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THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
OR A CHASE FOR A FORTUNE

BY Arthur M. Winfield
(Edward Stratemeyer)




INTRODUCTION


My dear Boys: "The Rover Boys on the Ocean" is a complete tale in
itself, but forms a companion volume to "The Rover Boys at
School," which preceded it.

In the former volume I tried to give my young readers a glimpse
of life as it actually is in one of our famous military boarding
schools, with its brightness and shadows, its trials and
triumphs, its little plots and counterplots, its mental and
physical contests, and all that goes to make up such an
existence; in the present tale I have given a little more of
this, and also related the particulars of an ocean trip, which,
from a small and unpretentious beginning, developed into
something entirely unlooked for an outing calculated to test the
nerves of the bravest of American youths.  How Dick, Tom, and
Sam, and their friends stood it, and how they triumphed over
their enemies, I will leave for the story itself to explain.
This volume will be followed by another, to be entitled, "The
Rover Boys in the jungle," telling of curious adventures in the
heart of Africa.

As the first volume of the series was so I well received, my one
wish is that the present tale may find equal favor at your hands.

Affectionately and sincerely  yours,

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

September 20, 1899




THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN




CHAPTER I

SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS


"Luff up a little, Sam, or the _Spray_ will run on the rocks."

"All right, Dick. I haven't got sailing down quite as fine as you
yet.  How far do you suppose we are from Albany?"

"Not over eight or nine miles.  If this wind holds out we'll make
that city by six o'clock.  I'll tell you what, sailing on the
Hudson suits me first-rate."

"And it suits me, too," put in Tom Rover, addressing both of
his brothers. "I like it ten times better than staying on Uncle
Randolph's farm."

"But I can't say that I like it better than life at Putnam Hall,"
smiled Sam Rover, as he threw over the tiller of the little
yacht.  "I'm quite anxious to meet Captain Putnam and Fred,
Frank, and Larry again."

"Oh, so am I," answered Tom Rover.  "But an outing on the Hudson
is just the best of a vacation.  By the way, I wonder if all of
our old friends will be back?"

"Most of them will be."

"And our enemies?"

"Dan Baxter won't come back," answered Dick seriously.  "He ran
away to Chicago with two hundred dollars belonging to his father,
and I guess that's the end of him--so far as Putnam Hall and we
are concerned.  What a bully he was!"

"I feel it in my bones, Dick, that we'll meet Dan Baxter again,"
came from Sam Rover.

"Don't you remember that in that note he left when he ran away he
said he would take pains to get square with us some day?"

"He was a big blower, Sam," put in Tom.  "I am not afraid of him.
An his chum, Mumps, was a regular sneak coward.  I hope Putnam
Hall will be free from all such fellows during the next term.
But we--Hold hard, Sam--there is another yacht bearing down
upon us!"

Tom Rover leaped to his feet and so did Dick.  Tom was right;
another craft, considerably larger than their own, was headed
directly for them.

"Throw her over to starboard!" sang out, Dick Rover.  "And be
quick about it--or we'll have a smash-up sure!"  And he leaped
to his brother's, assistance, while Tom did the same.

The Rover brothers were three in number--Dick, the oldest and
most studious; Tom next, is full of fun as an egg is full of
meat, and Sam the youngest.

In a former volume of this series, entitled, "The Rover Boys at
School," I related how the three youths had been sent by their
uncle, Randolph Rover, to Putnam Hall, a military boarding
school, situated upon Cayuga Lake, in New York State.

Whether the three boys were orphans or not was a question that
could not be answered.  Their father, Anderson Rover, had been a
geological expert and rich mine owner, and, returning from the
West, had set sail for Africa, with the intention of exploring
the central region of that country in the hope of locating some
valuable gold mines.  The boys and their uncle knew that he had
journeyed from the western coast toward the interior with a
number of natives, and that was all they did know, although they
had made numerous inquiries, and hoped for the best.  The lads'
mother was dead; and all these things had happened years before
they had been sent to boarding school.

Randolph Rover was an eccentric but kind hearted man, given over
entirely to scientific farming, of which, so far, sad to relate,
he had made a rather costly failure.  He spent all of his time
over his agricultural books and in the fields, and was glad
enough to get the boys off his hands by sending them to the
military school.

When vacation came he wondered what he should do with them during
the summer, but the problem was solved by the boys, who hated to
think of remaining on the farm, and who proposed a trip up and down
the Hudson River and through Long Island Sound, providing their
guardian would furnish the boat and bear the expense of the outing.
The outcome was the chartering of the yacht _Spray_, and all of the
boys took lessons in sailing from an old tar who knew exactly how
such a craft should be handled.

At Putnam Hall the boys had made a number of friends, and also
several enemies, and had had several surprising adventures, as my
old readers already know.  Who their friends and their enemies
were, and what further adventures were in store for the three
brothers, I will leave for the pages following to reveal.  At
present let us turn our attention to the boat which seemed on
the point of running down the _Spray_.

Like their own craft, the other boat carried but a single mast.
But the stick was at least ten feet longer than the mast of the
_Spray_, and the boat was correspondingly larger in every respect.
As she came nearer the Rover boys saw that she contained two
occupants, a boy and a somewhat elderly man.

"Sheer off there!" cried Dick, at the top of his lungs.  "Do you
want to run us down?"

"Get out of the way yourself!" came back the answer from the boy
in the other boat.

"We can't get out--we are almost on the rocks now!" yelled Tom.
Then he gave a start of surprise. "Why, it's Mumps!"

"By jinks, it is John Fenwick!" muttered Dick.  "I remember now
that he came from the Hudson River and that his folks owned a
boat."  He raised his voice, "Are you going to sheer off or not?"

