Edward Stratemeyer

“ The road now ran up a hill, and then they came to a thick patch of timber. Before they left the timber, they rested for their mid-day lunch, camping out, as suited them.
"This is something like," remarked Fred. "I think it first-rate."
"It is very nice to be outdoors when it doesn't rain," answered Dick.
"How nice it would be if we had the girls along," said Sam.
"Oh, ho! Sam is pining for Grace!" cried Tom teasingly.
"Pooh! you needn't to blow," returned the youngest Rover, blushing. "Last night you called out for Nellie in your sleep. You must have been dreaming of her." ”

“ The command was a most unexpected one, coming from out of the darkness, and at the word Dick's horse came to a standstill. For the instant the youth could see nobody, but then two horsemen hove into sight, each heavily armed.
At first, Dick could not make out who they were, but as they drew nearer his heart sank within him. One of the newcomers was a man he had seen working around Red Rock ranch and the other was the negro called Watermelon Pete, the fellow who had given the Rovers trouble while on the houseboat. ”

“ The one question is: where are we, and where is the right trail?"
"And a big question to answer, Dick," came from Sam. "For all we know, we may be miles and miles off the road."
"No use of crying over spilt oil, as the lamp said to the wick," sang out Tom. "I move we go on until we strike a ranch, or plantation, or something." ”

“ Dan Baxter grinned. "So you've got yourselves in a nice pickle, eh?"
"Baxter, have you joined this crowd?" asked Dick.
The bully started.
"Why—that's my business," he stammered.
"Perhaps it is, but you might be in something better," put in Sam.
"Oh, you needn't preach to me!"
"Don't you know that these men are counterfeiters?" added Dick.
"You had better shut up, kid," put in one of the men. "You are in our power, and the less you say, the better off you'll be, see?"
"I have spoken nothing but the truth."
"That may be so, too; but folks don't always like to hear the truth." ”

“ He had scarcely spoken when there was a movement at the door of the cell and, by the light of a lantern, the boys found themselves confronted by Sack Todd, Andy Jimson and Dan Baxter.
"So you think the youngest is the best to take along," said Sack Todd to Baxter.
"Yes; the family think more of him than of any one," answered the bully.
"All right. Sam Rover, come out of that!" ”

“ The place looked to be deserted.
"Not a sign of Dick and Sam anywhere," said the fun-loving Rover.
For reply, Songbird hummed softly to himself:
"The woods and plains are everywhere,
But for those things we do not care.
In every nook and every place
We look for a familiar face.
What has become of those we cherish?
Are they alive, or did they perish?"
"Don't go on that way, Songbird, you give a fellow the blues," cried
Tom. "If I thought Dick and Sam had perished—"
"Merely a figure of speech, Tom. ”

“ These and a dozen other questions were asked and answered as the three Rover boys shook hands over and over again. Even though prisoners, they were delighted to be together once more, and doubly delighted to know that each was well.
"Oh, these chaps are first-class rascals," said Dick after they had settled down a bit. "They have treated us most shamefully. At first, they gave us pretty good eating, but now they are starving us."
"Starving you?" cried Tom.
"Yes—they want us to tell all we know," put in Sam. "They are very suspicious." ”

“ Go to some ranch, or make our own camp?"
"Oh, let us go into our own camp!" cried Songbird. "It will be such fun!"
"That's the talk," chimed in Sam.
"We can camp out on the way if the weather proves good," decided Dick. "But if it rains good and hard, I reckon all of you will be glad enough to get under cover."
"Pooh! who's afraid of a little rain," put in Fred. "Why, that will make us grow!"
So the talk ran on, and finally all arrangements were completed for the trip inland. Aleck Pop was sorry he could not accompany the boys, but Dick thought it best that he remain behind. ”

“ At the end of an hour's ride through the forest, all of the boys were so fagged out they could scarcely keep on horseback. It must be remembered that they had to take turns at riding, there not being enough steeds to go around.
"I wish they'd come to a stop," muttered Songbird. "I declare, if I ever get the chance, I'm going to rest for a week!"
"Ton't say a vord," groaned Hans. "I vos so lame I can't most sit up alretty!"
"Let us be thankful if they don't discover that we are following them," said Dick. "If they did find it out, they would certainly make it warm for us." ”

“ The man eyed him as closely as he had the government detective the day previous.
"He isn't much more than a boy, but I'd like to know if he is out here only for pleasure or on business," said the man to himself. "We can't be too careful in our work," and he smiled grimly.
"That fellow wants to know too much," said the eldest Rover in talking it over with his brother Sam. "I must say I don't like his looks at all."
"Nor I, Dick. I'll wager he has some game up his sleeve."
"Perhaps he is the fellow Mr. Monday is watching?" ”

“ Well, down here, we sometimes take the law into our own hands," chuckled the owner of Red Rock ranch.
"Then, if the law ever gets hold of you, it will go so much harder with you," said Sam.
"Bah! Do you suppose I am going to argue with a kid like you?" growled
Sack Todd. "Take 'em below," he said, turning to his men.
There was no help for it, as others were coming to the scene. As the boys marched into the ranch, they came face to face with Dan Baxter.
"Dick Rover!" gasped the bully. "And Sam! What does this mean?" ”

