E-text prepared by W. R. Marvin
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
Or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht
by
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
1909
INTRODUCTION.
My DEAR Boys: This is a complete tale in itself, but forms the
thirteenth volume of the "Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."
This line of books was started some ten years ago with the publication
of the first three volumes, "The Rover Boys at School ... .. The Rover
Boys on the Ocean" and "The Rover Boys in the Jungle." At that time I
thought to end the series with a fourth volume provided the readers
wanted another. But with the publication of "The Rover Boys Out West,"
came a cry for "more!" and so I added "On the Great Lakes," "In the
Mountains," "In Camp," "On Land and Sea," "On the River," "On the
Plains," "In Southern Waters" and "On the Farm," where we last left
our friends.
For a number of years Tom, Dick and Sam have attended a military
academy, but now their school days at Putnam Hall are at an end, and
we find them getting ready to go to college. But before leaving home
for the higher seat of learning they take a remarkable cruise on a
steam yacht, searching for an island upon which it is said a large
treasure is hidden. They are accompanied on this trip by their father
and a number of friends, and have several adventures somewhat out of
the ordinary, and also a good bit of fun for there is bound to be fun
when Tom Rover is around. They lose themselves and lose their yacht,
and once some of them come pretty close to losing their lives, but in
the end--well, the story will tell the rest.
I cannot close without again thanking my many friends for all the nice
things they have said about the "Rover Boys" stories and the "Putnam
Hall" stories. I trust the present volume will fulfill every fair
expectation.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
CONTENTS
I Bound For Home
II An Important Telegram
III Fun On The Farm
IV A Midnight Search
V At The Old Mill
VI The Story Of A Treasure
VII In Which Something Is Missing
VIII The Rover Boys In New York
IX A Chase On The Bowery
X Dick Becomes A Prisoner
XI Aboard The Steam Yacht
XII Something About Firecrackers
XIII A Wild Automobile Ride
XIV What A Roman Candle Did
XV The Sailing Of The Steam Yacht
XVI A Row On Shipboard
XVII A Mishap In The Fog
XVIII The New Deck Hand
XIX Treasure Isle At Last
XX The Boys Make A Discovery
XXI Scaring Off The Enemy
XXII Prisoners In The Forest
XXIII What Wingate Had To Tell
XXIV A Missing Landmark
XXV The Trail Through The Jungle
XXVI A Dismaying Discovery
XXVII What Happened On The Steam Yacht
XXVIII A New Move Of The Enemy
XXIX The Hunt For The Treasure
XXX Homeward Bound--Conclusion
CHAPTER I
BOUND FOR HOME
"HURRY Up, Sam, unless you want to be left behind!"
"I'm coming!" shouted Sam Rover, as he crossed the depot platform on
the run. "Where is Tom?"
"He went ahead, to get two good seats for us," answered Dick Rover. He
looked around the crowd that had gathered to take the train. "Hi,
there, Songbird, this way! Come in this car, Hans!"
"Say, aren't you fellows coming aboard?" came a voice from the nearest
car, and a curlytopped head with a pair of laughing eyes appeared.
"Folks crowding in to beat the band! Come on in if you want seats."
"We'll be in directly," answered Sam, and followed his brother Dick to
the car steps. Here there was quite a jam, and the Rover boys had all
they could do to get into the car, followed by half a dozen of their
school chums. But Tom Rover had managed to keep seats for all, and
they sat "in a bunch," much to their satisfaction. Then the train
rolled out of the station, and the journey homeward was begun.
The term at Putnam Hall Military Academy was at an end, and the school
days of the three Rover boys at that institution were now a thing of
the past. Each had graduated with honors, yet all were a trifle sad to
think that there would be no going back to a place where they had made
so many friends.
"It's almost like giving up your home," Dick had said, several times,
while at the actual parting Sam had had to do his best to keep back
the tears which welled up in his eyes. Even fun-loving Tom had stopped
a good deal of his whistling and had looked unusually sober.