By this time the two boats were nearly bowsprit to bowsprit, and
Sam Rover's heart almost stopped beating.  But now Mumps spoke to
the man with him, and his craft, called the _Falcon_, sheered to
port, scraping the _Spray's_ side as she did so.

"Mumps, what do you mean by such work?" demanded Dick, when the
immediate danger was past.

"Ha! ha!  I thought I would give you a scare," laughed the former
sneak of Putnam Hall.

"You needn't be afraid but what I and old Bill Goss here know how
to keep the _Falcon_ out of danger."

"It was foolishness to run so close," said Tom.

"Don't you talk to me, Tom Rover.  I've had enough of you, mind
that."

"And I want you to mind and keep off next time, Mumps.  If you
don't--"

"What will you do?"

"I'll be tempted to come aboard the _Falcon_ and give you a
thrashing."

"You'll never set foot on my boat, and I'm not afraid of you,"
roared Mumps.  "You think you got the best of me at Putnam Hall,
but you didn't, and I want you to know it."

"How is your friend, Dan Baxter?" cried Sam.  "Has he landed in
jail yet?"

"Never mind Dan Baxter," growled Mumps, growing red in the face;
and then the two yachts moved so far apart that further talk was
impossible.

"Well, I didn't expect to meet him," muttered Dick, after the
three brothers had cooled down a bit.  "He must have known we
were in this boat."

"I saw his craft last night, down near Catskill," said Tom.
"I'll wager he has been following us up."

"He wouldn't do that unless he had some reason for it."

"I believe he would sink us if he could," put in Sam.  "To my
mind he is almost as bad as Baxter."

"Hardly, Sam; Dan Baxter is a thief and the son of a thief," came
from Tom.  "By the way, I wonder if Arnold Baxter is still in the
hospital at Ithaca."

"More than likely, since he was so badly hurt by that fall from
the train.  If we--Look, Mumps has turned around and is
following us!"

Sam pointed to the _Falcon_, and his brothers saw that he was
right.  Soon the larger craft was again within hailing distance.

"Hi, Mumps, what are you following us for?" demanded, Dick, as he
stepped up on the stern seat.

"Didn't know I was following you," was the sour rejoinder.  "I
have a right to sail where I please."

"If you have any game in mind I advise you not to try it on."

"What game would I have, Dick Rover?"

"Some game to get yourself into trouble."

"I know my own business."

"Alright, you can go about your business.  But don't try to step
on our toes--or you'll get the worst of it."

"So you're going to play the part of a bully?"

"No; I'm only giving you fair warning.  If you let us alone we'll
let you alone."

"You have been watching the movements of the _Falcon_ since day
before yesterday," went on Mumps, slowly and distinctly, as
though he expected his words to have a great effect.

"Watching your boat--" began Dick and Tom simultaneously.

"Yes, watching my boat--and I don't like it," answered Fenwick,
and his face grew dark.

"Why should we watch your boat?" demanded Sam.

"Never mind why.  You've been watching her, and that's enough."

"And why should we put ourselves out to that extent--when we are
merely out for pleasure," said Dick.  "There is no fun in
watching a fellow like you, I'm sure."

"John is right; ye have been a-watchin' this boat," growled the
old sailor named Bill Goss, who, it may be as well to state here,
was thoroughly under his younger master's thumb for reasons best
known to himself.  "If I had my way I'd wollop the lot on ye!"
And he shook his fist at the occupants of the _Spray_.

"You keep your oar out!" cried Dick sternly.  "You are entirely
mistaken in your suspicions.  We are not spying on you or
anybody, and if you--"

Dick was permitted to go no further.  While Bill Goss was
speaking the _Spray_ had been caught by a sudden puff of wind
and sent over to starboard.  Now the _Falcon_ came on swiftly, and
in an instant her sharp bow crashed into the Rover boy's boat.
The shock of the collision caused the _Spray_ to shiver from stem
to stern, and then, with a jagged hole in her side, she began to
slowly sink.




CHAPTER II

THE ENCOUNTER ON THE RIVER


For the instant after the collision occurred none of the Rover
boys uttered a word.  Tom and Sam stared in amazement at Mumps,
while Dick gazed helplessly at the damage done.

"Pull her away, quick, Bill!" cried Mumps in a low voice to the
old sailor, who at once sprang forward and shoved the two yachts
apart with a long boathook.  Then the rudder of the _Falcon_ was
put hard a port, and she swung, away for a distance of half a
dozen yards.

"We are sinking!" gasped Tom, who was the first of the three
brothers to find his voice.

"Mumps, you rascal, what do you mean by this work?" demanded
Dick.  And then, without waiting for an answer, he turned to Sam.
"Steer for the shore and beach her--if you can."

"I don't believe we can make it, Dick.  But we can try."

"We'll have you locked up for this, Mumps," shouted Tom.

"I couldn't help it--it was an accident," returned the former
sneak of Putnam Hall glibly.  "You should have kept out of the
way."

"We'll see about that later on."

"Maybe you want us to help you."

"We shan't ask you for the favor," burst out Sam.  "I'd rather
drown first."  But Sam did not exactly mean this.  He and his
brothers could all swim, and he felt certain that they were in no
immediate danger of their lives.

"You had better not ask any favors.  I wouldn't pick you up for a
barrel of money."

"I think we'll have to settle this in court, Mumps," said Dick,
as quietly as he could.

"You can't prove I ran you down."

"Don't you dare to have us hauled up," put in Bill Goss.  "It was
an accident, jest as John says.  I reckon as how it will teach ye
a lesson not to follow us ag'in."

By this time the two yachts were once more so far apart that
talking from one to the other became difficult.  Besides this,
the Rover boys felt that they must turn their whole attention to
the _Spray_, so no more was said.

The yacht had been struck just at the water line and the hole
made in her side was all of six inches in diameter.  Through this
the water was pouring into the hold at a lively rate.