“ Rover seriously.
"Dick! What do you think it is?"
"The crackling of flames. They have set the ranch on fire."
"Would they do that—and leave us here? It is—is inhuman."
"Those men are desperate characters, Tom, and they'd stop at nothing."
They continued to listen, and soon the roaring and crackling grew plainer. Then came a dull thud as some timbers fell, and a current of air carried some smoke into the cell.
"We must get out—somehow, some way!" cried Dick. "If we don't, we'll be caught like beasts in a cage." A sudden thought struck him. "Tom, take up one of the stones." ”

“ CHAPTER XV SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY "Dan Baxter!"
The cry came simultaneously from several of the crowd.
"I think Dick is right," said Songbird. "I thought it must be Dan, but I wasn't sure, for I didn't expect to see him here."
"He and that Sack Todd must have become friends," put in Tom. "I would like to know what Dan is doing out here."
"He is certainly up to no good," answered Dick. "I must say this adds to the mystery, doesn't it, boys?"
"That's what it does," chimed in Sam. "I wish we could catch Baxter and bring him to justice."
"Or reform him," came from Dick.
"Reform him, Dick!" ”

“ Now, as it happened, eating was one of the dolt's weak points, and he readily consented to accompany them. Without loss of time, they made their way back to where Fred and Hans had been left.
"Hullo! who vos dot?" ejaculated the German youth as they hove in sight.
"This is a boy we picked up along the stream," answered Tom, and then drew the others aside and told his story.
"What are you going to do next?" questioned Fred seriously. "It is certainly too bad Sam and Dick are prisoners. We must take care that we are not captured."
"The mystery of the ranch grows deeper," said Songbird. ”

“ Dick. "We are stuck hard and fast."
"Oh, Dick, are we really aground?" questioned Dora.
"We are that," said Captain Starr.
"Is there any danger?" asked Nellie Laning, who had joined the others, accompanied by her sister Grace.
"No immediate danger, miss. It depends on whether we can get off or not."
"We'll have to get off," said Tom decidedly.
"Rub a dub dub!
We're stuck in the mud
As hard as hard can be!
Shall we ever,
Or shall we never,
Set the houseboat free?" came softly from Songbird Powell.
"Great Caesar, that's a fine thing to make a rhyme about," returned
Sam reproachfully. ”

“ The dog acted as if he had been a member of the party since starting from home.
"Are you going to blame me for going wrong?" demanded the poetic youth.
"I wonder if he would be any good after game?" said Sam as he looked at Wags.
"I doubt it," said Tom. "An educated dog—that is, a trick dog—rarely knows anything else. But, nevertheless, I think Wags remarkably bright."
It was not until four o'clock that they went on once more. According to what they had been told, they ought now to be coming in sight of a cattle ranch kept by some old cattle men, but nothing like a ranch appeared. ”

“ While at the plantation, the boys had much sport hunting and fishing and riding. The girls often went along; and all too soon it was announced that the houseboat was once more ready for use, and the brief outing ashore must come to an end.
"Well, take it all in all, we have had a good time," said Dick
"Yes," answered Sam, "although we had a little more excitement than we bargained for."
"Excitement!" came from Tom. "Pooh! Life wouldn't be worth living without some excitement." ”

“ By the time the next run came to an end, the horse was covered with foam and tired out, for the road was very rough. Tom now turned him back and made him journey along at a fairly good rate of speed.
"Well, I declare, here comes Tom back!" cried Fred on catching sight of the fun-loving Rover. "Are you hurt?"
"Not a bit."
"And the horse?" asked Sam.
"As meek as a lamb—shouldn't wish for a better animal. He wanted a little run, that's all, and I gave it to him."
Soon Dick came up, with Hans riding behind him. The German boy looked at the captured horse with awe. ”

“ After that, I'll make you an offer."
"What sort of an offer?" broke in Sam.
"You'll either have to join us, or take the consequences."
"Join you!" gasped Sam and Dick in a breath.
"That is what I said."
"I'll never do it!" came quickly from Dick.
"It's foolish to think of it," added Sam. "We are not criminals."
"You had better give the matter careful consideration. If you won't join us—" The ranch owner paused.
"What?" asked both boys.
"I shouldn't like to say. One thing is certain, though: you shall never leave Red Rock ranch to expose us."
"That's the talk!" put in Andy Jimson. ”

“ Can't he have all the spending money he wants? What more does a fellow need?"
"Counterfeit money, you mean?"
"What's the difference, so long as it passes?"
"Maybe you'll get caught passing it some day," said Sam.
"It is not likely. We are careful, and the money made here is very close to the real thing."
"Don't tell the kids everything," broke in Sack Todd.
At that moment there came a shrill whistle from the top of the stairs leading to the cell.
"Hullo! I'm wanted!" cried the owner of Red Rock ranch. "Come on, Andy, we'll finish this talk some other time." And he stepped to the doorway. ”

“ The houseboat left the town the following afternoon, and the course was now down the Mississippi in the direction of a village called Braxbury, where Mrs. Stanhope had some friends of many years' standing.
"They used to have quite a plantation," said the lady. "If they still have it, we'll have a good chance for a nice time on shore."
"And we can go out for that ride on the prairies," added Sam.
"Want to scalp a few noble red men?" asked Tom, with a wink.
"No red men in mine, Tom. But wouldn't you like an outing of that sort, just for a change?" ”