Arthur M. Winfield

“ Very valiantly Hans took the "cake" and the knife and set to work. He had no more success than had Dick and Sam. Finally, in a rage, he lifted knife and "cake" on high and brought them down on a stone with a bang. The "cake" bounced back like a rubber ball and all but struck him in the face.
"Hello, Hans has been manufacturing a foot ball!" cried Tom.
"Vot's der madder mit dot ennahow!" roared the German youth. "I make him chust like mine mudder make him in der old country."
"Hans, did you make the coffee cake with glue?" asked Dick. ”

“ I'd like to search the island for her."
"It's a trick!" cried Larkspur. "It's a trick to get ashore and play us foul! Don't you let 'em land!"
"There is nobody on this island but ourselves," said Alfred Darkingham. "You can take my word for that."
"Will you let me make a search?"
"I will not. I want you to go away, and at once. This is private property, and if you try to land I'll have the law on you!" And as he spoke the young man looked not only at the Rovers but also at the captain of the steam tug. ”

“ And the old station master commenced to scratch his head. He looked at the cigar wonderingly. But no more "worms" were forthcoming, for the reason that the pellets Tom had placed within had burnt themselves out.
"You certainly ought to see a doctor—or else give up smoking cigars," said Tom, as soberly as ever.
"Tom, Rover, ain't this no trick o' yours?"
"Trick? Do you think I am a wizard? I find you smoking a cigar and you go and see worms, or snakes, just as if you had been drinking. Maybe you do drink." ”

“ Down in the orchard was the hive which their uncle had set apart from the others. It seemed to be torn at the top, and a swarm of angry bees were flying around. Part of the swarm had made for Jack Ness, and now the hired man was running for his life.
"Why, I don't see how we hit the hive——" commenced Dick, when a yell from Sam interrupted him.
"The bees! The bees! Some of 'em are head ing this way!"
"Hi! hi! don't let 'em fly away!" screamed Randolph Rover. "They are very valuable! Stop them! Make them go back in the hive!"
"Excuse me from touching any bees!" murmured Tom. ”

“ Not a trace of the stranger was discernable anywhere.
"Well, he didn't fly up in the air," said Sam. "He must have gone somewhere. Why not look into that opening, Dick?"
"You look out that you don't get shot!" warned Tom. "That fellow, if he is one of the old freight thieves and the rascal who robbed Mrs. Stanhope of the valise with the fortune, must be a desperate character."
"If I go in, it will be pistol first," answered Dick, grimly.
He drew the weapon Captain Wells had loaned him, and slowly but cautiously wormed his way between the rocks. ”

“ Then the crowd divided, and Tom, Dick, Sam and Songbird took to the road leading past the Sanderson cottage.
"Remember how we pitched into Flockley and Koswell here?" remarked Sam, as the farm came into view.
"Indeed I do," answered Dick. He turned to Songbird. "You can ride ahead if you wish. We'll go on slowly."
"All right," answered the other. "I won't be long. I only want to leave a volume of 'Poems of Love' I picked up in a bookstore yesterday," and away Songbird pedaled towards the Sanderson house.
"He's got 'em sure," said Sam, with a grin. "Well, Minnie is a nice girl." ”

“ Fred and Hans had been at the farm before and the old folks greeted them warmly. As usual, Mrs. Rover had a substantial meal prepared, and it did her good to see how both Hans and Fred relished the things provided. The German youth especially had a good appetite, and he stowed away so much it looked as if he would burst.
"Say, we'll have to take along lots to eat," whispered Sam to Dick. "If we don't, Hans will clean us out in no time." ”

“ They were hidden in the middle of the dude's things, and he locked up the trunk without discovering them.
"I hope he unpacks that trunk when the ladies are around," said Tom. "Then he can show 'em how he used to play farm hand, and wear three big straw hats at a time."
"It's too bad to part!" sighed Songbird. "Wish we were all going on another treasure hunt!" And then he commenced to warble softly:
"I love to sail the briny deep!
⁠The briny deep for me!
I love to watch the sunlit waves
⁠That brighten up the sea!
I love to listen to the wind
⁠That fills the snowy sails! ”

“ They all waited and watched Hans from a dis tance. The poor German youth worked hard for two hours, baking his stuff over the roaring fire. His face was flushed and he looked far from happy. At last he declared that his coffee cake must be done.
"It certainly looks like coffee," said Tom, as he gazed at the mass, which was shaped like a flower pot and was the color of roasted coffee beans.
"All right, Hans, cut it up and let us try it!" cried Fred, cheerfully.
"Dick, you cut him up," answered Hans, rather faintly. ”

