Arthur M. Winfield

“ At its outer end the cave became broader while the roof was only about ten feet high.
"Hullo, here's another surprise," whispered Dick, as they came closer to the opening. "Look at that!"
He pointed to one side of the cave and there the others saw an automobile runabout standing and on the seat two men dressed for a tour. They were talking to a third man, who was lounging against a front wheel, smoking a brier-root pipe.
"Maybe they are the freight thieves," whispered Tom. "Let us get out of sight and listen to what they have to say." ”

“ By noon they had a good mess of fish to their credit, and then Sam proposed that they go ashore and build a fire and cook some for dinner.
"There is no use of mourning over the wind," said he.
"If it wasn't for the sloop we might tramp to the old house," returned Dick.
"I shouldn't wish to leave my boat just anywhere," said Larry. "Somebody might run off with her,—and she cost quite some money."
"You might leave her in care of some farmer along here," suggested Songbird, and then he added softly:
"For what is a boat without a breeze?
It's like a forest minus its trees. ”

“ Dick had been trying to get out of the hole into which he had tumbled, but without success. Now the sides were growing slippery from the rain, so the ascent became more difficult than ever.
"We're in a pickle," sighed Sam.
"Oh, we've got to get out somehow," answered his big brother. "We can't stay here forever."
The opening was almost square, with three sides of rough rock. In trying to climb up some of the rocks Tom gave one a shove and it slid from sight, revealing an opening beyond.
"Hullo! another hole!" cried the youth, leaping back in consternation. ”

“ The majority of the students were old friends, although there was a fair sprinkling of new boys.
It was not until the end of the week that Dick Rover came into contact with Tad Sobber, a stocky youth, with a shock of black hair and eyes which were cold and penetrating. Sobber was with a chum named Nick Pell, and both eyed Dick in a calculating manner which was highly offensive.
"He's the fellow who does the hero act," whispered Sobber to Pell, in a manner meant to reach Dick's ears. "Wants to make a regular grandstand play all the time." ”

“ With the ice-cream came snapper bonbons, filled with all sorts of things made of paper, and soon one boy was wearing an apron, another a nightcap, and the like. Dora got a yellow jacket, and Nellie a baker's cap, while Grace skipped around wearing a poke hat over a foot high. There was plenty of laughter, and the old folks did not hesitate to join in. Nuts and raisins followed the ice-cream, and then the young folks went back to the sitting room and the parlor to finish their games and have some music.
"Dora, you must play for us," said Dick, and led her to the piano. ”

“ The boys and the hired man went hastily into the cabin and looked around. Nobody but Derringham was in sight. Dick looked at the floor under the table and saw something which looked like a trap door.
"He must have gone into the cellar," said he to the others, and made a movement forward.
"Stop, do not touch that table!" cried the old man, in alarm.
"Mr. Derringham, listen to me," said the eldest Rover boy firmly. "We are after a criminal—a man who for years robbed the railroad company of valuable freight. We know he is somewhere around your place. ”

“ Through this opening the birds flitted.
"I don't believe a soul is around," observed Tom, as they halted in front of the building.
"Nothing like ringing the bell!" cried Sam, and mounting the dilapidated piazza he raised the ancient knocker of the door and used it vigorously. Then came a crash and the youngest Rover felt the piazza bottom give way.
"Look out, a post is coming down!" cried Dick, warningly, and Sam had just time enough to leap away when the corner post of the piazza fell, allowing the roof above to sag several inches. ”

“ Dick had scarcely spoken the last words when down into the hole came a shower of dirt and stones, shoved over the edge above. The boys were struck by the stones and got some of the dirt in their eyes. Then down came a second mass of the same sort.
"Sto—stop that!" spluttered Tom, when he could speak. "Do you want to kill us?"
There was no answer, but down came more dirt and stones, until the boys were almost covered. What to do they did not know, until Dick suggested they drop from the ledge and seek safety in the cave. ”

“ Tired out from their long trip, the Rover boys were glad enough to get back home again. For nearly a week their friends remained with them at Valley Brook farm and then they departed, the Stanhopes and Lanings for their homes and Fred, Hans and Songbird for Putnam Hall.
"Of course you're coming back to the Hall?" Fred had said on leaving.
"Coming back?" had been Tom's answer. "Why, you couldn't keep us away with a Gatling gun!"
"To be sure we'll be back," answered Dick Rover.
"And we'll have the greatest times ever," chimed in Sam. "I am fairly aching to see the dear old school again." ”

