Produced by W. R. Marvin
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
or
THE MYSTERY OF RED ROCK RANCH
By Arthur M. WinField
Grosset & Dunlap Publishers
Copyright 1906 by the Mershon Company
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. ON THE HOUSEBOAT
II. THE BIG LUMBER RAFT
III. A "PEPPER" GHOST
IV. TROUBLE WITH NEGROES
V. DAN BAXTER APPEARS
VI. THE EFFECTS OF A BIG STORM
VII. A DAY ON THE ROAD
VIII. FUN AT THE HOTEL
IX. HANS AS A POET
X. A TWENTY-DOLLAR BILL
XI. A MIDNIGHT SCARE
XII. THE RUNAWAY STEER
XIII. JIM JONES, THE COWBOY
XIV. OUT OF AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION
XV. SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY
XVI. A SCENE FROM A TREETOP
XVII. THE BANK BILLS ON THE TABLE
XVIII. DICK AND SAM BECOME PRISONERS
XIX. PETER POLL, THE DOLT
XX. AN OFFER FROM THE ENEMY
XXI. THROUGH THE FOREST
XXII. IN A SNAKES' DEN
XXIII. JAMES MONDAY TAKES A HAND
XXIV. TOM CARRIES A LETTER
XXV. IN WHICH TOM IS EXPOSED
XXVI. TOGETHER ONCE MORE
XXVII. THE BURNING OF THE RANCH
XXVIII. FROM ONE SURPRISE TO ANOTHER
XXIX. ON THE TRAIL ONCE MORE
XXX. A ROUND-UP--CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: "The Rover Boys on the Plains" is a complete story in
itself, but forms the tenth volume of a line known under the general
title of "The Rover Boys' Series for Young Americans."
Ten volumes make a great number, and, as I look back, I wonder how
I have been able to write so many. As I have said before, when I
started this series I had in mind to pen three volumes and possibly
a fourth. But no sooner had "The Rover Boys at School," "The Rover
Boys on the Ocean," "The Rover Boys in the Jungle" and "The Rover
Boys Out West" appeared than there was a demand for another volume,
and then more, and so I have had to take the boys from time to time,
"On the Great Lakes," "In the Mountains," "On Land and Sea," "In
Camp" and "On the River," where we last left them.
The present tale tells of adventures on the mighty Mississippi River,
and then on the great plains, where Dick, Tom and Sam, and some of
their friends, have a variety of adventures and assist in unraveling
the mystery surrounding a lonely ranch. Of course, their old enemy,
Baxter, is bound to make himself known, but the Rover boys do not
fail to take care of themselves, as of old.
Again, I thank the many thousands who have shown their appreciation
of my efforts to amuse and instruct them. I earnestly hope the present
volume will not disappoint them.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
CHAPTER I
ON THE HOUSEBOAT
"Say, Tom, what's that big thing coming down the river?"
"I'm sure I don't know, Sam. It's big enough to be a house." replied
Tom Rover.
"Maybe it is a house," came from Dick Rover, who was standing beside
his brothers on the rear deck of the houseboat which was taking them
down the Mississippi River.
"A house?" broke in a distinctly German voice. "Did you mean to said
dere vos a house floating der rifer town, Dick Rofer?"
"Why not, Hansy, my boy?" replied fun-loving Tom Rover, before his
big brother could answer. "Hasn't a house got a right to take a float
if it wants to? Perhaps it's out for its health."
"Ach, you vos choking, Tom!" cried Hans Mueller. "Of a house been
der rifer on, dere peen somedings wrong mit him alretty."
"It's a lumber raft, Hans," said Dick. "And a whopping big one, too,"
he added, as he took another look at the object that was approaching
the houseboat.
"Hope it doesn't give us such a close shave as that raft we met two
days ago," said Sam anxiously. "I was almost certain they were going
to run into us."
"They have got no business to run so close to this houseboat," grumbled
Tom. "They know well enough that we can't turn out of our course very
well. I think some of those lumbermen are the toughest kind of citizens."
