Edward Stratemeyer

“ I’ll wear out boot-leather for nothing. I guess Uncle Si and I will have to pull up stakes or starve.”
Not knowing what else to do, Andy walked along to where a number of men were at work. Just then the twelve o’clock whistle sounded, and the workers “knocked off” for their midday meal.
“Hello, Andy!” sung out a cheery voice, and, turning, the boy saw a brawny chopper named Bill Carrow approaching. Carrow had once worked with Mr. Graham, and knew the son fairly well.
“Hello,” returned the youth. “Going to feed the inner man?” and he smiled. ”

“ A substantial supper was prepared for all,—Andy assisting his uncle in getting it ready.
“Uncle Si isn’t a bit like his old self,” whispered Andy to Chet, when they sat down. “Going to work has waked him up and made another man of him.”
“Hope he sticks to it,” answered Chet.
That evening, after all the stories had been told in detail, Josiah Graham brought out the papers Andy had lost in the woods. As the storekeeper had said, they had been well soaked by the snow and rain, but they were still decipherable. ”

“ Go away!” he shrieked.
“Loggermore, you mustn’t set anything on fire.”
“I want light! I must have light! I hate the darkness!” growled the crazed sailor.
“You’ll burn up all our stores. If you do that, we’ll starve to death!” continued Andy, as he drew closer.
“I want light!” went on Loggermore, doggedly. “The darkness hurts my head—I can’t think straight. Stand back and see what a fine light I’ll soon have!” And so speaking, he lit another match, for the other had fallen in the snow and gone out.
“Help! help!” yelled Andy, at the top of his lungs. He could think of nothing else to do. “Help! ”

“ The weight of the big balloon made the upper branches of the tree bend far down, while a few of them were broken. Fearing the whole top of the tree might snap off, the three cadets climbed down with caution until they reached the ground.
“Here we are, safe and sound!” cried Andy, doing a handspring, just to work off his high spirits.
“Don’t crow, Andy; we are not yet out of the woods,” returned Jack, with a faint smile.
[226]
“It seems to me we are much in the woods,” came from Pepper, as he gazed around. “I must confess I haven’t the least idea where we are.” ”

“ Scarcely had the senator's son spoken when there came a loud report from the front end of the car.
"A blowout!" gasped Phil.
"The front tire on this side has gone to pieces!" announced Bert. "Will you have to stop?"
"Can't—not here!" announced Roger, grimly. And then he shut his teeth hard and turned on more gasoline. Up and up they bumped, the burst tire cutting deeply into the rough stones. But the power was there, and in less than thirty seconds more the car came to a standstill on the level top of Sugar Hill.
"Phew; that was a narrow shave!" remarked Bert, as the boys got out of the car. ”

“ Ever since his father had left him the papers Andy had thought they might be of considerable value, but now he was more convinced than ever of their importance.
“For all I know, that claim may be worth a fortune,” he reasoned. “Anyway, it’s worth something, or that man wouldn’t be so anxious to get the papers.”
The youth tried his best to increase his speed, but the snow was deep in spots, and his long journey to the Storburgh camp had tired him, so it took some time to get even within sight of the cabin that was his home. To the rear, under the shed, he saw a horse and cutter. ”

“ They've got to make some allowance for folks that are engaged," he added softly, as he pressed her cheek close to his own.
"Are we engaged, Dick?" she asked as she adjusted her hat.
"Aren't we?" he demanded. "Why, of course we are!"
"Well, if you say so, but—but—I suppose some folks would think we were rather young."
"Well, I'm not so young as I used to be—and I'm growing older every day."
"So am I. I am not near as young as I was when we first met—on that little steamboat on Cayuga Lake, when you and Tom and Sam were going to Putnam Hall for the first time." ”

“ You young fellows think you know it all, but you may get tripped up badly before long," and picking up an ancient and decidedly rusty traveling-bag which he possessed, the corn salve doctor trudged away up the street.
"What a forward man!" exclaimed Matt, as they moved off. "Why, he actually wanted to force himself on us!"
"There are a good many such fellows on the road," returned Andy. "The moment they see some one who appears to be prospering, they try their best to get in with him. ”

