E-text prepared by David Edwards, Verity White, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) from page
images generously made available by Microsoft Live Search Books
(http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books)
Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
file which includes the original illustrations.
See 22996-h.htm or 22996-h.zip:
(https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/9/22996/22996-h/22996-h.htm)
or
(https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/9/22996/22996-h.zip)
Images of the original pages are available through
Microsoft Live Search Books. See
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books#q=rover%20boys%20on%20snowshoe%20island&filter=all&start=1&t=mtkWR1DE1uzvhm0Te90ghw&sq=rover%20boys%20on%20snowshoe%20island
+----------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's Note: |
| |
| Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document |
| has been preserved. |
| |
| Obvious typographical errors have been corrected; |
| please see the end of the text for details. |
+----------------------------------------------------+
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
Or
The Old Lumberman's Treasure Box
by
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
Author of "The Rover Boys at School," "The Rover Boys on the Ocean,"
"The Putnam Hall Series," Etc.
Illustrated
[Illustration: JACK AND THE TWINS RESCUE THE INJURED MAN.
_Frontispiece--Page 46_]
New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers
Made in the United States of America
* * * * * *
BOOKS BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA
THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR
THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES
THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS
THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS
THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS
THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION
THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT
THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.
* * * * * *
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Copyright, 1918, by
Edward Stratemeyer
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the
second volume in a line issued under the general title, "The Second
Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."
As mentioned in several volumes of the first series, this line was
started a number of years ago with the publication of "The Rover Boys at
School," "On the Ocean," and "In the Jungle." In those volumes my young
readers were introduced to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover.
The volumes of the first series related the adventures of the three
Rover boys while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College,
and while on numerous outings.
These Rover boys were, of course, growing steadily older. They met three
young ladies in whom they became intensely interested, and, after
becoming established in business, three happy marriages followed.
Presently Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also
his brother Sam, while the fun-loving Tom became the proud father of
twin boys, who were as full of spirit as their parent had ever been. At
first the boys were kept at home, but then it was thought best to send
them to a boarding school.
At Colby Hall the young Rovers made a host of friends, and also some
enemies. They had to work hard over their studies, but they had a
thoroughly good time.
In the present volume the boys are still at Colby Hall, but presently
the scene is shifted to Snowshoe Island, where the lads go for a short
hunting season. How they ran into a most unusual mystery and helped an
old lumberman to establish his claim to the island, I will leave the
pages which follow to relate.
In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readers for the many kind
things they have said about these Rover Boys books, and especially about
the initial volume in the second series. I trust that all my readers
will like Jack, Andy and Randy, and Fred as much as they did Dick, Tom,
and Sam Rover.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I FUN ON THE ICE 1
II SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS 13
III OUT OF PERIL 23
IV OUT HUNTING 33
V UNCLE BARNEY STEVENSON 44
VI DEEP IN THE WOODS 56
VII AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 65
VIII THE SLEIGHING PARTY 76
IX A MISHAP ON THE ROAD 86
X SOMETHING ABOUT TWO GOATS 96
XI THE JOKE ON ASA LEMM 108
XII IN COLONEL COLBY'S OFFICE 119
XIII ASA LEMM IS DISMISSED 132
XIV OVERHEARING A PLOT 143
XV AN ALARM OF FIRE 152
XVI PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES 161
XVII CAUGHT IN THE ACT 168
XVIII HOME AGAIN 177
XIX OFF FOR SNOWSHOE ISLAND 188
XX CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM 197
XXI AN ASTONISHING REVELATION 207
XXII THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE ISLAND 216
XXIII UNEXPECTED VISITORS 226
XXIV A WAR OF WORDS 237
XXV FACING THE WOLVES 247
XXVI JACK FREES HIS MIND 258
XXVII THE BLUE TIN BOX 268
XXVIII UNCLE BARNEY'S SECRET 279
XXIX THE DISCOVERY 289
XXX SETTLING ACCOUNTS--CONCLUSION 298
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
CHAPTER I
FUN ON THE ICE
"Everybody ready?"