"We're going down as sure as guns," groaned Tom.  "Steer her
right for the shore, Sam."  This was done, and just as the _Spray_
began to settle they ran upon a muddy and rocky flat about thirty
feet from the river bank proper.

"There, we can't go down now," said Dick, with something of a
sigh of relief.  "Let us lower the mainsail and jib before the
wind sends us over on our beam ends."

The others understood the value of the advice, and soon the
mainsail of the yacht came down with a bang, and the jib
followed.  The _Spray_ seemed inclined to list to port, but stopped
settling when her deck line touched the surface of the river.

"That settles yachting for the present," said Dick in deep
disgust.

"And the worst of it is, we haven't even a small boat to go
ashore in," added Sam.  "What's to do?"

"There is a rowboat putting out from the shore now," cried Tom.
"Hullo, there!" he shouted, and waved his hand.

The shout was returned, and the rowboat was headed, in their
direction.  As it came closer they saw that its occupant was a
middle-aged man of pleasant appearance.

"So you had a smash-up, eh?" shouted the man, as soon as he came
near.  "Anybody hurt?"

"Our boat is hurt," answered Tom dryly.

"Much of a hole?"

"Big enough to put us on the bottom."

"So I see.  Want me to take you ashore?"

"Yes," put in Dick, "if you will be kind enough to do it."

"Certainly; always willing to aid anybody in distress.  That
other craft run you down in short order, didn't she?"

"Did you see it?" burst out Sam eagerly.

"To be sure I did."

"Then you know it was her fault."

"I do.  She had no right to follow you up as she did."

"I'm glad you saw the mix-up, Mr..."

"Martin Harris is my name. I'm an old boatman around here--keep boats
to hire, and the like. And who is this I'm to take ashore?"

"My name is Sam Rover.  These are my two brothers, Dick and Tom."

"Do you know who it was ran into you?"

"It was the _Falcon_, a yacht owned by a Mr. Fenwick.  His son and
a man he called Bill Goss were aboard."

At this Martin Harris drew down his mouth.  "A bad set, those. I
know 'em well."

"And we know, Fenwick, too," put in Dick, "He's a regular sneak."

"That's right--takes after his father, who did his best to
defraud me in a boat deal.  And that Bill Goss is a sneak, too,
and worse," and Martin Harris shook his head decidedly.

"Well, we can't talk about those people now," said Dick.  "We're
in a mess and must get out of it the best way we can. As you are
an old boatman, what would you advise us to do?"

"Come ashore with me and then get Dan Haskett to take your boat
in charge and fix her up. He can stop that leak somehow and pump
her out and have her all right inside of twenty-four hours."

"Where can we find this Haskett?"

"Come into my boat and I'll take you to him."

The rowboat was now close at hand, and one after another the
Rover boys stowed themselves away in the craft. Then Martin
Harris took up the oars and started for the river bank.  He
turned down the stream a bit and landed them at an old dock over
which hung the sign: "Daniel Haskett, Boat Builder and Repairer
jobs Promptly Attended to--Charges Small."

Dan Haskett proved to be an elderly man, who was somewhat deaf,
and it took the boys some time to make him understand the
situation.

"We've had a smash-up," began Dick.

"Cash up?" said the deaf man.  "Cash up for what?"

"We've had a smash-up!" repeated the boy in a louder tone.  "We
want our boat mended."

"What's ended?" asked the boat builder.  "Your boat?"

"Almost ended," roared Tom. "We--want--you--to--fix--up--our--boat,"
he yelled.

"Oh, all right.  Where is she?"

Dick pointed with his finger, and at once the boat builder
understood.  "There's a hole in her side," bawled the boy.  "We
want it patched up."

"All right; I can do that."

"Can we have her by tomorrow?"

"How's that?"  And Dan Haskett placed his hand to his ear.

"Can--we--have--her--by--tomorrow?" yelled Dick.

"I guess so.  I'll have to see how badly she is damaged first."

Haskett got out a small boat of his own and, taking Dick with
him, rowed over to the wreck.  He pronounced the injury small and
said the boys could have their boat by noon the next day.  The
charges would be twelve or fifteen dollars.

"We'll be getting off cheaper than I thought," said Tom, on
Dick's return.  "Ought to come out of Mumps' pocket."

"That's so," added Sam.  "By the way, I wonder what he meant by
saying we were dogging him?"

"I can't say," replied Dick.  "But I've been thinking that he
can't be up to any good, or he wouldn't be so suspicious."

"Just exactly my idea!" burst out Tom.  "Do you know what I half
imagine?"

"Well?"

"That Mumps is cruising around waiting for Dan Baxter to join
him."

"But Baxter went to Chicago."

"He won't stay there--not as long as his father is in the East.
He will be back before long, if he isn't back already."

"But he took that money belonging to his father."

"What of that?  His father can't do anything against him, for he
himself is worse than his son, as we all know.  Besides, his
father is most likely still in the hospital."

"If you young gentlemen want to sail around until tomorrow noon,
I can take you out in one of my boats," remarked Martin Harris.
"I've got a first-class yacht, the _Searchlight_, that I can let
you have reasonably."

"Thanks, but I would just as lief stay on shore until our boat is
mended," answered Dick.  "But I want to pay you for what you did
for us," he added.

"Oh, that's all right."

But the boys thought otherwise, and in the end gave Martin Harris
two dollars, with which the boatman was highly pleased.

"Remember, I saw that accident," he said, on parting.  "I can
prove it was the _Falcon's_ fault."

"We'll remember that," answered Dick.

From time to time they had watched the _Falcon's_ course until the
yacht had disappeared down the river.

After a short debate the brothers decided to put up at a hotel
which stood not far away, on a high cliff overlooking the noble
Hudson.