“ Just before Ithaca was reached, the train was delayed. As a consequence they missed the last boat for Cedarville that night.
"That's too bad," said Dick. "Now we won't be able to get to the Stanhope place until eleven o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Well, we can send a telegram to dad at Cedarville," said Sam. "And maybe we can telephone," he added.
At Ithaca Hans left them.
"I keeps mine eyes open for dot Dad Sobber," said he. "Of I finds him I let you know."
"That's the talk, Hans!" cried Tom. "You play detective and some day perhaps you'll win a great big leather medal." ”

“ It's the Sobber crowd, with Dick!" murmured Sam.
"I don't think they are going to aid us," returned Tom.
A few words passed between Sobber, Crabtree and Pally, and then while two of the evildoers held Dick the third cut his bonds.
"Now, then, you can join your brothers!" cried Sobber, and gave Dick a shove that sent him headlong. Down he came with a tremendous splash, and then the waters of the pool closed over him.
"You cowards!" shouted Tom, in a rage. "I shouldn't treat a dog that way!" ”

“ Although the automobile was built for but seven, all had crowded in, Sam sitting in front on Tom's lap, and the ladies and girls occupying the tonneau.
The run to the farm took but a few minutes, Dick "letting the machine out" in a manner that made the ladies gasp.
"Never rode so fast in my life, on a country road!" declared Mrs. Laning, on alighting. "It was like a train!"
"Oh, that was nothing," answered Tom. "We can go twice as fast if we want to." ”

“ When Sobber and Pally came back they were accompanied by Josiah Crabtree. The former teacher and jailbird wore the same dictatorial look as of yore.
"Ha! so we meet again, Rover!" cried Josiah Crabtree, pursing up his lips.
"Mr. Crabtree, is it true that you have married Mrs. Stanhope?" asked Dick, bluntly.
"Well—er—we are as good as married, yes," he stammered, taken somewhat off his guard by the suddenness of the question.
"As good as married? What do you mean?" ”

“ Rover.
"Say, this is the best fish I ever tasted!" cried Dick, when they were eating.
"So I say!" added Fred. "Sam, if you don't mind, I'll take another piece."
"It's the fresh air that tunes up a fellow's appetite," remarked Tom. "Stay out a month and you'll want to eat like a horse."
"Nothing the matter with my appetite at any time," murmured Sam. "Oh, Hans, what's the matter?" he demanded, as he saw the German lad throw his head into the air.
"He's choking!" exclaimed Dick, leaping up in alarm. ”

“ One of the boys ran tip the shore and one down, and Fred and Hans walked towards the woods, the former carrying the shotgun.
"Do you dink a—a bear cotched him?" asked the German youth, in a tragic whisper.
"I don't know what to think," answered Fred. Dick had gone up the shore, where the rocks were rather rough. As he came out on the point he heard a peculiar noise and then a yell.
"A home run! A home run!" reached his ears. "Everybody in the game!" And then, to his utter amazement, Tom appeared, running in a queer fashion. He was headed directly for the lake. ”

“ As the launch and the rowboat it was towing neared the burning steamer the college students gazed eagerly at the forms on the forward deck of the Thistle. Nearly all of the seminary girls were still screaming, and some were waving their arms wildly.
"Help! help! help!" was the cry wafted over the water.
"We are coming!" yelled Dick. "Don't jump overboard unless you are good swimmers!"
"Dick! Dick!" screamed Dora. "Oh, Dick!"
"Dora!" he answered.
"Oh, Tom!" came from Nellie. "Please take us off!" ”

“ COLLEGE BOYS TO THE RESCUE
"Oh, Dick! do you think the steamer will really blow up?" gasped Sam, as the two small boats ranged up beside the larger vessel.
"Perhaps—if they can't get at the boilers to let off steam," was Dick's answer. "But they ought to have safety valves."
"Maybe the man is so excited he doesn't know what he is talking about," put in Tom.
Fortunately the Thistle was not a high boat, but broad and shallow, so the rail of the vessel was but a few feet above that of the launch and the rowboat.
"Come, Dora, and Nellie and Grace!" called out Dick. "We'll help you down." ”