“ Then please do, Tom," said the dude eagerly. To have any young ladies think of him pleased him immensely.
"Well, these are a couple of young ladies who work in a laundry. Maybe they wash your shirts. They are colored, and——"
"Colored!" gasped the dude, and then a shout of laughter went up, in the midst of which William Philander started to leave the room.
"Don't go away mad, Billy," cried Tom. "Isn't it nice even to have two dusky damsels think of you?"
"No, it is not—it is—is horrid!" answered William Philander. "I think you are—er—poking fun at me." ”

“ To one side of the parlor was an entryway, and here was a stairs leading to the second story and another leading to the cellar.
"Well, shall we go up or down?" queried Dick.
"Let us see what the cellar looks like first," answered Sam. "Perhaps we'll find a pot of gold there."
"Or a few skeletons," put in Tom.
"Ugh! don't say skeletons," cried Songbird, with a shiver. "I've got the creeps already!"
"Look out that you don't break your neck on the stairs," warned Larry, and then Dick led the way down, holding the light before him. ”

“ There, in front of the soda fountain, were the bully of the Hall and his crony. They were drinking soda and talking to a young girl who had served them.
"Hullo, here they are!" cried Sam, and came to a halt.
As they looked into the place they saw Tad Sobber reach over the counter and catch the girl clerk by her curls. He held fast, grinning into her face, while she tried to pull away from him.
"The mean wretch!" cried Dick. "He tries to make himself as obnoxious as he can to everybody he meets."
"Oh, please let go!" came in the girl's voice through the open doorway. "You hurt me!" ”

“ Laning's remark, "unless he knows the ground well."
"Why not?" asked Sam.
"Just beyond that patch of timber is Nixon's Swamp, as it is called—as boggy and treacherous a spot as can be found for miles around. If he don't look out he'll get stuck there and never get out."
"Do you know the swamp?" asked Dick. "I mean the good spots?"
"Fairly well—I used to come over here when I was a boy—to pick huckleberries. They are plentiful on the other side of the swamp." ”

“ Tom pressed on the door, but it refused to give way.
"I tell you I want you to leave!" cried the old man, after some more whispering in the cabin. "If you don't go away I'll get my gun."
"There are four of us and all armed," answered Dick. "So you had better not do any shooting. But you have got to open that door. We will do you no harm." ”

“ Some shook their heads at the idea of the former bully reforming.
"It will be the greatest surprise I ever heard of," was Larry's comment.
"He'll do it—mark my words," said Dick.
"Let us hope so," said George.
"Well, it would seem that Putnam Hall is not to suffer for the want of a bully," came from Fred. "We've got a new one here who is as bad as Dan Baxter ever was."
"Who is he?" questioned Dick, with interest.
"A chap named Tad Sobber. He is a big, overbearing fellow with hardly any education, and he wants to rule everybody. ”

“ They likewise enjoyed the substantial lunch their Aunt Martha had provided, and ate until Tom was ready to "bust his buttons," as he expressed it.
"Let us try a new path down," said Sam, when it came time to go home, and he and Tom led the way, over a series of rocky ridges and cliffs anything but easy to traverse. In some places they had to drop ten and fifteen feet, and once Tom came down on his ankle in a manner that made him cry with pain.
"You look out for yourself," warned Dick. "If you sprain an ankle up here we'll have a job of it getting you home." ”

“ Peter Slade was much chagrinned to have the victory snatched from him, and began to mutter something about the race not being a fair one.
"I agree with you, it was not fair," answered Sam. "Hans' tippet caught under our runners and held us up a good deal."
"If it hadn't been for that we would have won by three times the distance," added Tom.
"Humph!" muttered Peter Slade. "I guess you jumped off once and pushed." ”

“ Old as he was getting, he never allowed himself to forget the time when he was a boy.
Some distance from the Hall was a fair-sized hill and this was used by the cadets for coasting. As soon as school was over that day the lads brought out their sleds and bobs, and soon the hill was filled with boys, their merry laughter ringing far and wide. ”