“ Edward Stratemeyer is in danger of becoming very popular among the young people of the country.”—Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-eye.
“‘The Last Cruise of the Spitfire’ is of deep interest to the bounding heart of an enthusiastic boy. The book leaves a good impression on a boy’s mind, as it teaches the triumph of noble deeds and true heroism.”—Kansas City (Mo.) Times.
“Let us mention in passing two admirable books for boys, ‘Reuben Stone’s Discovery’ and ‘Oliver Bright’s Search,’ by Edward Stratemeyer, with whom we are all acquainted. ”

“ The new book-keeper is a very rapid man, and we shall not attempt to do anything more until Mr. Allen and I dissolve partnership."
"Then I will go. Good-day, Miss Sumner," and with a deep bow Hal withdrew.
"What a nice young man!" murmured Laura, as the outer door closed.
"He is little more than a boy, pet," said her father. "That mustache he wears is a false one."
"Why, papa?"
"He is playing a part. He is a very smart young man." ”

“ During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow aboard the Brooklyn looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there won't be a soul speak to me after a while."
"I shan't say a word—I'll promise you."
"It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a word."
"I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble.
"Caution Russell! Not for the world. ”

“ At this came a wild cheering from the supporters of Pornell Academy, and the steamer engaged by Doctor Pornell blew her whistle loudly.
“It’s nip and tuck between the Neptune and the Ajax,” said some on shore. “The Alice doesn’t seem to be in it.”
“Queer, too,” said one man. “I thought she looked as good as any of them.”
“Jack, do you think Reff Ritter put some kind of a drag on us after all?” asked Pepper anxiously.
“No,” was the prompt answer.
“Then why are we falling behind?”
“Fortunes of war I suppose,” and the young major heaved a deep sigh.
“We have got to win!” shouted Andy. ”

“ I hate to take a man away from those near and dear to him.”
“True, sir, true—especially when it is not actually necessary. Yes, I’d take the boys by all means. I do not think you’ll regret it. Of course, though, each will have to have a complete outfit.”
“You can trust me to get the best there is.”
When Andy and Chet heard the good news they could scarcely contain themselves. Andy danced a jig right in the hotel room, while both lads had to shake Barwell Dawson by the hand several times, and then they shook hands with Professor Jeffer, too. ”

“ I left them in care of a relative in Malone, in the upper part of this state. They went to Malone, you know, after they left Ithaca. The relative, a party named Spelterly, caught them with ease, and he promised me to put them in a private sanitarium. But why do you ask about this? Have you seen or heard of them?”
“We think we have, although we are not sure,” answered Jack, and then he and Andy told of what had occurred at the Chetwood cottage and when the bicycle had broken down. At the recital George Strong shook his head slowly and sorrowfully. ”

“ There is plenty of adventure in it, a shipwreck, a cruise on a raft, and other stirring perils of the deep."—Detroit (Mich.) Journal.
"In a simple, plain, straightforward manner, Mr. Edward Stratemeyer endeavors to show his boy readers what persistency, honesty, and willingness to work have accomplished for his young hero, and his moral is evident. Mr. Stratemeyer is very earnest and sincere in his portraiture of young character beginning to shape itself to weather against the future. ”

“ The rising is so widespread that it would be foolhardy to remain here. We might—"
The youth broke off short and ran toward the doorway. But White Buffalo was ahead of him. Both had heard the approach of a horse. It was Joseph Morris returning, and he was alone.
"Thank heaven you are safe!" ejaculated the pioneer, as he leaped to the ground and came into the cabin. "I was afraid you might all be murdered. So Dave is here. Where is Henry?"
"Gone," answered Dave. "You saw nothing of him, or of Mrs. Risley or her husband?"
"I did not. But I saw Indians—hundreds of them. They are on the war-path. ”

“ Here we were just talking about Gif and Spouter, and here is a letter from Gif now," he cried.
"Wonder what he's got to say," remarked Fred, and then, as he saw his cousin lingering at the doorway, he added: "Don't you want to come in, Martha, and join us?"
"No, thank you," she returned. "I'm going out with Mary. We're going to buy some things for you boys to take along when you go to that boarding school."
"Oh, I know what those will be," burst out Andy, gaily. "Pink neckties with yellow dots, or nice red socks with blue rings around 'em." ”

