capital.  Only a few working people
and newsboys were stirring.  Tom and Sam pulled themselves
together with long yawns.

"Sleeping in a seat doesn't come up to a bed, by any means,"
remarked Tom.  "Which way now?"

"We'll go down to the river and look for the _Flyaway_," answered
his elder brother.

"It will be like looking for a needle in a hay-stack," said Sam.
"The boats are pretty thick here."

"That is true, but it is the best we can do," replied the elder
Rover.

Once along the river front they began a careful inquiry
concerning the boat of which they were in search.

"Not much progress," remarked Tom, after two hours had been spent
in vain.  "This climbing from one dock to the next is decidedly
tiring."

"And I'm hungry," put in Sam.  "I move we hunt up a restaurant."
An eating place was not far away, and, entering, they ordered a
morning meal of ham and eggs, rolls, and hot coffee.

While they were eating a man came in and sat down close by them.
It was Martin Harris, the fellow who had come to their assistance
after the collision between the _Spray_ and the _Falcon_.

"Hullo, how are you?" he said heartily.  "Still cruising around
in your yacht?"

"No, we just got back to Albany," replied Dick.  "We've been to
school since we left you."

"I see.  How do you like going back to your studies?"

"We liked it well enough," put in Tom.  "But we left in a hurry!"
he went on, thinking Martin Harris might give them some
information.  "Have you been out on the river yet this morning?"

"Yes; just came up from our place below to do a little trading."

"Did you see anything of a yacht called the _Flyaway_?"

"The _Flyaway_?  What sort of a looking craft is she?"

"I can't tell you that."

"One boat there attracted my attention," said Martin Harris
slowly.  "I saw two boys and a girl on board of her."

"How was the girl dressed?" cried Dick.

"She had on a light-blue dress and a sailor hat."

"And the boys?"

"One was dressed in gray and the other in dark-blue or black."

"That was the boat!  Where did she go?" ejaculated Dick, who
remembered well how Mumps and Baxter had been attired, and the
pretty dress and hat Dora was in the habit of wearing.

"She was bound straight down the river."

"We must follow her."

"That's the talk!"  burst out Tom.  "But how?"

"What do you want to follow the _Flyaway_ for?" asked Martin Harris
curiously.

"Those two boys are running away with that girl!"

"Impossible!"

"No, it isn't. One of the fellows--the fellow in dark clothing--is
the chap who ran into us that day."

"Well, now, do you know I thought it looked like him," was
Harris' comment.  "And, come to think of it, that boat got as far
away from me as she could."

"Do you think you would know her again?  I mean the _Flyaway_--if
we got anywhere near her?" asked Dick.

"I think I would, lad.  She had a rather dirty mainsail and jib,
and each had a new patch of white near the top.  Then, too, her
rig is a little different from what we have around here.  Looked
like a Southern boat."

"Have you your boat handy?"

"Yes, she's right at the end of this street.  Do you want me to
follow up that crowd?"

"Could your boat catch the _Flyaway_, do you think?"

"My boat, the _Searchlight_, is as good a yacht as there is
anywhere around, if I do say it myself," answered Martin Harris
promptly.  "It you don't believe it, try her and see."

"We will try her," came promptly from Dick.  "And the sooner you
begin the chase the better it will suit me."

"All right; we'll start as soon as I've swallowed this coffee,"
answered the skipper of the _Searchlight_. "But, hold on, this may
prove a long search."

"Do you want to make terms?"

"I wasn't thinking of that.  I'll leave it to you as to what the
job is worth, after we're done.  I was thinking that I haven't
any provender aboard my yacht, if we want to stay out any length
of time."

"I'll fix that," answered Dick.  "Come, Sam.  You say the yacht
is at the foot of the street?"

"Yes."

"We'll be there in less than five minutes."

"Where are you going--to buy provisions?"

"Yes."

Dick made off, followed not only by Sam, but likewise by Tom.  He
found a large grocery close at hand, and here purchased some
coffee, sugar, canned meat and fish, a small quantity of
vegetables, and also several loaves of bread and some salt.  To
this Tom added a box of crackers and Sam some cake and fruit, and
with their arms loaded down they hurried to the _Searchlight_.

Martin Harris was on hand, and ready to cast off.  "Hullo, you
did lay in some things?" he grinned.  "I reckon you calculate
this chase to last some time."

"We've got enough for several days, anyway--that is, all but--water,"
returned Dick.

"I've got a whole barrel full of that forward, lad."

"Then we are ready to leave.  I hope, though, we run the _Flyaway_
down before noon," concluded the elder Rover, as he hopped on
board.

Leaving Sam to stow away the stores as he saw fit, Dick and Tom
sprang in to assist Martin Harris, and soon the mainsail and jib
were set, and they turned away from the dock and began the
journey down the Hudson.  As soon as they were clear of the other
boats, the skipper set his topsail and flying jib, and they
bowled along at a merry gait, the wind being very nearly in their
favor and neither too strong nor too slack.

"Now I'd like to hear the particulars of this case," remarked
Martin Harris, as he proceeded to make himself comfortable at the
tiller.  "You see, I want to know just what I am doing.  I don't
want to get into any trouble with the law."

"You won't get into any trouble.   Nobody has a right to run off
with a girl against her will," replied Dick.

"That's true.  But why are they running off with her?"

"I think they have been hired to do it by a man who wants to
marry the girl's mother," went on Dick, and related the
particulars of what had occurred.

Martin Harris was deeply interested.  "I reckon you have the best
end of it," he said, when the youth had finished.  "And you say
this Dan Baxter is a son of the rascal who is suspected of
robbing Rush & Wilder?"

"Yes."

"Evidently a hard crowd."

"You are right--and they ought all of them to be in prison,"
observed Tom.  "By the way, have they heard anything of those
robbers?"

"The detectives are following up one or two clues.  One report was
that this Baxter and Girk had gone to some place on Staten
Island.  But I don't think they know for certain."




CHAPTER XVII

IN WHICH DORA IS CARRIED OFF


Perhaps it will be as well to go back a bit and learn how poor
Dora was enticed into leaving home so unexpectedly, to the sorrow
of her mother and the anxiety of Dick and her other friends.

Dora was hard at work sweeping out the parlor of the Stanhope
cottage when she saw from the window a boy walking up the garden
path.  The youth was a stranger to her and carried a letter in
his hand.