"We've been on the water for nearly two weeks now," said Dick,
"and to sleep in a real bed will be something of a novelty."

As it was in the height of the summer season the hotel was
crowded; but some guests were just departing, and they managed to
get a fairly good room on the second floor.  This had a double
bed, and a cot was added, to accommodate Sam; Dick and Tom
sleeping together, as usual.

It was supper time when the boys arrived, and as soon as they had
registered and washed up and combed their hair, they descended to
the spacious dining room, where fully a score of tables were set.

"This way, please," said the head waiter, and showed them to a
table at one side, overlooking one of the wide verandas of the
hotel.

"I'm as hungry as a bear!" exclaimed Tom.  "You can't serve us
any too quick," he added, to the waiter who came up to take their
orders.

"Yes, sah, do the best I can, sah," grinned the colored man.
"What kind of soup, please?"

"I'll have ox-tail--" began Tom, when he happened to glance out
of the window.  As his gaze fell upon a man sitting in an easy
chair on the veranda he uttered a low whistle.  "By jinks, boys,
look!  Josiah Crabtree, as sure as you're born!" he whispered.




CHAPTER III

JOSIAH CRABTREE FREES HIS MIND


The individual to whom Tom referred had been a former master at
Putnam Hall, but his disagreeable ways had led to his dismissal
by Captain Putnam.

Josiah Crabtree was a tall, slim individual, with a sharp face
and a very long nose.  During the past term at Putnam Hall he had
been very dictatorial to the Rover boys, and it must be confessed
that they had made life anything but a bed of roses for him.
Crabtree had been very desirous of marrying a certain widow by
the name of Stanhope, but the marriage was opposed by Dora, the
widow's daughter, and as Dick was rather sweet on Dora, he had
done all he could to aid the girl in breaking off the match, even
going so far as to send Crabtree a bogus letter which had taken
the teacher out to Chicago on a hunt for a position in a private
college that had never existed.  Dick knew that Crabtree was
comparatively poor and wished to marry the widow so that he could
get his hands on the fortune which the lady held in trust for her
only child.

"It is Crabtree," said Dick, as he gave a look.

"I wonder how he liked his trip to Chicago?" laughed Sam.
"Perhaps the Mid-West National College didn't suit his lofty
ideas."

"Hush! don't let him hear you talk of that," returned Dick.  "He
might get us into trouble."

"What kind of soup, sah?" interrupted the waiter, and then they
broke off to give their order, and the waiter hurried off to fill
it.

"I'd like to know if he has been around the Stanhope cottage
again," mused Dick, as he sipped his soup.

"Dick can't bear to think of anybody around Dora," laughed Tom.

"I don't want _him_ around," retorted the elder Rover, growing red
in the face.  "He wants the Stanhopes' money and that's all he
does want.  I don't believe he really loves Mrs. Stanhope."

"But why does she encourage him?" came from Sam.  "Why don't she
send him about his business?"

"Oh, she is sickly, as you know, and he seems to have a peculiar
hypnotic influence over her, at least that's what Dora thinks."

"What are you laughing at, Tom?"

"I--I was thinking of the time we put the crabs in old
Crabtree's bed," answered the younger brother.

"No, you, weren't--"

"Well?" demanded Tom, as Dick paused.

"You were laughing because I  mentioned Dora, and--"

"'Pon my honor I wasn't," smiled Tom, but his look belied his
words.

"You were.  If I mention her cousins, Grace and Nellie Laning, I
guess the laugh will be on you and Sam--"

"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly.

"They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"

"To be sure.  But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old
Crabtree's way?"

"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick.

"I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."

"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered
the youngest Rover.

"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him,"
grinned Tom.

The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll
around the grounds.  They were just on the point of retiring when
Dick drew his brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing
through a nearby grove of trees.

"There goes Crabtree."

"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam.  "Where does that path
lead to?"

"Down to the river," came from Tom.  And then he added suddenly:
"Come, let us follow him."

"What's the good," grumbled Dick.  "I'm tired out."

"There may be some chance for fun.  Come on," and thus urged Dick
and Sam followed their fun-loving brother.

The path through the grove ran directly to the cliff overlooking
the Hudson, at a point where a series of stone steps led up from
the water's edge.  As they gained a spot where they could look
down upon the river, Dick uttered a short cry.

"Look, boys, a yacht!" he said, pointing through the moonlight.
"I'll wager it is the _Falcon_!"

"And Mumps is coming to meet Josiah Crabtree," put in Sam.

"But what would he want to see Crabtree about?" demanded Tom.

"That remains to be seen. Remember at Putnam Hall the only friends
Josiah Crabtree had were Dan Baxter and Mumps."

"That is true, Dick.  See, Crabtree has his handkerchief out and
is waving it as a signal."

"And here comes somebody up the steps. Mumps, sure enough,"
whispered Sam.

"Let us get behind the trees and learn what is going on," came
from Dick, and the three brothers lost no time in secreting
themselves in the immediate vicinity.

"Well, John, I've been waiting for you," said Josiah Crabtree, as
Mumps came forward and the two shook hands.

"So have I been waiting for you," returned the former sneak of
Putnam Hall.  "Why didn't you come yesterday?"

"It was impossible to do so, my lad.  Is that the _Falcon_ down
there?"

"It is."

"Who is in charge of her?"

"A sailor named Bill Goss."

"Is he a--ahem--a man to be trusted?"

"I guess I can trust him," snickered Mumps. "If he dared to give me
away, I could send him to jail."

"You mean that you--er--have him--ahem--in your power?"

"That's it, Mr. Crabtree."

"Very good.  And is be, a good sailor?"

"As good as any on the river."

"Then he can sail the yacht down the river without mishap?"

"He can take her to Florida, if you wish to go that far."