“ Parsons, can you make it out?”
The Quakeress gave a long look.
“It looks to me as if ’twere a bear,” she answered slowly. “But we shall soon know for certain, girls, so be patient.”
Throwing on their capes and hoods, Cora and Harmony rushed out of the log cabin, and to the end of the path that had been shoveled through the snow.
“It is a bear!” cried Harmony.
“And a big one, too!” put in her sister.
When the young pioneers reached the girls they were all but exhausted over the long, hard pull.
“Oh, Joe, what a splendid success!” ejaculated Harmony. “Who brought him down?” ”

“ I haven’t any best girl. And, anyway, this letter is postmarked ‘New York.’ I haven’t the least idea what’s in it.”
He tore the communication open and glanced at the heading. Then he glanced at the signature.
“Why, it’s for Andy as well as for me! And it’s from——” He stopped short. “Well, what in the world can this be, anyhow?” And then, as all of the other Rovers crowded closer, he pushed Jack and Fred back. “Excuse me, boys, [71] but this is marked private and is for nobody but Andy and myself.”
“Well, of all things!” murmured Fred.
“What’s the big secret?” came blankly from Jack. ”

“ The lantern was lit and hung over the dashboard, yet it did not light the road very well, and they had to proceed with care.
“This isn’t so nice,” observed Andy, when they were in a black portion of the woods. “Supposing some tramps or highway robbers should pounce out on us?”
“Andy must have been reading some trashy five-cent library,” laughed Pepper. “I caught Link Smiley reading one the other day, and I had to laugh at all the hair-breadth escapes the so-called hero had.”
[83]
“Excuse me, but I’m not giving up my good nickels for such rot,” answered Andy. “Good books are too plentiful. ”

“ Then came a shout in Jack’s voice.
“They have been discovered!” cried Andy, and leaped from the carryall, followed by George Strong and Peleg Snuggers.
“Look out, or they may shoot you!” said the general-utility man, taking good care to keep well to the rear.
Another shout, this time from Pepper, rang out, and then those who had just come up saw two men rush through the forest in the direction of the lake.
“There they go!” cried George Strong. “Stop, Paul! Stop, Bart!” he added.
“Let us alone!” said Callax. “Let us alone!” ”

“ The three chums had soon passed all but Reff Ritter and Joe Nelson. Of these two, Ritter was in the lead, with Joe clinging to him stubbornly.
“Good for Joe!” sang out Andy. “I didn’t think he could ride so well.”
“He looks less used up than anybody,” declared Andy.
It was now a fierce grind. They were on the road leading to Point View Lodge and Jack and his chums looked out eagerly for the Ford girls. They were at the gateway, holding a pitcher of lemonade and glasses.
“Awfully sorry, but if we stop we may lose the race!” shouted Jack, slackening his speed a bit. “It’s nip and tuck!” ”

“ You see, it was growing dark by that time, and the snow was coming down so thickly that it was next to impossible to see any great distance in any direction.”
“Well, we know they went as far as Hacklebury, and that’s something,” returned Phil hopefully.
“Yes, but it isn’t much,” came in a rather hopeless tone from Ben. “I’m afraid they’ve got away and we’ll never see them again, or the miniatures either.”
“Oh, don’t say that, Ben!” cried Laura, sympathetically. “Pictures, you know, are not like money. Porton and that rascal with him will have no easy time disposing of the miniatures.” ”

“ The boy who loved to eat did not finish for several began to laugh.
“We’ll make Stuffer head cook,” cried Pepper. “Stuffer, how does that suit you?”
“All right—if only you won’t ask me to wash dishes,” was the reply.
“Everybody will have to do his share of work,” said Jack, and looked knowingly at Pepper. Then he leaned over and whispered in Andy’s ear. “I am afraid we are going to have trouble with Reff Ritter and his crowd. Reff wants to have everything his own way, and he thinks the fellows ought to make him leader.” ”