"We'll never have such good times as we've had at Putnam Hall," Sam
had said, but he was mistaken, as later events proved.
The three Rover boys did not wish to part from their many school
chums, yet they were, more than anxious to get home, and for this
there was a very good reason. Their father had told them that he had a
very important communication to make to them one regarding how the
summer was to be spent. So far no arrangements had been made for the
vacation, and the brothers were anxious to know "what was in the
wind," as Tom expressed it.
"Maybe we are to prepare for college," said Dick.
"Perhaps we are to go on another trip to Africa?" added Sam.
"Or start on a hunt for the North Pole," put in Tom. "That would be
just the thing for this hot weather."
"I can tell you one thing," went on Dick. "Whatever father has on his
mind is of a serious nature. It is no mere outing for pleasure."
"I know that," answered Sam, "I could see it by the look on his face."
"Well, we'll know all about it by this time tomorrow," said Tom. "I
hope it is some trip--I love to travel," and his brothers nodded
their heads in approval.
To those who have read any of the twelve previous volumes in this
"Rover Boys Series" the three brothers will need no special
introduction. For the benefit of new readers allow me to state that
Dick was the oldest, fun-loving Tom next, and Sam the youngest. They
were the sons of Anderson Rover, a widower and rich mine owner. The
father was a great traveler, and for years the boys had made their
home with their uncle, Randolph Rover, and their Aunt Martha, on a
farm called Valley Brook, in the heart of New York state.
From the farm, and while their father was in Africa, the boys had been
sent to Putnam Hall, as related in the first volume of this series,
entitled, "The Rover Boys at School." At the Hall they made a score of
friends and several enemies, some of which will be introduced later. A
term at school was followed by a trip on the ocean, and then one into
the jungles of the Dark Continent in search of Mr. Rover, who had
mysteriously disappeared. Then the Rover boys went out west and to the
great lakes, and later spent a fine time hunting in the mountains.
They likewise spent some time in camp with their fellow cadets, and
during the summer vacation took a long trip on land and sea. Then they
returned home, and during another vacation sailed down the Ohio River
in a houseboat, spent some time on the plains, took an unexpected trip
to southern waters, and then came back to the farm.
On getting back home, as related in the twelfth volume of this series,
called "The Rover Boys on the Farm," the boys had imagined that
adventures for them were a thing of the past. They were willing to
take it easy, but this was not to be. Some bad men, including a
sharper named Sid Merrick, were responsible for the theft of some
freight from the local railroad, and Merrick, by a slick trick,
obtained possession of some traction company bonds belonging to
Randolph Rover. The Rover boys managed to locate the freight thieves,
but Sid Merrick got away from them, dropping a pocketbook containing
the traction company bonds in his flight. This was at a time when
Dick, Tom and Sam had returned to Putnam Hall for their final term at
that institution. At the Hall they had made a bitter enemy of a big,
stocky bully named Tad Sobber and of another lad named Nick Pell. Tad
Sobber, to get even with the Rovers for a fancied injury, sent to the
latter a box containing a live, poisonous snake. The snake got away
and hid in Nick Pell's desk and Nick was bitten and for some time it
was feared that he might die. He exposed Tad Sobber, and fearing
arrest the bully ran away from the Hall. Later, much to their
surprise, the Rover boys learned that the bully was a ward and nephew
of Sid Merrick, and when the sharper disappeared, Tad Sobber went with
him.
"They are certainly a bad pair," said Dick, but how bad the Rovers
were still to find out.
With the boys on the train were John Powell, better known as
"Songbird," because he had a, habit of reciting newly made doggerell
which he called poetry, Hans Mueller, a German youth who frequently
got his English badly twisted, Fred Garrison, who had graduated with
the Rovers, and some others.
"Dick, you haven't told me yet what you intended to do this summer,"
remarked Fred Garrison, as the train rolled on.