"No, I don't want to go that far--at least, not at present."

"Don't you think you ought to let me in on your little game,"
went on Mumps earnestly.  "So far I'm in the dark."

"You will know all very soon, John--and you shall be well paid
for what you do."

"That's all right.  But if it isn't lawful--"

"I will protect you, never fear."

"Where is Dan Baxter?"

"Hush!  It will be best not to mention his name, my lad."

"'But where is he?"

"I cannot say exactly."

"Is he around Lake Cayuga?"

"Well--ahem--more than likely he is.  To tell the truth, he
is very anxious to see his father."

"To bone him for some more money?"

"I think not.  Daniel thinks a great deal of his parent, and when
Mr. Baxter was so seriously injured--"

"Dan didn't care much for that.  He isn't that kind."

"Daniel is a better boy than you think, John.  He loves his
parent, and when that imp of a Rover got Mr. Baxter into trouble
Daniel was very much exercised over it."

"Gracious, but that's rich," murmured Dick.  "_I_ got him into
trouble.  I guess the rascal did that for himself."

"Well, we won't talk about that, professor," went on Mumps.  "You
didn't stay in Chicago long."

"No, I--ahem--the position offered to me did not suit my
views, so I declined it."

"Gee-christopher!" came from Tom, and each of the Rovers could
scarcely keep from laughing.

"I think those Rover boys put up a job on you," said Mumps.  "At
least, I got an inkling that way."

"Indeed.  I would like to wring their necks, the imps!" burst out
Josiah Crabtree.  "Oh, what have I not suffered at their hands!
At one hotel where I stopped they placed live crabs--But let
that pass, the subject is too painful.  To come back to the
point.  I can have the _Falcon_ at any time that I may need her?"

"Yes."

"And you will promise to say nothing to a soul about what is done
on the trip I propose?"

"I will."

"Very good, You see, this is a--er--a delicate matter."

"Are you going to marry Mrs. Stanhope and use the yacht for your
honeymoon?" said Mumps somewhat slyly.

"Hardly--although that would not be a bad idea, my lad.  But
now I have a different deal on hand--something very much
different.  If you do not object I'll take a look at your yacht
and interview this sailor you mention."

"All right, come ahead."

Mumps led the way down the rocky steps and Josiah Crabtree
followed, moving slowly that he might not fall.  Creeping to the
edge of the cliff, the Rover boys saw the pair reach the _Falcon_
and go on board.

"Now what is in the wind?" said Dick, as soon as the pair were
out of hearing.

"That's a conundrum," replied Tom. "I'll wager one thing though--old
Crabtree is up to no good."

"I believe you are right.  I wish we could hear the rest of what
is going on."

"Can't we get close to the yacht?" suggested Sam.  "See, the sky
is clouding over.  I don't believe they will see us going down
the stairs."

They talked the plan over for a moment, then began to descend the
steps, keeping as low down as possible and close to some brush
which grew up in the crevices of the stones.  Soon the river bank
was gained at a point not over fifty feet from where the yacht
lay.

They halted behind a large stone close to the water's edge.  By
straining their eyes in the darkness they saw Mumps, Crabtree,
and Bill Goss in earnest conversation in the stern of the vessel.
A low murmur came to their ears, but not a word could be
understood.

"We must get closer," was Dick's comment, when to the surprise of
all they saw the sailor hoist the mainsail of the _Falcon_.  A
gentle breeze was blowing, and soon the yacht was leaving the
shore.  They watched the craft until the gathering darkness hid
her entirely from view.




CHAPTER IV

THE DISASTROUS RESULT OF A TRICK


"She's gone!"

"Yes; and I wonder where to, Tom?"

"I don't believe the yacht will go very far," said Sam.  "Maybe
old Crabtree merely wants to see what sort of a sailing craft she
is."

"We can watch here for a while," returned Dick.

They sat down on a rock and waited, in the meantime discussing
the strange situation.  They could reach no conclusion but that
Josiah Crabtree had some plot he wanted to put into execution.
"And it's something underhand, too," was Dick's comment.

At last they grew tired of waiting and almost fell asleep.  This
being the case they returned to the hotel and made their way to
the bed chamber.  Soon each was sleeping soundly.

When they awoke the sun was shining brightly--and it was
half-past seven o'clock.  "All up!" shouted Tom, and dragged Sam
out by the foot.  Soon they were dressed and made their way to
the dining room.

They had scarcely seated themselves when Josiah Crabtree came in
and was shown to a seat directly opposite the boys.  He did not
notice them at first and began to eat a dish of oatmeal silently
and rapidly.

Tom nudged Sam, and the younger Rover nudged his oldest brother,
and a snicker went up.  At this Josiah Crabtree glanced at them
carelessly.  Then he started back in amazement.

"Why--er--why--ahem--so it is you!" he stammered. "I--er--where did
you come from?"

"We came from our bedroom," answered Tom promptly.  "Where did
you come from, Mr. Crabtree?"

 "Why--er--don't be impertinent, Rover.  I might say that I
came from my bedroom too."

"I thought you came from the river," remarked Dick carelessly.

"From the river?

"Yes."

"You are--ahem, mistaken, my lad.  I have not been near the
river--at least, not since I came up from New York on the
boat."

"Stopping here for the summer?" put in Sam.

"I do not know as that is any of your business, Samuel.  I am no
longer a master at Putnam Hall and when I left that place I
washed my hands of all those connected with that place."

"A good thing for the Hall, sir," came from Tom.

"Don't be insulting, Rover.  You go your way and I'll go mine."

"As you please, sir.  You spoke to us first."

"I'll take good care and not do it again.  But this looks as if
you were following me up."

"That's what Mumps said," cried Sam, before he had stopped to
think twice.

