SETTLING ACCOUNTS--CONCLUSION
"How are you making out?" those outside the cabin heard Slugger Brown
ask.
"It's slow work with such a small file," grumbled Nappy Martell. "If I
had a big file I could get the padlock off in no time."
"What's the matter with smashing it off with a rock?" growled the bully.
He arose to his feet and hobbled to where his crony sat. "Give it to
me--I'll soon have it off!"
"Come on," whispered Jack to his cousins and Mr. Powell. "They are in
there and trying to open the treasure box!"
It took the party but a few seconds to reach the door of the cabin. Jack
pushed upon it, to find the barrier locked in some manner from the
inside.
"Hello! who's there?" shouted Slugger.
"Maybe it's your father and Professor Lemm come back," added Nappy.
The bully came to the door and threw it open. When he found himself
confronted by the Rovers and a strange man, he fell back in
consternation.
"You!" he gasped. "How--er--did you get here?"
"You let us alone!" cried Nappy, in alarm; and, leaping to his feet, he
tried to hide the precious box behind him.
"So we've got you, have we?" exclaimed Jack. "Nappy, you hand over that
box."
"I--I don't know what you mean," stammered the lad addressed.
"See here! you haven't any right to come in here in this fashion,"
blustered Slugger, recovering somewhat from his surprise.
"Haven't we though!" broke out Randy.
"We've caught you, and we intend to make you suffer for what you've
done," said Andy.
As lame as he was, Slugger attempted to edge his way toward the door,
thinking he might get a chance to run away. But Jack caught him by the
arm and sent him flying backward into a corner of the cabin.
"You'll stay right where you are, Slugger Brown!" declared the oldest
Rover boy. "Don't you dare to run away!"
By this time Randy and Fred had approached Nappy, and suddenly the
youngest Rover darted behind the youth and snatched the blue tin box
from his grasp.
"Hi! you give me that box!" stormed Nappy. "You've no right to take it
from me!" and then he, too, tried to run from the cabin. He got as far
as the doorway when Andy put out his foot and sent him headlong into the
snow outside. Then Andy quickly sat down on him, and, rushing up, Randy
did the same.
"Don--don't smash me!" spluttered Nappy, whose face was partly in the
snow.
"We're not going to let you get away," came firmly from Andy.
"Let's tie his hands behind him and make him a prisoner," suggested his
twin, and this the two boys proceeded to do, using some skate straps for
that purpose.
In the meanwhile, Slugger attempted to draw a pistol, but was promptly
hurled back by Jack and Fred. Then Mr. Powell disarmed the youth, and
he, too, was made a prisoner.
"You'll catch it for treating us this way!" growled Slugger, when he
realized that he could do no more. "Just wait until my father hears of
this!"
"And just you wait, Slugger, until Mr. Stevenson gets here," retorted
Jack, and this answer made the bully turn pale.
Now that the two rascals had been captured, the Rover boys felt very
much elated, the more so since they had recovered Uncle Barney's
treasure box without the contents having been disturbed.
"Won't he be glad!" murmured Fred, as he looked the box over.
"Let's go out and see if we can't signal to him in some way," returned
Randy.
He went outside and three shots were fired in rapid succession, a signal
which had been agreed upon when the boys had first gone out hunting.
After the signal had been given, Mr. Powell said he would go out and
watch for the coming of the Stevensons. While he was doing this, the
Rovers talked matters over with Slugger and Nappy.
"You're a fine pair to act in this fashion," said Jack sternly. "Don't
you know you might have killed Barney Stevenson?"
"Oh, we didn't hurt him much," grumbled Slugger.
"And it was stealing to run off with this box!" said Randy.
"No, it wasn't! That box has got deeds in it that ought to go to my
father!"
"I don't believe it, Slugger. Those deeds belong to Barney Stevenson."
A minute or two later all those in the cabin heard Mr. Powell give a
shout.
"A couple of men are coming!" he cried.
"It's my dad and Professor Lemm!" broke out Slugger. "Now you fellows
will catch it!"
