BACK HOME—CONCLUSION
“Too late!” groaned Dick. “Oh, why didn’t we get here a minute sooner!”
“Stop, you rascals!” sang out Captain Wells. “Stop, or I’ll fire!” and he
raised his pistol.
“Don’t shoot! You might hit Mrs. Stanhope!” whispered Dick.
“I only want to scare ’em,” muttered the captain of the steam tug.
The motor boat gathered headway rapidly, and soon was out of range of the
pistol. The Rovers saw that the craft contained Tad Sobber, Jim Pally,
Josiah Crabtree and Mrs. Stanhope and another woman, probably Mrs.
Sobber.
“Wonder what has become of Koswell, Larkspur and that Darkingham,” said
Sam.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care, just now!” returned Dick. “Captain, we
must follow that boat without delay. If they get out of our sight we may
never get another chance to rescue Mrs. Stanhope!”
“I’ll get after ’em as soon as I can,” returned the master of the steam
tug.
But to start a pursuit was not so easy, from the fact that the tug lay on
the other side of the island and could not be signalled.
“Tom and I can go after the tug,” said Sam. “The rest of you can try to
keep that motor boat in sight;” and so it was arranged.
The two Rover boys skirted the south end of Chesoque Island. They kept on
a run, and on turning a corner of rocks, plumped fairly and squarely into
Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham, who were talking earnestly among
themselves.
“They said they would send the boat back sure,” Koswell was saying, when
Tom almost ran him down.
“Hello! you here!” cried Tom, and then, as Koswell grabbed him by the arm
he added: “Let me go!”
“Not so fast!” roared Koswell. “Bart, catch the other fellow!”
“I will!” muttered Bart Larkspur, and caught Sam by the arm.
What followed, came with such swiftness that both Koswell and Larkspur
were taken completely off their guard. Tom drew back and hit Koswell a
blow in the nose that sent him staggering back against the rocks and made
the blood spurt freely. 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. “Captain Wells and my
brother want you on the other side of the island at once!”
“We’ll get there as quick as the propeller can take us,” said the mate,
and the engineer nodded to show that he understood. The tug backed away
from the island, and in a moment more was on the way to the old dock.
“Say we gave Koswell and Larkspur something to remember us by,” remarked
Sam, grimly.
“So we did,” answered Tom, with a grin. “Wish it had been ten times as
much!”
“They and that Darkingham must have loaned the motor boat to the Sobber
crowd.”
“Most likely Sobber paid ’em well for its use. He could do it easily—out
of that fortune.”
As the steam tug rounded the end of the island, Tom and Sam were just
able to see the motor boat in the distance. It seemed to be heading for
the mainland.
“All aboard!” sang out Tom, as they ran up to the old dock. But this
invitation was unnecessary, for Dick, Captain Wells and Larry Dixon
leaped on the deck as soon as the craft was close enough.
“Now then, after her!” sang out the eldest Rover boy. “Crowd on all
steam! I’ll pay all expenses, and more!”
“Even if she blows up?” queried the captain, with a bit of dry humor.
“Yes, even if she blows up, Captain! Oh, we must catch them!” added Dick,
pleadingly.
“We’ll do our level best, Mr. Rover. Nobody could do more.”
Soon the throbbing of the engine showed that the tug was running under a
full pressure of steam. The spray dashed all over the craft and those on
board, but to this nobody paid attention. Every eye was riveted on the
craft ahead.
Those on the motor boat were equally eager, and watched the pursuit with
chagrin.
“Do you—er—think they will catch us?” asked Josiah Crabtree, nervously,
not once but several times.
“I don’t know—I hope not,” answered Pally.
“Can’t we run faster?”
“I am crowding her to the limit now.”
“Do you know about motor boats? Perhaps Mr. Sobber knows more.”
“I don’t,” answered Tad Sobber. “Wish I did.”
“I know about ’em—I ran one for two summers,” answered Jim Pally. “I’ll
leave ’em behind if it’s in the boat to do it.”
“Oh, please let me go!” cried Mrs. Stanhope, almost tearfully. “Mr.
Crabtree, I do not want to go with you another step! Please let me go!”