"Because I don't know, Fred," answered the elder Rover. "My father has
something in store, but I don't know what it is."
"Can't you guess?"
"No."
"I wish we could take another trip like that on the houseboat--it
was certainly a dandy."
"The best ever!" put in Tom. "Even if we did have trouble with Lew
Flapp, Dan Baxter and some others."
"Speaking of Dan Baxter puts me in mind of something," came from
Songbird Powell. "It has just leaked out that Tad Sobber sent a note
to Captain Putnam in which Tad blamed some of the cadets for his
troubles, and said he was going to get square some day."
"Did he mention any names?" questioned Sam.
"Yes."
"Mine?"
"Yes--and Dick's and Tom's, too."
"It is just like Sobber--to blame his troubles on somebody else,"
remarked Dick.
"I am not afraid of him," declared Tom. "He had better keep his
distance unless he wants to get the worst of it. We used to put up
with a whole lot from Dan Baxter before he reformed--I am not going
to put up with as much from Sobber."
"Tad certainly went off in bad company," said Sam. "His uncle ought to
be in prison this minute."
"Have the authorities heard anything of Merrick?" asked Songbird.
"Not a thing."
"I dink me dot feller has skipped to Europe alretty," vouchsafed Hans
Mueller. "He vould peen afraid to stay py der United States in, yah!"
And the German boy shook his head wisely.
"Personally I never want to set eyes on Sobber again," said Dick, with
a shrug of his broad shoulders. "The idea of introducing that deadly
snake into the school was the limit. Why, half a dozen of us might
have been bitten instead of only poor Pell."
"Maybe he did it only for a joke," said Larry Colby, another of the
cadets.
"If he did, it was carrying a joke altogether too far--endangering
one or more human lives. I don't believe in that sort of fun."
"Nor do I," came from several.
"If he is in Europe with his uncle perhaps I'll meet him there," said
Larry Colby. "I am going to France and Italy with my uncle and cousin.
Wish some of you fellows were going along," he added, wistfully.
"I am going to the Maine woods," said a lad named George Granberry.
"You can never guess who is going there, too."
"Who?"
"William Philander Tubbs and Mr. Strong."
"What, our own dude going to camp in the wilderness," cried Tom. "Oh,
if I was only along wouldn't I give him some surprises!"
"I'll have some fun don't forget that!" replied George, with a grin.
"But as Mr. Strong is going to be along, of course I'll have to be a
little careful."
"Dear Mr. Strong!" murmured Sam, with a sigh. "What a fine teacher he
is, and how I hate to give him up!"
"I envy your having him along," said Dick.
At that moment the train rolled into a station and Larry and some of
the others got off.
"We leave you at the next station," said Songbird, to the Rovers.
"When you find out what you are going to do this summer, write and let
me know."
"I certainly shall," answered Dick.
The three Rover boys soon after found themselves alone. They had to
make a change of cars, and some time later rolled into the station at
Oak Run.
"Home again!" shouted Tom, as he alighted on the depot platform.
"Yes, and there is Uncle Randolph waiting for us," added Dick, as he
hurried forward to meet his relative. "How do you do, Uncle!" he
cried.
"I am well, Richard," answered Randolph Rover, and then he shook hands
with all three boys. "Your--er--your father--" he began and
hesitated.
"Father? What of him?" asked Tom, in quick alarm, for he saw that his
uncle was much disturbed.
"Isn't he with you?"
"Why, no!" answered the three, in a chorus.
"He started for home last night," added Dick.
"Took the train after the one you and Aunt Martha took."
"But he didn't come home," said Randolph Rover.
"Didn't come home?"
"No."
"Didn't he send any word?" questioned Sam.
"None that I received."
"He said he was going straight home would telephone from Lockville for
the carriage to meet the last train," said Tom. "This is mighty
queer."
It was queer and for the moment the Rover boys and their uncle stared
blankly at one another.
"Something is wrong," declared Dick, presently. "And I am going to
make it my business to find out at once what it is."