“ At the station at Oak Run the boys found their father awaiting them with the big family sleigh. All piled in, and over the crisp snow they started for Valley Brook farm.
"I need not ask how you are feeling," said Anderson Rover. "Every one of you looks the picture of health."
"I never felt better in my life," declared Dick, and Tom and Sam said the same. ”

“ The master of Putnam Hall mused for a moment. "Well, it is very queer. But, as the snake has disappeared, I think we may as well retire once more. I do not imagine we have anything to fear."
It was a good hour before the school was quiet. Many of the boys were afraid to go to bed, and the teachers could not blame them. The Rovers, and their chums got together to discuss the situation in whispers and at the same time remove all traces of the feast which had been so curiously interrupted.
"Dick, what do you make of this?" asked Tom. ”

“ When Tom came out on the street he almost ran into the arms of two burly men who had come out of the tenement. Both caught him by the arms.
"What does this mean, young fellow?" asked one, savagely. "Doing the sneak-thief act?"
"I am after a thief," was the answer. "Did you see a man running away?"
"No, and we don't think there was a man," answered one of the tenement dwellers.
"Well, there was a man," said Tom. "Come, if you will help me catch him I will reward you well."
"What did he steal?"
"Some bonds worth ten thousand dollars—they belonged to my uncle," explained Tom, hastily. ”

“ Captain Putnam expects, every student here to be a gentleman."
"Oh, don't preach. Rover," cried Tad Sobber. "I can take care of myself without your advice."
"Well, I warn you to keep your distance so far as I am concerned and keep a civil tongue in your head," said Dick.
What this war of words might have led to there is no telling. Just at that moment the school bell rang, and all of the students had to hurry to their respective classes.
It may be mentioned here that Sam, Tom and Dick were now in the same grade. ”

“ They could see one of the men trying to lower the mainsail.
"They are in dangerous water!" cried Dick.
He had just uttered the words when they saw the boat strike something, shiver from stem to stern, and back away. Then she went ahead and struck a second time. A second later she went over to larboard, throwing the two men and Tad Sobber into the lake!
"They've struck the rocks!"
"The boat is sinking!"
"They are all in the water!"
"Lower the mainsail!" yelled Larry. "We don't want to get caught on the rocks! Sheer off, Dick!" ”

“ There he demanded to know what the eldest Rover knew of the snake incident.
"Captain Putnam, I will tell you everything from beginning to end," answered Dick. "If I am to suffer I'll take my punishment, and Tom and Sam say they stand ready to do the same." And thereupon Dick related the particulars of the trouble with the bully and Pell, and of how he and his brothers and Songbird and Hans had seen Sobber and Pell at the museum where the snakes had been. Then he told of the feast, and how the snake had been discovered in the box. ”

“ Then, as they came to a number of tall buildings, Merrick darted around a corner and out of sight.
When the Rover boys reached the corner they looked in every direction for the man. Only a few people were about, the majority of the town folks being at the show.
"Wonder if he went straight on, or took to some side street?" mused Dick.
"I'll go straight on," said Sam. "Dick, you can take one side street and Tom can take the other," and away went the youngest Rover, at a fresh burst of speed. ”

“ On the seat of the latter sat Randolph Rover, driving along contentedly.
"Hullo, Uncle Randolph!" sang out Dick, and brought the buckboard to a halt.
"Why, Dick!" exclaimed the uncle, staring at the three boys in surprise. "What brings you here this time of night?"
"We came to find you, Uncle Randolph," said Tom, and added: "Are your traction company bonds safe?"
"My bonds? What do you know of my bonds?" And now the buggy halted beside the buckboard.
"We know two men are after them," said Sam. ”

“ But the punch in the eye had taken away the bully's courage and he did not get up to continue the contest.
"What does this mean?" demanded Captain Putnam, as he came in, and he faced Dick and Slade sternly.
"It means that that fellow ought to have a good thrashing, sir," answered Dick, boldly, and pointed at the bully.
"It's his fault, it ain't mine," put in Peter Slade, hastily. "He started it."
"That is not true. Captain Putnam. I was passing his seat when he reached out and smeared ink on my knee," and Dick pointed down to his soiled trousers. ”