"Ha!  So you have met Mum--I mean John Fenwick?"

"We met him on the river."

"And he said you had been following him?"

"Never mind, Mr. Crabtree, we won't talk any more," put in Dick,
with a warning glance at Sam.  He turned to the waiter.  "Some
fish, please, trout; and see that the biscuits are warm."

"Yes, sah," grinned the negro.

Tom at once took the cue.  "It's going to be a warm day," he said
to Dick.

"I wonder how sailing was last night," put in Sam slyly.

At this Josiah Crabtree looked as black as a thundercloud.

"You boys have been playing the sneak on me!" he cried.  "Take my
advice and beware of what you do in the future."

"I wasn't talking to you," retorted Sam. "Kindly keep your remarks to
yourself."

By this time others were coming to the table, consequently the
cross-fire of words had to come to an end. Josiah Crabtree
finished his repast as speedily as possible and strode out of the
dining room in high but suppressed anger.

"He's a corker," remarked Tom.  "I believe he'd half kill us if
he dared."

"I guess he hasn't forgotten how I stopped him from maltreating
Dora Stanhope," said Dick.  "I wish I knew if he had been around
their place since he came back from the West."

"Of course he has been back," said Tom.  "And he'll marry Mrs.
Stanhope yet--see if he don't."

"Not if I can help Dora prevent it," said his elder brother
firmly.

Breakfast finished they walked out to learn what had become of
Crabtree.  They were just in time to see him leaving the hotel,
valise in hand.

"He's off," said Tom.  "I wonder where he is bound?"

"Let us follow him and find out," returned Dick,

This did not prove to be an easy matter, for at the foot of the
hotel grounds Josiah Crabtree jumped into a stage which was in
waiting, bound for the depot.

"He's off on the train, I guess," said Sam, and the others were
inclined to agree with him.

Down at the river shore nothing could be seen of the _Falcon_, and
they concluded that Mumps had also taken himself off.

The morning was spent around the hotel, in reading the
newspapers and taking it easy out on the beautiful lawn.

"Hullo, here's a novelty!" cried Tom presently, and pointed to an
Italian who was coming up to the hotel.  The fellow had a small
hand organ and a trained bear and two monkeys.  The monkeys were
dressed in red, white, and blue, and sat on the bear's back as he
trotted along.

"He's going to give us a performance," said Sam, as the Italian
came to a halt in the center of the grounds.

"There they go!"

The music started, and at once the bear reared himself on his
hind legs and began to dance.  In the meantime the monkeys
climbed to the bear's head and began a little dance of their own.

"Now for a little sport," whispered Tom, and started for the
hotel.

"Be careful of yourself!" warned Dick; "That bear looks as if he
wasn't to be trifled with."

But Tom did not heed him, his whole mind being bent on having a
laugh at the expense of the Italian and his animals.  Going
around to the kitchen of the hotel, he procured a couple of sugar
cakes, pierced them with pinholes, and filled them up with
pepper.

When he returned he found that a crowd had gathered and the
Italian was passing around the hat.  While Sam and Dick
contributed several cents, Tom gave the bear one bun and divided
the other between the two monkeys.

"Cheep! cheep!" went the monkeys, as if highly pleased.

"You're right, they are cheap," grinned Tom.  "Hope you like the
flavor."

The monkeys began to eat ravenously, for they were nearly
starved.  But they had not swallowed many mouthfuls before they
noticed something wrong.  Then one threw his bun at Tom in a
rage.  A second later the other monkey leaped back on the bear's
head and began to dance and scratch wildly, in the meanwhile
scattering the bun crumbs in all directions.

"Hi! hi! whata you do to de monks?" demanded the Italian.  "You
letta de monks alone!"

"I'm not touching the monks," replied Tom, and slipped out of
sight in the crowd.

By this time the bear had swallowed the larger portion of the bun
given to him.  It was the more peppery of the two, and it brought
tears to the beast's eyes.  With a roar of rage he, turned and
shook the monkey from his head and leaped away from his keeper,
dragging his chain after him.

The monkeys were evidently not used to seeing the bear in an ugly
mood, and at once they sought safety by getting out of his reach.
One leaped into a tree and ran like a cat to the top, while the
second pounced on the shoulder of an elderly damsel, who looked
exactly what she was, a hot-tempered old maid.

"Oh, dear!" screamed the elderly damsel.  "Take the horrid thing
off!  Take it off this minute!"

"Come here, Jocko!" roared the Italian.  "Come, Jocko!" and he
held out his hands.

But Jocko had no intention of coming.  Instead he clung the
closer, his two forefeet in the lady's hair.  The hair was
largely false, and all of a sudden a long switch came loose and
fell to the ground.

At this the damsel screeched at the top of her lungs and, caught
at the hair. The monkey cried, too, in concert, and then a young
man rushed in to the rescue.  But Jocko's blood was up, and,
leaping to the young man's shoulder, he tore off his straw hat
and began to pull it to bits.  Then, with the hat still in his
possession, he made a leap to the tree and joined his brother at
the top.

By this time the uproar was general, and it seemed to anger the
bear still more.  He had been rushing over the lawn, upsetting
easy chairs and benches, but now he charged straight for the
crowd.

"Look out for the bear!"

"The beast is going mad and will chew somebody up!"

"Shoot him, somebody, before we are all killed!"

Such were some of the cries which rang out.  The Italian turned
pale with anger and alarm.

"No shootta Marcus!" he cried.  "No shootta heem.  He de goodda
bear!"

"Then catch him!" put in the proprietor of the hotel.  "Catch him
and tie him up."

But this the Italian could not do, and when the bear headed for
him he ran as hard as anybody present.  Around and around the
grounds fled the people, some rushing for the hotel and the
others to the stables and to a large summer house.  The bear made
first for one and then another, but at last halted in front of
the stable, which now contained the Rover boys, two ladies and an
elderly man, and two colored hostlers.