"Sure! Been ready half an hour."
"Wait a minute, Frank, till I tighten my skate strap," cried Fred Rover,
as he bent down to adjust the loosened bit of leather.
"Hurry up, Fred, we don't want to stand here all day," sang out his
Cousin Andy gaily.
"That's it! I want to win this race," broke in Randy Rover, Andy's twin
brother.
"Now remember, the race is to be to the old white pine and back,"
announced the starter. "Every contestant has got to touch the tree
before he starts to come back; otherwise he'll be counted out."
"You ought to have a pistol to start us with," came from Jack Rover.
"I guess my old locomotive whistle will do for that," answered Frank
Newberry. He paused to look at the line of skaters. "Now then, everybody
on the job!" and a loud whistle rent the air.
Instantly there was a scurry of skates, and off the line started across
Clearwater Lake to where a blasted pine tree reared its naked trunk
against the skyline.
It was a Saturday afternoon in early winter, and the cadets of Colby
Hall Military Academy were out in force to enjoy themselves on the
smooth ice of the lake, near which the school was located. The cadets
had been amusing themselves in various ways, playing tag and hockey, and
in "snapping the whip," as it is called, when Gif Garrison, at the head
of the athletic association, had suggested a race.
"We might as well find out who is the best skater in the school," Gif
had said.
"Right you are," had come from his particular chum, Spouter Powell. "Let
us get up a race by all means."
With so many cadets who could skate well, it was an easy matter to
arrange for the contest. To make the matter more interesting, one of the
Hall professors, Mr. Brice, said he would give some prizes to the pupils
coming in first, second and third.
"I'll give a fine book of adventures to the first cadet, and also books
to the others," Mr. Brice announced. He was still a young man, and in
hearty sympathy with everything in the way of outdoor sports.
Among those to enter the contest were Jack Rover and his three cousins,
Fred, Andy and Randy. All were provided with hockey skates, and each
felt confident of making a good record for himself. Yet they all knew
that the school boasted of some fine skaters, one lad in particular, Dan
Soppinger, having won several contests on the ice in years gone by.
"We've got our work cut out for us!" cried Fred Rover, as he skated
beside Jack.
"Save your wind, Fred," answered his cousin briefly.
"Believe me, this is going to be some race!" came from Randy, who was on
the other side of Jack, with his twin brother next to him.
"I don't care who wins so long as I'm not last," responded his twin
merrily.
Over twenty cadets had started in the contest, and soon the line, which
had been fairly even for a few seconds after the whistle had sounded,
began to take on a straggly appearance, as some skaters forged ahead and
others fell behind.
"Don't give up! Everybody keep in the race until the finish!" cried
Professor Brice encouragingly. "Remember, a race isn't over until the
end is reached."
Thus encouraged, those who were in the rear did their best to overtake
those ahead. But gradually the skaters divided into three groups; eight
in the lead, six but a short distance behind them, and the others
several yards further to the rear.
In the front group were Jack and his cousin Randy, while Fred and Andy
were less than ten feet behind.
The distance across Clearwater Lake was about half a mile, but the
blasted pine tree was located some distance down the shore, so that the
race would be close to a mile and a half in length.
Spouter Powell was in the lead when the first group of skaters came up
to the pine tree. Dan Soppinger was close behind him, with Jack and
Randy following. Behind Randy came Walt Baxter, another cadet who skated
remarkably well. The others of the first group were gradually dropping
back to the second contingent. Spouter Powell touched the tree with his
finger tips, and was followed almost immediately by Dan Soppinger. As
they turned to go back to the starting point, they were followed by Jack
and Randy.
"Hi, you fellows! what do you mean by skating so quick?" piped out Andy
Rover gaily.
"We'll leave the tree to you, Andy!" shouted his twin.