“Keep quiet, Mrs. Stanhope, don’t excite yourself,” he answered, trying
to soothe her. But he was so nervous his voice trembled as he spoke. He
had not dreamed that the pursuit would become so swift and sure.
Closer and closer drew the steam tug, until those on board could plainly
see all that was taking place on the motor boat.
“I command you to stop!” yelled Captain Wells. “Stop, or we’ll run you
down.”
“No, no, don’t you do that!” screamed Josiah Crabtree, in fright.
“Save me! Oh, save me!” screamed Mrs. Stanhope, and then, of a sudden,
she sprang to her feet, leaped to the stern deck of the motor boat, and
cast herself headlong into the waters of the bay.
The movement was so unexpected by the others on the Magnet that not a
hand was raised to detain her. She went down, directly in the path of the
oncoming tug.
“Stop! Back her!” screamed Dick, in horror, and Tom and Sam also yelled
out a warning. There was a quick jangling of a bell, and the engine was
stopped. Then the power was reversed, and the steam tug was steered to
one side.
“There she is!” cried Tom, pointing with his hand, and the next instant
came a splash, as Dick made a dive overboard. He, too, had seen Mrs.
Stanhope floating near, and soon he had her in his arms and was
supporting her.
The engine of the tug was now stopped, and a rope was thrown to the
eldest Rover boy, and he and Mrs. Stanhope were hauled on board. As the
lady was brought on deck, she fainted away, but in a few minutes she
recovered.
“Thank heaven, she is safe!” murmured Dick.
“I’m thankful we didn’t run her down!” added Captain Wells. “It was a
close shave! We had to reverse like lightning.”
“It was well done, sir,” answered Sam.
“Couldn’t have been better,” came from Tom.
“But, say, aren’t we going after those rascals? Remember, even though we
have rescued Mrs. Stanhope, they still have the fortune!”
“Sure, we are going after ’em!” cried Dick. “Go ahead!”
The order to proceed was given, but, much to the captain’s chagrin, the
tug refused to get up any speed. Then came a report from the engineer
that the sudden reversing of the engine had broken some of the machinery.
They could run, but it would have to be slowly.
“Then they’ll get away after all!” groaned Sam. “And with that fortune,
too!”
“Fortune?” came from Mrs. Stanhope, who was standing near the boiler,
trying to dry her wet garments. “What about the fortune, boys?”
“Haven’t they got that fortune with them?” questioned Tom, quickly.
“Oh, no, they buried it, in the cave on the island,” was the answer.
“They didn’t know I saw them, but I did. Tad Sobber and Mr. Crabtree said
they would come back, after—after—” And here she blushed deeply.
“After old Crabtree had forced you to marry him, I suppose,” whispered
Dick.
“Yes, Dick. But, oh! I didn’t want to do it! He tried to hypnotize me,
just as he tried to do years ago—but I fought him off as best I could!”
answered Mrs. Stanhope, earnestly.
“He ought to be in prison again!” muttered Dick.
“If the fortune is on the island, let us go and get it,” cried Sam. “We
can’t catch that motor boat anyway!” For the craft was now all but out of
sight.
The steam tug was headed for Chesoque Island, and slowly made her way to
the old dock. There the engineer and his assistant set to work to make
the necessary repairs, while the three Rover boys and Mrs. Stanhope
visited the cave. Once in the underground opening, the lady pointed out
the spot where the valise containing the fortune had been secreted
between the rocks.
“Here it is!” cried Tom, and dragged the valise to light.
“Open it and see if the fortune is safe!” came from Sam, in a voice he
tried in vain to steady.
The key to the valise was missing, so the lock to the bag had to be
broken open. Inside were the gold and precious stones.
“All here—or at least the greater portion of it,” was Dick’s comment, and
he was right. Only about five hundred dollars in gold was missing, and
two small diamonds—hardly worth mentioning beside the total value of the
treasure.
“Hurrah!” shouted Tom. “We’ve beaten them after all! We’ve got the
treasure!”
“And Mrs. Stanhope,” added Dick. “We must send word to Dora and the
others just as soon as we can!”