"Shut the doors!" cried Dick, but his words were unnecessary, for
the colored men were already closing them. The bar had scarcely
been dropped into place when the bear hurled himself with all
force against the barrier.

"He is going to break in the door!" cried one of the ladies.

"Let us go upstairs," said the elderly gentleman, and lost no
time in leading the way.

There was a back door to close, and one of the negroes started
for this.  But just as he got close to the door he saw the bear
coming, and, uttering a wild yell, he too made for the stairs.

Tom was close at hand, and it must be confessed that he felt
thoroughly sorry over what he had done.  "I'm responsible for all
of it," he groaned.  Then, as the bear stepped close to the back
door, he got behind the barrier and tried to shove it shut.

The result was a surprise for both boy and bear, for as the beast
made a leap the edge of the door caught him, and in a twinkle the
animal was held fast by the neck between the door and its frame.




CHAPTER V

A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN SWIM


"I've got him fast!  Help!  Help!"

"Tom's caught the bear!" shouted Sam.  "Can you hold him, Tom?"

"I guess I can if some of you will help me!"  panted the youth.
"Hurry up!"

Sam and Dick were on the stairs, but now both ran to their
brother's assistance, and all three pushed upon the door with all
of their strength.

The barrier groaned and creaked and it looked as if at any
instant it would burst from its hinges.

"Gracious, we can't hold him very long!" gasped Sam.  "Can't
somebody hit the animal with a club?"

"I reckon I can do dat!" shouted one of the hostlers, and caught
up an ax-handle which stood in one corner.  As he approached the
bear, the beast uttered a roar of commingled rage and fear, and
this was so terrorizing to the colored man that he dropped the
ax-handle and ran for his very life.

"Come back here!" cried Tom.

"Can't do it, boss; he's gwine ter chew me up!" howled the
hostler.

"Hold the door--I'll hit him," put in Sam and he picked up the
ax-handle. Stepping forward, struck out heavily, and the bear dropped
in a heap, completely dazed and more than half choked to death.

By this time the Italian was again at hand. In one pocket he carried a
thin but strong line, in a twinkle he had tied one fore and one hind
leg together, so that the bear, when he got up again, could do little
but hobble along. Then from another pocket he drew a leather muzzle,
which he buckled over the beast's head. But the bear had had all of
the ugliness knocked out him and was once more as docile as ever.

"Tom," whispered Dick.  "I guess the best we can do is to get out
of this place.  If folks discover the trick you played, they'll
mob you."

"I guess you're right. But who'll settle our bill?"

"I'll do that," said Sam.  "They know I wasn't near the bear when
the rumpus started."

So it was agreed, and while Tom and Dick left the hotel grounds. Sam
strolled into the office to pay their bill. It was some time before
the clerk came to wait on him.

"Say, I believe, your brother started this kick-up," observed the
clerk.

"What?" demanded Sam, in pretended astonishment.

"I say, I think he started this kick-up."

"What kick-up?"

"The one with the bear, of course."

"Why, my brothers helped to catch the beast."

"I know that; but one of 'em started it.  What do you want?"

"I want to pay our bill.  How much is it?"

"Going to leave?"

"Yes."

"Think you had better, eh?"

"We only hired our room until this noon." Sam drew himself up.
"If you want your pay you be civil."

"Yes, but--"  The clerk broke off short.  "That will be six
dollars, please."

"All right, there you are," and Sam shoved the bills over. "Now don't
say we created a muss or I'll report you to the proprietor."

"Yes, but see here--"

"I've not got my glasses just now.  Good-by, and--"

"That man hasn't got his monkeys yet, and--"

"What's that to you?  Are you afraid the proprietor will put one
of 'em in here in your place?"  And before the clerk could say
another word Sam ran off and joined his brothers at the river
bank.

Soon the three reached the dock where the _Spray_ lay undergoing
repairs.  The deaf man was just finishing his work.

"She'll be about as good as ever," he said, in reply to Dick's
question.  "She's a fine boat."

"I guess he says that of every boat that brings him in a job,"
murmured Sam. "Come on."

He went aboard and the others followed.  Dan Haskett was paid
off, the mainsail was hoisted, and once more they stood up the
river in the direction of the State capital.  It was their
intention to spend two days in Albany and then return to New York
with the yacht.  This would wind up their vacation, for Putnam
Hall was to open on the following Monday.

The day proved an ideal one, but the wind was light and the yacht
scarcely moved even with the mainsail and jib set to their
fullest.  This being so, the boys got out their fishing lines and
spent an hour in trolling, and succeeded in catching several
fair-sized fish.

"We'll have to cook our own dinner," remarked Dick.  "Tom, since
you did us out of our meal at the hotel I reckon you are the one
to fall in for this work."

At this Tom cut a wry face, but still, seeing the justice of his
elder brother's remark, he went at the dinner-getting with a
will.  The yacht boasted a kerosene stove, and over this he set
fish to frying and a pot of potatoes to boiling.  As the river
was calm and the yacht steady the little stove worked very well.

They were still out of sight of Albany when the midday meal was
pronounced ready.  In addition to the articles already mentioned,
they had coffee, bread and butter, and what was left of a
cocoanut pie purchased the day previous.  The boys were all
hearty eaters, and the food disappeared as if by magic.

After dinner the breeze died out utterly, and Sam proposed that
they cast anchor close to shore and take a swim.  The others were
willing, and soon they had disrobed and donned their bathing
trunks and were sporting in the water to their hearts' content.

The water was somewhat colder than they had anticipated, and the
effect upon Sam was disastrous.  The youngest Rover had eaten
more heartily than either of his brothers and this made him sick
at the stomach.  However, as he did not wish to alarm Dick and
Tom and so spoil their fun, he said nothing about his condition.