"I don't think we'll win, but, anyway, we won't be last," came from
Fred, as he and Andy touched the tree.
"Well, we can't have everything in this world," was the philosophic
reply from the other Rover boy.
It could be seen that the race had now narrowed down to the five who
were in the lead. Of these, Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were less
than two feet apart, while only a yard to the rear came Jack, Randy and
Walt Baxter.
"Go it, Randy!" sang out Andy, as he dropped still further behind. "Go
it! I know you can win!"
"Keep it up, Jack!" yelled Fred, who, being the smallest of the four
Rovers, found it impossible to keep up the pace. "Don't let Spouter and
Dan hold you back!"
There were numerous cries of encouragement for all of the skaters as
they swept forward toward the starting point. Here a line had been drawn
on the ice, and the cadets stood at either end, some with their watches
in their hands to time the winners.
"I'll bet Dan Soppinger wins!" cried one of the cadets. "He's the best
skater on the lake."
"Well, Spouter Powell is a good skater, too," returned another.
"Huh! what's the matter with the Rover boys?" burst out a third cadet,
round-faced and remarkably fat--so fat, in fact, that he had not dreamed
of participating in the contest.
"I don't know much about how they can skate," was the reply. "They
weren't here last winter, you remember."
"Yes, I know that," answered Fatty Hendry.
"Here they come!"
By this time the skaters were half way on the return from the blasted
pine. Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were still in the lead, but Walt
Baxter was crawling up steadily, while Jack and Randy were close behind.
"Say, this is going to be a neck-and-neck race!" cried one of the
cadets, Ned Lowe by name. He had wanted to race himself, but knew that
his skates were too dull for that purpose.
"Stand back! Give them plenty of room!" exclaimed Professor Brice, and
he took measures to clear the cadets away from the finishing line.
Quite a crowd had assembled to witness the contest, not only cadets, but
also some folks from the neighboring town of Haven Point, and also a
number of young ladies from Clearwater Hall, a seminary located some
distance away.
The skaters had still a distance of several hundred yards to cover when
it was seen that Spouter Powell was gradually falling behind. Then Jack
Rover forged forward, followed by his Cousin Randy.
"The Rovers are crawling up!"
"See, Jack Rover and his Cousin Randy and Dan Soppinger and Walt Baxter
are all in a line!"
"This certainly is one close race!"
The excitement increased as the racers drew closer to the finishing
line. Walt Baxter was panting painfully, showing that he had used up
almost every ounce of his strength.
"Oh, dear! I do hope the Rovers come in ahead," whispered one girl
skater to another. She was a tall girl, remarkably good looking and
dressed in a suit of brown, with furs.
"So do I hope the Rover boys win, Ruth," answered her girl companion,
"now that my Cousin Dick has fallen behind."
"It's too bad, May, that your Cousin Dick couldn't have kept up,"
answered Ruth Stevenson.
Closer and closer to the finishing line crept the four leading skaters,
Jack and Randy in the middle, with Dan Soppinger on their left and Walt
Baxter on their right. Now Spouter Powell had fallen back to the second
group of racers.
"Here they come!"
"It's Dan Soppinger's race!"
"Not much! Here comes Walt Baxter! Gee, see him strike out!"
"It's the Rovers who are coming to the front!" exclaimed Ned Lowe.
"I knew they couldn't hold those Rover boys back," was Frank Newberry's
comment. "Now then, boys, for a final dash!" he shouted.
All four of the leading contestants were bending forward and striking
out as powerfully as possible, their arms swinging from side to side
like pendulums and their skates ringing clearly on the smooth ice.
For an instant all were in a line, then, by a tremendous effort, Walter
Baxter forged a foot ahead. But almost instantly Dan Soppinger overtook
the other cadet. An instant later Randy Rover came up beside the others,
followed by his Cousin Jack.
The finishing line was now less than fifty yards away, and the crowd was
yelling all sorts of words of encouragement and cheering wildly, even
the girls and older folks present being much excited. Then, of a sudden,
an exclamation of wonder rent the air.