“It’s a pity we didn’t catch those rascals,” murmured Sam.
“Oh, we’ll get them some time!” said Dick. How they fell in with their
enemies again will be related in another volume of this series, to be
entitled, “The Rover Boys in the Air; or, From College Campus to the
Clouds,” a tale telling the particulars of several happenings far out of
the ordinary.
While the steam tug was laid up for repairs, several of the party took a
walk and looked for Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham. But they looked in
vain, for those rascals were thoroughly frightened, and kept themselves
well hidden in the woods.
That evening found the Rover boys and Mrs. Stanhope in Portland, where
they put up at one of the leading hotels. Messages were sent to Dora, the
Lanings, and the Rovers at home, telling of the rescue of Mrs. Stanhope,
and of the recovery of the fortune. Then Mrs. Stanhope told how she had
been lured from her home and abducted, and then placed in the care of
Mrs. Sobber, and how she had managed to mail the postal card.
“They treated me kindly enough,” she said. “But they would not let me
have my liberty, and I think they told outsiders that I was insane.”
“That is just what they did,” answered Dick.
A general alarm was sent out for Sobber, Crabtree and the others. But
they kept in the dark and were not captured.
“Oh, how glad I shall be to get back home!” murmured Mrs. Stanhope, when
the return was begun. “It seems an age since I went away!”
“Dora will be glad to see you,” answered Dick.
“I owe you and your brothers a great deal, Dick!” she went on earnestly.
“You are all noble young men!” And this earnest praise made all of the
Rover boys blush.
The return to Cedarville was a great event. Dora clasped her mother in
her arms and laughed and wept by turns, and then threw herself into
Dick’s embrace.
“Oh, Dick! It was splendid!” she cried. “Oh, I shall never forget it,
never!” And then she kissed him right in front of everybody.
The Lanings were equally pleased, and Nellie and Grace were proud of the
parts Tom and Sam had played in the affair.
“You are a regular hero!” said Nellie to Tom, and gave him a glance that
thrilled him through and through.
“And we shall always remember what you did!” added Grace, to Sam.
“You did better than the authorities,” was Mr. Anderson Rover’s comment.
“The authorities did nothing,” added Mr. Laning. “If it hadn’t been for
your boys——” And then he bobbed his head enthusiastically. “Great lads!
fine lads!” he added.
“Whoop!” cried Tom, in sudden high spirits, and catching Sam by the arms
and whirling him around. “Say, I suppose now we can go back and finish
that vacation, eh?”
“Sure thing, Tom!” cried Sam.
And then both set up a merry whistle; and here let us take our leave and
say good-bye.
THE END
This Isn’t All!
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the reverse side of the wrapper which comes with this book, you will
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Don’t throw away the Wrapper
Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But in
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THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(EDWARD STRATEMEYER)
Beautiful Wrappers in Full Color
No stories for boys ever published have attained the tremendous
popularity of this famous series. Since the publication of the first
volume, The Rover Boys at School, some years ago, over three million
copies of these books have been sold. They are well written stories
dealing with the Rover boys in a great many different kinds of activities
and adventures. Each volume holds something of interest to every
adventure loving boy.
A complete list of titles is printed on the opposite page.
FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES.
Uniform Style of Bindings. Colored Wrappers.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
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THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
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THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
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THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
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THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
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THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE
THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED
THE ROVER BOYS ON SUNSET TRAIL
THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE
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Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by
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Each Volume Complete in Itself.
Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which will
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The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when
required but full of fun and daring—a bunch any reader will be delighted
to know.
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
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THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
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THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES
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THE TOWER TREASURE
A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been secreted “in the
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THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF
The house had been vacant and was supposed to be haunted. Mr. Hardy
started to investigate—and disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of
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THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL
Counterfeit money was in circulation, and the limit was reached when
Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale full of thrills.
THE MISSING CHUMS
Two of the Hardy Boys’ chums take a motor trip down the coast. They
disappear and are almost rescued by their friends when all are
captured. A thrilling story of adventure.
HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD
Mr. Hardy is injured in tracing some stolen gold. A hunt by the boys
leads to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen. A western
story all boys will enjoy.
THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY
Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously from the Shore Road. It
remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the mystery.
THE SECRET OF THE CAVES
When the boys reached the caves they came unexpectedly upon a queer old
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THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND
A story of queer adventures on a rockbound island.
THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY
The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the disappearance of some valuable
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By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
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OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS; or Ted Scott’s daring long distance flight.
RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS; or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air.
OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL; or, Ted Scott, Lost in the
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SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE; or, Ted Scott, On a Secret Mission.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC; or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia.
THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER; or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers.
FLYING AGAINST TIME; or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record.
OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS; or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers.
LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE; or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land.
THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA; or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley.
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By VICTOR APPLETON
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volcanoes spout, down among the head hunters of Borneo and many other
places where there is danger and excitement. Every boy who has known Tom
Swift will at once become the boon companion of daring Don Sturdy.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES
DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS
DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS
DON STURDY CAPTURED BY HEAD HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN LION LAND
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF GIANTS
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adventures. Each story is a record of thrilling adventures—rescues,
narrow escapes from death, daring exploits in which the radio plays a
main part. Each volume is so thoroughly fascinating, so strictly
up-to-date, and accurate that all modern boys will peruse them with
delight.
Each volume has a foreword by Jack Binns, the well known radio expert.
THE RADIO BOYS FIRST WIRELESS
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS
THE RADIO BOYS ON SIGNAL ISLAND
THE RADIO BOYS IN GOLD VALLEY
THE RADIO BOYS AIDING THE SNOWBOUND
THE RADIO BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
THE RADIO BOYS TO THE RESCUE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
THE RAILROAD SERIES
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the “Radio Boys,” Etc.
Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great
American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance—railroad
wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a “wildcat”
locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on
board—but there is much more than this—the intense rivalry among
railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the
getting through “on time” in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation
of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin.
RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE; or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.
RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER; or, Clearing the Track.
RALPH ON THE ENGINE; or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.
RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS; or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young
Engineer.
RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER; or, The Mystery of the Pay Car.
RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN; or, The Young Railroader’s Most Daring
Exploit.
RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER; or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.
RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH; or, The Stolen Government Bonds.
RALPH ON THE MOUNTAIN DIVISION; or, Fighting Both Flames and Flood.
RALPH AND THE TRAIN WRECKERS; or, The Secret of the Blue Freight Cars.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
FLYING STORIES FOR BOYS
IN THE AIR WITH ANDY LANE
By EUSTACE L. ADAMS
Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
Mr. Adams, the author of this flying series for boys is an experienced
aviator and has had many thrilling adventures in the air—both as a member
of the famous Lafayette Escadrille in the World War and in the United
States Naval Aviation Service flying with the squadrons patrolling the
Atlantic Coast. His stories reveal not only his ability to tell daring
and exciting air episodes but also his first hand knowledge of modern
aeroplanes and the marvelous technical improvements which have been made
in the past few years. Andy Lane flies the latest and most highly
developed machines in the field of aviation.
FIFTEEN DAYS IN THE AIR
Andy refuels his ship in the air and sets a new endurance record.
OVER THE POLAR ICE
In a giant flying boat Andy beats his enemy in a dash to the South
Pole.
RACING ROUND THE WORLD
In a series of thrilling flights Andy wins an air dash around the globe
to win a $100,000 prize.
THE RUNAWAY AIRSHIP
Through foggy skies Andy Lane brings back the world’s greatest
passenger carrying dirigible, blown away on the wings of a storm.
PIRATES OF THE AIR
Andy Lane pilots the giant passenger plane Apex No. 4 across the
Atlantic in the face of almost overwhelming odds.
ON THE WINGS OF FLAME
Andy makes a forced landing in the South American jungle in the dead of
night and has thrilling experiences with the natives.
THE FLYING WINDMILL
Andy Lane and his restless crew take off in a monster autogyro in
search of pirate treasure.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
End of Project Gutenberg's The Rover Boys Down East, by Arthur M. Winfield