"Let us race each other," suggested Tom, and started off up the
shore, with Dick close beside him.  Sam brought up in the rear,
but soon gave up the contest.

"Help!"  The single cry reached the ears of Tom and Dick when
they were fully a hundred feet from the _Spray_.  Both turned just
in time to behold Sam throw up his arms and sink from view.

"Great Caesar!" burst out Dick.  "What can that mean?"

"Maybe he is only fooling," replied Tom. "Yet I wouldn't think he
would be so foolish."

"I don't think Sam is fooling," said Dick seriously, and at once
struck out to where the youngest Rover had gone down.  Of course
Tom went with him.

To reach the spot was not an easy matter, and they were still
some distance away when they saw Sam come up again.  Then there
was a wild circling of arms and the boy disappeared once more.

"He is drowning!" gasped Dick hoarsely.

"Come, we must save him, Tom!"

"Yes, yes," was the puffing answer, for Tom was swimming as never
before, and for a brief instant he remembered that awful
adventure Sam had had at Humpback Falls, the summer previous.  At
that time the youngest Rover had nearly lost his life in the
water.

It was Dick who gained the spot first, just as Sam came up and
went down again--totally unconscious.  Diving, the elder Rover
caught his brother around the chest, under the arms.

"Sam, Sam, what is it?" he questioned, and as no reply came back
his heart almost stopped beating.  What if his brother was dead?
The agony of the thought was terrible beyond description.

"Can I help you?"  The question came from Tom, who was now at the
side of the others.

"Catch hold of one arm, if you will," answered Dick.  "He's a
dead weight."

"Oh!"  The moan came so unexpectedly that both Tom and Dick were
amazed.  Then of a sudden Sam opened his eyes and clutched Dick
by the throat.  "Save me!"

Clearly the youngest Rover was out of his mind or he would not
have taken such a hold.  As it was, Dick was nearly strangled and
had to unlock the fingers by sheer force.  Then Sam grabbed him
again, and it looked as if both would go down to a watery grave.

But now Tom came to the rescue.  Swimming up from behind, he
caught Sam first under one arm--and then under the other, in a
back-to-back fashion.  Then he bent forward and began to tread
water, thus holding his brother's head well out of water.

"Push us ashore, Dick!" he panted, and understanding the movement
perfectly, the elder brother did as desired. Soon all three
gained a point from which Tom could wade to the river bank with
ease.

It was an anxious pair that bent over Sam, who rested on his back
with his eyes closed.  But the youngest Rover was not allowed to
remain long in that position.  Tom and Dick knew something of how
to handle a person who is nearly drowned, and they now made use
of this knowledge with all speed.  Sam was rolled and hoisted up
by the ankles, and thus he got rid of a large quantity of the
water he had swallowed.

Yet even when he came to his senses he was too weak to walk, and
Tom had to bring the _Spray_ close to shore, and the sufferer had
to be carried on board, his brothers wading up to their waists
for that purpose.

"The first cramp I got was in the stomach," said Sam, when he
could talk.  "Then it went all over me like an electric shock,
and I felt I was going to drown.  What happened after that was
like some awful dream!"  And he shuddered.  It was a long while
before any of them got over that adventure.




CHAPTER VI

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING


As just related, the boys had brought the _Spray_ as closely
inshore as possible.  All were now in the cabin, Dick and Tom
attending to Sam's wants; and consequently no one noticed the
passage of one of the palatial steamers that make daily trips
between New York and the capital of the State.

These steamers, in running so fast, cast out long rollers on both
sides that go tumbling shoreward one after another.  The rollers
now caught the _Spray_ and sent her dancing up and down like a
cork.

"Hullo, we're in danger!" shouted Tom, and rushed for the deck,
with Dick almost at his heels.  The anchor was dragging, and
unless pushed off the yacht would soon be pounding on the rocks.

"I'll put up the sail!" roared Dick.  "You bring up the anchor!"

"I guess you had better pole her off," replied Tom.
Nevertheless, he did as Dick requested, working like a beaver.

The wind was still faint, and when the mainsail was hoisted it
failed to fill.  Seeing this, Dick seized a pole and Tom did the
same.  They speedily found that they could not send the yacht out
any distance.  But, with a pole at the bow and another at the
stern, they managed to keep her off the rocks until the rollers
began to go down. Then they shoved off with ease and moved slowly
up the river.

"I'll tell you what, in handling a boat you have got to have your
weather eye open all the time," observed Tom.

"Yes, and you want to have it open on all sides of you," smiled
Dick.  "If you don't, you'll catch it before you are aware."

Sam lay on one of the tiny berths with which the _Spray_ was
provided.  His face was deathly white, and, to use his own words,
he felt "as weak as a rag."

"I'm just beginning to realize how close to death I was," he
whispered to Tom.  "It was awfully good of you and Dick to do
what you did."

"Pooh! you would do just as much for us, Sam," answered the
fun-loving brother.  But, just the same, he gave Sam's hand a
tight squeeze on the quiet.

"What was that thumping, Tom?" asked the younger brother a bit
later.

"The rollers from a big steamer nearly put us on the rocks."

"Gracious, more perils!  Don't you think we had better give up
our outing on the water?"

"It will come to an end in a few days, Sam.  We'll make the trip
to Albany, and that will be the last of it."

It was nightfall by the time they came up to the capital city.
Getting the necessary permission to tie up at one of the private
wharves, they locked up the cabin of the _Spray_ and went ashore.

"Tom Rover, as I live!  And Dick and Sam, too!"

The cry came from up the street, and soon a boy of Dick's age was
running to meet them.  It was Frank Harrington, their old school
chum and room-mate of Dormitory No. 6.