"Be on your guard, everybody!" sang out Jack to his cousins, and each of
them caught up his gun and waited.
A few minutes later, Professor Lemm and Mr. Brown appeared in front of
the cabin. Their arms were full of camp supplies. Evidently, this place
had been a rendezvous for the entire Brown party for several days. It
was from here that Slugger and Nappy had gone up to the other end of the
island to spy upon Uncle Barney.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Brown, when he found himself
confronted by the Rovers.
"It means that we have made your son and Nappy Martell prisoners,"
explained Jack calmly.
"Prisoners!"
"Yes. And I think more than likely we'll have to hand them over to the
authorities."
"I don't understand this at all," put in Asa Lemm, and his voice
trembled a little.
Mr. Powell had now come up, and the Rovers told him who the men were. He
at once took charge of matters.
"This is a serious business, Mr. Brown," he said sternly. "Your son and
this other young man attacked old Barney Stevenson in a most outrageous
manner and robbed him of a box of valuables. What Mr. Stevenson will do
in the matter I don't know. I expect him here very shortly."
At once there was a wordy quarrel, Mr. Brown showing his temper in
anything but a dignified manner. He wanted his son and Nappy released,
and threatened all sorts of things, but all to no purpose. Mr. Powell
was obdurate, and the Rovers kept themselves in readiness to use their
firearms should the occasion require. Asa Lemm had little to say.
The discussion was growing exceedingly warm when there came another
interruption, and Uncle Barney, followed by Frederic Stevenson, burst
into the cabin. The old lumberman gazed at the assembled crowd, and then
at the Rovers.
"My box? Did you find my box?" he questioned quickly.
"Yes, Uncle Barney, we've got the box safe and sound," answered Jack,
and handed it over.
"Did those young rascals have it?" and Uncle Barney pointed to Slugger
and Nappy.
"Yes. And that fellow was trying to file away the padlock when we got
here."
"You whelps, you!" cried the old lumberman, his eyes blazing. And as he
strode toward Slugger and Nappy they shrank back as far as the corner of
the cabin permitted.
"Don't you hit me--don't you dare!" howled the bully.
"I--I didn't mean anything by it!" whined Nappy. He was now thoroughly
cowed.
Another war of words followed, and the discussion grew even hotter than
before. Again Mr. Brown threatened all sorts of things, but Uncle Barney
simply laughed at him. Then Frederic Stevenson took a hand.
"Uncle Barney," he said, catching the old man by the shoulder, "you let
me manage this for you, will you?"
"All right, Fred. You do as you please--only they can't have Snowshoe
Island," was the old man's answer. Evidently the long standing
differences between the pair had been patched up at last.
"What I've got to say, I can say in very few words," came from Ruth's
father, as he confronted Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm. "You have tried
to carry matters here with a high hand, and the result has been that you
have laid yourselves liable to a suit at law, while those two young
rascals are liable to go to prison."
"Oh, Dad! don't let them have us arrested!" pleaded Slugger.
"I don't want to bother with the law--I want to be left alone," said
Uncle Barney in a low voice.
"This island belongs to my relative here--Mr. Barnard Stevenson,"
proceeded Ruth's father. "He has a free and clear title to it, as I well
know. I understand something of your underhanded work, Brown. And I
understand, too, how you and Professor Lemm found out that this island
contained some very valuable zinc ore beds. But your scheme to gain
possession of this place has fallen through."
"Don't be so sure of that!" snarled Slugger's father.
"I am sure of it. Unless you leave my relative here alone, you are going
to get yourself into pretty hot water. And not only that--if you bother
him again, I'll see to it that your son and that other young man are
sent to prison for what they have done."
"Say! will you let us go if my dad gives up his claim to the island?"
broke in Slugger eagerly.
"If your father and Professor Lemm will promise never to bother Barnard
Stevenson in the future, I think he'll be willing to let this case
against you drop."
"All right then. Dad, let's do that. We don't want the old island,
anyhow!"
