Edward Stratemeyer

“ As this was the first aeroplane to come to the lake for business, it had taken up quite a few people during the past ten days.
“I wonder how long they stay up on a trip,” remarked Andy, as the four boys resumed their rowing.
“The circulars say fifteen minutes,” answered Fred.
“It didn’t seem to me he stayed up more than ten minutes the time before this,” said Jack. “I suppose they cut the time when they have other people waiting to go up. They carry only two passengers at a time, you know, and I suppose they want to make hay while the sun shines.” ”

“ The lake is free to anybody.”
“You can’t tell me anything about that crowd, Mason. I know them better than you do,” answered Paul Halliday sullenly. “I didn’t leave Colby Hall for nothing.”
“We left it as much as anything to get rid of that bunch,” put in Billy Sands.
“They always want to pick on a fellow,” came from Codfish. “They’re as mean as dirt. I think all of the fellows here ought to make them keep away.”
“We won’t come near your camp if you don’t want us to,” answered Jack. “You can keep to your side of the lake and we’ll keep to ours.” ”

“ Ruth’s father was somewhat excited, and this was but natural. He could not swim, and, moreover, he had received a blow in the side which pained him considerably.
“My daughter? Where is my daughter?” he questioned as soon as he had hold of the side of the boat.
“Jack and Fred went after her,” answered Spouter. “There they are, over yonder. Jack is supporting her.”
“Thank heaven then she isn’t drowned!” said [27] Mr. Stevenson, shuddering. “I’d have gone after her myself; but what can a man do if he can’t swim? ”

“ Then the flying machine began slowly to settle and the motor stopped abruptly.
“Help! Help! Save us!” came in a girlish voice across the water. “Save us!”
“Look! Look!” exclaimed Jack, springing suddenly to his feet. “Unless I’m mistaken, that is Ruth Stevenson!”
“It is Ruth, just as sure as you’re born!” declared Fred. “And a man and the aviator are with her!”
“That man must be her father,” went on Jack. “She said he was going to call at Clearwater Hall to see her. Come on, boys! We’ve got to get to them before the aeroplane pulls them under. Hurry! Row for all you’re worth!” ”

“ A man had been hired who knew all about motor-boats, and he was instructing the various cadets in the use of the craft.
“I must say I wish we were out in one of the new motor-boats,” declared Fred, after they had gone on rowing for ten minutes more. “This is rather hot and tiresome work.”
“Never mind, Fred. You need the exercise,” declared Jack. “You’re getting too stout. The first thing you know you’ll be as fat as Fatty Hendry.” ”

“ The motor-boat people managed to pick up three of the lads in the lake.
“Save me! Save me!” yelled one of the boys, and those in the rowboat saw it was Billy Sands. He was throwing up his arms frantically. Evidently the race had all but exhausted him.
As the rowboat came closer Jack reached over and caught Sands by the arm, and then he and Gif pulled the dripping cadet over the gunwale. They then rowed up beside Bob Mason and assisted him aboard.
“My gracious! did you ever see such a storm?” spluttered Mason. “I never saw so much lightning in my life. I wish I was ashore.” ”

“ The four Rover boys had left Colby Hall about an hour before for a row down the Rick Rack River to the lake. In a boat behind them were four of their chums, Dick Powell, often called Spouter because of his fondness for making long speeches, Gif Garrison, who was at the head of the school athletics, and Ned Lowe and Dan Soppinger. Each crowd of cadets was in a well-built four-oared boat, and a little while before had indulged in a race which had come to an end when all had stopped rowing to look at the aeroplane which was soaring above their heads. ”

“ As soon as they could do so, the Rover twins and their chums who had won the four-oared race put their shell away, had a rub-down, donned their uniforms, and then joined the other cadets. The Longley crew also put their shell away, and then Tommy Flanders and his cronies seemed to disappear.
“I guess they don’t want to be questioned about the race,” remarked Ruth to Martha, when they chanced to see the Longley boys hurrying off.
“Well, it’s a bitter pill for anybody to swallow,” answered Jack’s sister. “No one likes to be defeated.” ”