"Look at that, will you? Did you ever see such striking out in your
life?"
"He's coming forward like a cannon ball!"
These exclamations had been brought forth by the sudden change of
tactics on the part of Jack Rover. Coming back from the blasted pine he
had managed to hang close to his opponents, but without using up all his
reserve force. Now he let out "for all he was worth," as he afterwards
declared, and, with strokes that could hardly be seen for their
rapidity, he forged in front of Soppinger and Baxter.
"It's Jack Rover's race!"
"Look! Look! Here comes his Cousin Randy!" yelled Ned Lowe.
"No use in talking--you can't hold those Rover boys back," was Fatty
Hendry's comment.
What the cadets had said was true. Following the extraordinary spurt
made by Jack, Randy let himself out, and in a twinkling had passed
Baxter. Then he found himself neck-and-neck with Dan Soppinger, who was
struggling with might and main to catch up to Jack, just two feet ahead.
"Make room for the winners!"
"Jack Rover wins the race!"
"Yes, and Randy Rover is second!"
"Who takes third place?"
"Soppinger, I guess."
"No, I think Walt Baxter was a little ahead of him."
"Nonsense! It was a tie between them."
"Three cheers for the Rover boys!" shouted Ned Lowe, and many cadets
joined in the cheering.
Jack and Randy were quickly surrounded by many of their chums and
congratulated on their success.
"It was a tie race between Soppinger and Baxter," announced Professor
Brice. "And that being so, I will give each of them a third prize," and
with this those two contestants had to be contented.
"You made that race in record time, Jack," announced Gif Garrison. "It
is better time by twelve seconds than was ever made before on this
lake."
"Well, where do I come in?" demanded Randy.
"You broke the record by ten seconds," was the reply. "And believe me,
that's some stunt!"
"I guess I was beaten fairly," announced Dan Soppinger, a little
ruefully; "so there is no use of complaining."
"Oh, it was a fair and square race sure enough," answered Walt Baxter.
"All the same, if my skates had been just a little sharper I think I
might have won," he added a little wistfully.
"Well, I am glad the honors stay in our family anyhow," announced Fred,
as he skated up, followed by Andy.
"And first and second prizes, too!" cried his cousin. "That ought to be
enough to hold the other fellows for awhile."
Jack and Randy were both panting from their exertions, but their faces
showed their satisfaction, and especially did Jack look his pleasure
when he happened to glance beyond the crowd of cadets and saw Ruth
Stevenson waving her hand toward him. Beside Ruth was May Powell, who
waved gaily to all of the Rovers.
"Fine race, boys! Fine race!" was Fatty Hendry's comment. "Just the
same, none of you would have been in it for a minute if I had entered,"
and at this joke there was a general laugh.
"Say, Fatty, you should have gone into it just to lose flesh," was
Andy's dry comment. "If you tried real hard, you might lose a pound a
mile," and at this there was another laugh.
The crowd began to gather around Jack and Randy and the others who had
won the race, and many wanted to shake hands with the oldest Rover boy.
Even some of the town folks skated up, and they were followed by some of
the girls from Clearwater Hall.
"I say, boys, this may not be safe!" cried Professor Brice suddenly,
when the crowd on the ice had become unusually thick. "This ice isn't as
strong as it might be."
"Yes, and with Fatty in the crowd----" began Andy Rover. Then, of a
sudden, he stopped short because an ominous crack was heard, followed by
several other cracks.
"The ice is breaking!"
"Skate away, everybody, or we'll go down!"
Instantly there was a commotion, and all of the skaters tried to break
away from the spot where the crowd had congregated. The confusion was
tremendous, and in the mix-up six or eight persons, including Ruth
Stevenson and May Powell, were thrown down. Then came another crack, and
it looked as if in another instant the ice would give way completely and
precipitate the whole crowd into the cold waters of the lake.