"You can't do anything without those deeds," added Nappy.
"Shut up! You boys make me sick!" grunted Mr. Brown.
"But Martell is right--we can't do anything without the deeds,"
whispered Professor Lemm. He was growing more fearful every moment over
the outcome of what had taken place.
More words followed, but in the end Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm
promised to let their so-called claim on Snowshoe Island drop. Then
Slugger and Nappy were released, and all were told to take their
departure as soon as possible.
"You think you're smart, don't you?" grumbled Slugger to Jack, when he
was ready to go. "You just wait, Jack Rover! I'm not going to forget you
and your cousins in a hurry!"
"And I won't forget you, either!" added Nappy Martell.
What these two unworthies did in the future to worry the Rovers will be
told in another volume, to be entitled, "The Rover Boys Under Canvas;
Or, The Mystery of the Wrecked Submarine." In that volume we shall meet
many of our old friends again, and learn the particulars of some
out-of-the-ordinary happenings.
"Well, I'm mighty glad they're gone," said Fred, after the visitors had
disappeared in the distance.
"Glad doesn't express it!" added Andy. "I could fairly dance a jig for
joy!"
"And to think we saved the treasure box!" broke in Jack.
"That's the best of all," came from Randy.
Old Uncle Barney was exceedingly happy, not only to have the box
restored to him, but also because the trouble between himself and his
relatives had been completely cleared away.
"I guess I was something of an old fool to quarrel with Fred and his
family," he remarked to Jack later on, when talking the matter over. "It
shows that a man should not be too hasty and headstrong. If I had only
listened in the first place, all this would never have happened."
"I'm glad you're friends once more," said Jack.
"I owe you boys a great deal for this, just as I owe you a great deal
for saving the treasure box and saving my life in the woods that time,"
answered the old lumberman with feeling.
The next day was spent by Uncle Barney and Mr. Stevenson in going over
the matter of the deeds. Ruth's father insisted upon it that they be
duly recorded and then placed away in a bank vault. It may be added
here that later on this was done, and, later still, the zinc ore beds on
the island were opened up and found to be fully as valuable as
anticipated. Old Uncle Barney became quite a rich man, and took up his
home with the other Stevensons.
While the Stevensons were consulting about the deeds, the Rover boys
went out on another hunt, this time accompanied by Mr. Powell, who was
quite a sportsman. They had considerable luck, bringing in over a dozen
rabbits, four squirrels and several partridges.
"And now we've got to get ready to go home," said Jack, a day or two
later.
"Yes. And get ready for the grind at Colby Hall," added Fred.
"But we've had some dandy times on this island!" declared Andy.
"Couldn't have been better!" came in a chorus.
And here we will say good-bye to the Rover boys.
THE END
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume
Complete in Itself.
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most
interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE DON STURDY SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by
WALTER S. ROGERS
Every Volume Complete in Itself
In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted
scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful
knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY;
Or, Autoing in the Land of the Caravans.
An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild animals
and crafty Arabs.
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS;
Or, Lost in the Jungles of the Amazon.
Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes to
be found in South America--to be delivered alive! The filling of that
order brought keen excitement to the boy.
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD;
Or, The Old Egyptian's Great Secret.
A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings
in Egypt. Once the whole party became lost in the maze of cavelike tombs
far underground.
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE;
Or, Cast Away in the Land of Ice.
Don and his uncles joined an expedition bound by air across the north
pole. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship.
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES;
Or, The Trail of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska in a
territory but recently explored. A story that will make Don dearer to
his readers than ever.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE RADIO BOYS SERIES
(Trademark Registered)
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in
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A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending
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they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fascinating,
so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse
them with great delight.
Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio expert.
THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS;
Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize.
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT;
Or, The Message That Saved the Ship.
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION;
Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room.
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS;
Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance.
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE;
Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS;
Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL;
Or, Making Safe the Ocean Lanes.
RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS;
Or, Saving the City in the Valley.
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
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wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat"
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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.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
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