“ Jack had always been the leader of the four cousins, and they obeyed his instructions as best they could. They put in every ounce of their strength on the oars, and slowly but surely their craft began to overtake the other rowboat.
“Pull, you duffers, pull!” cried Gif, as he saw the Rovers crawling up. “We’re almost to the island! Pull, or they’ll overtake us!”
He increased the stroke and Spouter and Dan [10] followed. But this speed was too great for poor Ned Lowe, and all of a sudden Ned’s oar came up with a tremendous splash that showered everybody in the boat with water. ”

“ As they ran across the campus they saw three figures steal forth from the Colby Hall boathouse. The three figures made for the motor-boat at the dock, and in a minute more the Rovers heard the motor of the boat and then saw the craft glide out into the semi-darkness of the night.
“Now what were they doing at the boathouse?” questioned Jack.
Struck with a sudden fear, the young major broke into a run, followed by the others. They dashed into the boathouse, which was dark, and in one corner saw a faint glare.
“It’s a fire!” gasped Fred. “Somebody has set the place on fire!” ”

“ Then all went back to the railroad station for their baggage.
“Here’s a sample of what we can expect from those other fellows,” growled Andy, as he pointed to the railroad platform. On their baggage had been piled some dirty brushwood and leaves.
“Well, let’s be thankful they didn’t do anything worse,” was Randy’s comment. “They might have hidden the stuff from us, or something like that.”
“I guess they didn’t dare!” burst out Jack. “They knew we’d be after them in a jiffy if they did anything like that.” ”

“ Still taking their time, the boys followed the shore of the lake for a quarter of a mile more and then turned into the opening known as Big Bear Cove. Here there were a number of small islands, all as well wooded as the Cat and Kittens.
“Seems to me this ought to be a lumberman’s paradise,” remarked Andy.
“Not such a paradise as you would think, Andy,” answered Gif. “You see, the growth is so thick none of the trees have much of a chance. [220] Consequently, only a few of them are of a size to meet a lumberman’s approval. Many of them, too, are all twisted out of shape. ”

“ Stowell’s allowance was small, and it was a notorious fact among those who knew him best that he was continually borrowing from those more fortunate than himself.
“That sneak makes me sick,” declared Andy, when he and his brother were by themselves. “I suppose if he had been there he would have said, ‘Give me ten dollars or I won’t haul you out of the lake!’”
“He certainly is a poor stick; and all of the lessons we’ve given him haven’t improved him any, so far as I can see,” answered Randy.
It was not until three days later that the Rovers had a chance to go over to Clearwater Hall. ”

“ The boys arrived at the bungalow about sundown. All were too tired for a while to do more than sit around and rest. Finally, however, they prepared themselves a simple evening meal, and almost as soon as this was disposed of one after another shoved off to bed.
“This is the ideal life,” said Jack, as he was undressing. “A fellow doesn’t have to have any appetizing sauce for what he eats and he doesn’t have to be rocked to sleep.”
“My dad always said that it made a new man of him to spend a week or two up here in the woods,” answered Gif. ”

“ The six lads pressed on, Gif and Jack somewhat in advance and the others following more slowly. Spouter brought up the rear, for he was very apt at times to stop to view the situation.
“I never saw more beautiful views,” said he, as he came to a halt at a point where the path overlooked the sparkling lake. “Every turn is beautiful enough to drive an artist crazy. I wish I could paint. I’d like to spend the whole summer doing some of these scenes.”
“We’ve got to pay more attention to taking pictures, Spouter,” answered Randy. ”

“ By this time the others had come into the general store, adding to the surprise of the cadets from Longley, who glared at them darkly.
“If it isn’t Tommy Flanders and Paul Halliday!” burst out Randy. “What do you know about this!”
“They must be staying up here,” returned Spouter. “Otherwise it isn’t likely that they would be at the store.”
“Where are you fellows stopping?” questioned Halliday, as he approached Fred.
“We’re not stopping anywhere just yet. We just got off the train,” answered Fred.
“But you’re going to stay at the lake, aren’t you?” ”

“ BIG BEAR LAKE
CHAPTER I
ON THE LAKE
“It’s great, I’ll say!” declared Randy Rover.
“I should say it was!” returned his twin brother, Andy. “Just think of swooping through the air like a bird! Gee, I’d like to own a flying machine myself!”
“Well, our fathers owned one once,” declared Captain Fred Rover, somewhat proudly. “They flew clear to Brill College in their machine.”
“Yes, I’ve often heard them talk about that,” put in Major Jack Rover. “They called the machine the Dartaway. ”