“ Tom and Sam continued to hold up their brother until Dick had recovered sufficiently to support himself. As they stood on the submerged rocks, they listened for some sound from their enemies, but none came.
"Maybe they have left the cave," suggested Sam, after ten or fifteen minutes had passed.
"This is a fierce place," was Tom's comment. "It's just like a great big well!"
"And we are like the frogs at the bottom of the well!" added Dick, grimly. ”

“ Then they stood there, in water up to their knees, supporting Dick as best they could. The oldest Rover boy was all but unconscious.
"Going to help us?" yelled Tom, to their enemies.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Tad Sobber.
"Oh, I fancy he was only shamming!" came from Josiah Crabtree. "Come on away."
"Don't you dare to leave us here!" cried Sam.
"Help us out," came from Tom. "It is your duty to do it."
"Not much!" answered Tad Sobber, with a sneer. "You can help yourself if you can!" ”

“ Around and around the buildings marched the students. William Philander Tubbs wanted to keep out of the procession, but he was caught by Sam and Tom and made to carry a flag consisting of an old red sweater tied to the handle of a broom. Other boys carried the college colors, and they added to the din with tin horns and wooden rattles.
"My! but this is disgraceful!" muttered Professor Sharp, in disgust.
"Disgraceful?" cried Doctor Wellington. "Not at all, sir. Let the young men enjoy themselves. They are doing no harm." ”

“ You can search us if you want to."
"Oh, I don't suppose the lady is on board now, I want to know what you did with her."
"Don't know her—never saw her."
"You took her on board, and you were seen doing it," put in Tom.
"Seen!" cried the captain, and gave a start.
"Yes," put in Sam. "Oh, we've got you dead to rights, and the best thing you can do is to tell us at once where she is."
"Say," said the master of the schooner, slowly and thoughtfully. "You tell me the particulars of this matter and maybe I can put you on the track of something. I never heard of any lady being abducted." ”

“ I am going to Peak's Island and then to Portland, and I may see Tad Sobber, and if I do, I'll tell him what you've said."
"Do it!" cried Koswell promptly. "And tell him I am willing to help him all I can against the Rovers."
"And tell him that Bart Larkspur will help him, too," supplemented that individual.
"All right," answered the stranger. "Of course you know it might be a—er—a little risky, getting the best of those Rovers."
"Oh, we'll take a little risk," answered Koswell. "But, say!" he almost shouted. "I begin to smell a mouse!" ”

“ You played me a trick, that's what you did!"
"It's queer how cigars affect some people. They get nervous and think the end of the cigar is crawling," went on Tom, earnestly. "Now, if I was affected that way I wouldn't smoke."
"Say, Tom Rover, I want you to understand——"
What the station agent wanted Tom to know was never divulged, for at that instant the cigar commenced to swell at the lit end and then an ashy-colored "worm" commenced slowly to uncurl, reaching a length of a foot or more. Ricks took the cigar in his hand, held it at arm's length and viewed it with horror. ”

“ THE FIRE ON THE STEAMER
"That's the way to do it!"
The cry came as Tom knocked a neat liner out to center field. He managed to get to first base with ease, while Dick, on the alert, slid to the home plate just before the ball came in.
"That gives us five runs, anyway!" was Stanley's comment. "Now, Spud, see what you can do."
"Here is where I knock one across the river and back," declared Spud Jackson, as he came forward with a bat. "Better chase your men away out," he added, to Frank Holden. ”

“ But they are rather wild as yet, and I do not dare to disturb them very much."
"Oh, I can't bear bees!" whispered Nellie to Tom. "Let's get out of here," and she walked away, and the others followed.
Although the young folks remained up rather late on the night before the Fourth, Tom, Dick and Sam arranged among themselves to get up early the next day, to fire a salute from the old cannon.
"We'll surprise them all," said Tom. "We'll show 'em we can make a noise even if we are in the country." ”

“ Sam, seeing this, also struck out, reaching Larkspur's left eye, and putting that optic in deep mourning. Larkspur fell back on Darkingham, and for the moment there was great confusion.
"Skip! We don't want to be delayed!" cried Tom, to his brother, and on they went again, before their enemies had time to recover.
Inside of five minutes they came in sight of the steam tug. Those aboard were on the watch for the return of Captain Wells, and the engineer had a full head of steam up, to use in case of emergency.
"Quick!" cried Tom, as he and Sam rushed on board. ”