“ I suppose they’ll want to put up at the best hotel in Beldane.”
“We’ll have to have ’em over here, by all means,” cried his twin.
“Sure, we’ll have to have them over,” answered Gif. “The bungalow is plenty big enough. And besides we were thinking we might get up a baseball game against the Longley bunch.”
“Right-o!” cried Fred.
“And we’ll wallop them good and plenty,” said Spouter.
“Why can’t we challenge ’em right away?” asked Andy impatiently.
“No, we’d better wait until the other fellows get here. They may not want to stay that long and they may not want to play in a match.” ”

“ JEFF BRINGS NEWS
The Rover boys and their chums knew that Mr. Stevenson could not arrive at the camp before Tuesday evening. He would take the train to Beldane and would probably come up to the bungalow in a motor-boat. After breakfast on Tuesday time hung heavily with all of the lads. They took their morning bath and then knew hardly what to do, being somewhat excited over the prospect ahead.
“Maybe Mr. Stevenson will have a regular fight to get that book of formulas back,” was Randy’s comment.
“When he goes after those men and after Mr. Flanders he’d better go armed,” said Fred. ”

“ It’s very seldom that you’ll find a bear traveling entirely alone. Most likely the mate of the bear is somewhere around.”
At last the boys turned away from the rocky point and rowed out of the cove in the direction of their bungalow. They had spent more time than they had expected, and now found the sun setting over the trees to the westward.
“Gee, this rowing has made me as hungry as any bear!” announced Randy.
“Same here,” answered Spouter. “I do hope Jeff has dinner ready.”
“Some fried fish and fried potatoes won’t go half bad,” put in Jack. ”

“ In the morning Colonel Colby, aided by Captain Dale, started his investigation into the origin of the fire. A hunt was made up and down the lake for the mysterious motor-boat, and Captain Dale even paid a visit to Longley Academy. There he was received with decided coldness.
“None of our boats were out last night. I am sure of that,” said the head of the newly organized military academy. “To think that any of our cadets would be guilty of setting fire to your boathouse is ridiculous, Captain Dale.” ”

“ At a safe distance he turned around and shook his fist at the Colby Hall cadets. “You just wait! I’ll get square some day!”
“Gee! what a meek and innocent little lamb he is,” was Spouter’s comment, as the boys hurried for the Hall.
“Say,” put in Phil Franklin, who was in the crowd but who had taken no part in the discussion with their rivals, “did they get Codfish to play that trick on you?”
“Yes, if you must know it,” answered Randy.
“But don’t let Codfish know about this,” broke in Andy quickly. “He thinks his secret is safe. ”

“ I wish we could get hold of him,” and he shook his head angrily.
“We can’t follow a motor-boat in a rowboat,” [40] answered Jack. “Just the same, we ought to let him hear from us about this.”
“If we only had one of our own new motor-boats,” groaned Fred, “I bet we could catch that old tub!”
“Did you notice who the fellows in the gaudy uniforms were?” questioned Andy. “Our beloved friends, Halliday and Sands!”
“Yes, I noticed that,” returned Jack. “They must be so stuck on those new gaudy uniforms they can’t bear to go out without them. Who was the fourth fellow?” ”

“ As soon as his guests had been made as comfortable as circumstances permitted in the living room, Gif went out into the kitchen to learn what Jeff was doing. He found the colored man building a fire in an old-fashioned cookstove which had been in use in the bungalow for many years.
“Ain’t very much to eat, I’ll tell you that,” said the colored man. “Got a little coffee and sugar and some canned corn and some sardines.”
“Well, I brought a big loaf of bread along and some crackers from that box we had,” answered Gif. “We’ll have to make out somehow. It’s better than nothing. ”

“ The speaker was a Longley boy named Bob Mason whom Jack and Gif knew fairly well. He had been tramping along the shore looking for a good place to fish. He carried a fishing pole in one hand and a can of bait in the other.
“Oh, we just thought we’d take a little row,” answered Gif pleasantly. “We get tired of sticking in one place.”
“I don’t blame you,” answered the Longley cadet. Then he set up a shout: “Hi, you fellows! Come over and see who’s here!”
“What’s that?” questioned Billy Sands, as the baseball game came to an abrupt halt.
“Here are the fellows from Colby Hall!” called back Mason. ”