"If they get too close, I'll shout a warning through the megaphone,"
went on Dick, after a brief pause. "It certainly does look as if they
intended to crowd us," he continued anxiously.
"Oh, Dick, do you think there is any danger?" came from a girl who
had just joined the crowd.
"Not yet, Dora."
"Perhaps we had better run in close to shore until the raft has
passed," continued Dora Stanhope, with an anxious look in her pretty
eyes.
"Don't do it!" cried Tom. "We have as much right to the river as they
have. Tell 'em to keep their distance, Dick."
"I shall--when they get close enough."
"If that raft hits our houseboat, we'll be smashed to kindling wood,"
was Sam's comment. "I'd rather they'd give us a wide berth."
The Rover brothers were three in number, Dick being the oldest,
fun-loving Tom coming next and Sam coming last. When at home, they
lived with their father and their uncle and aunt at Valley Brook
Farm, pleasantly located in the heart of New York State. From this
farm they had been sent to Putnam Hall, as related in the first volume
of this series, entitled, "The Rover Boys at School." At this
institution of learning they had made a large number of friends, and
also some enemies.
A short term at Putnam Hall had been followed by a chase on the ocean
and then a trip to the jungles of Africa, in search of Mr. Anderson
Rover, who has disappeared. Then came a trip out West and one on the
great lakes, followed by some adventures during a winter in the
mountains.
After being in the mountains, the Rover boys had expected to go back
to school, but a scarlet fever scare closed the institution, and they
took a trip to the Pacific, as related in "The Rover Boys on Land
and Sea," the seventh volume of this series. They were cast away on
an island and had many thrilling adventures, but escaped, to receive
a warm welcome when they arrived home.
The scarlet fever scare was now a thing of the past, and the boys
went back to Putnam Hall, to participate in the annual encampment,
as told of in "The Rover Boys in Camp." Here they had plenty of sport,
and the outing was voted "the best ever."
What to do during the summer vacation was a question quickly settled
by the brothers. Their uncle, Randolph Rover, had taken a houseboat
for debt, and it was voted to go aboard this craft, which was located
on the Ohio River, and take a trip down that stream, and also down
the mighty Mississippi.
"It will be the outing of our lives," said Tom. "We can just take it
easy, and float, and float, and float."
The arrangements for the outing were quickly completed. With the
Rover boys went their old school chums, "Songbird" Powell, who was
always making up doggerel which he called poetry; Hans Mueller,
already introduced, and Fred Garrison. The houseboat was a large one,
and to make the trip more pleasant, the boys invited two ladies to
go along, Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning. With Mrs. Stanhope came her
only daughter, Dora, whom Dick Rover thought the nicest girl in the
world, and with Mrs. Laning came her daughters, Nellie and Grace,
intimate friends of Tom and Sam.
As those who have already read "The Rover Boys on the River" know,
the trip on the houseboat started pleasantly enough. But, before
long, one of their old enemies, Dan Baxter, turned up, accompanied
by an evil-minded boy named Lew Flapp. These fellows succeeded in
making prisoners of Dora Stanhope and Nellie Laning, and ran off with
the houseboat. But they were followed by the Rovers and their friends,
and, in the end, the girls were rescued, the houseboat recovered and
Lew Flapp was made a prisoner, to be sent East to stand trial for
his various misdeeds. Dan Baxter escaped, and for the time being
there was no telling what had become of him. But he was destined to
show up again, as the chapters to follow will prove.
After the houseboat was once again in the possession of the Rovers
and their guests, there was a general jollification on board, lasting
several days. All felt much relieved, to think that matters had turned
out so well for them.
"We are well out of that mess," had been Dick Rover's comment.
"And I hope we never get into such another," answered Dora Stanhope.
"I was really frightened to death when I was a prisoner."
"I would feel a great deal better if Dan Baxter had been captured."
"Oh, Dick, do you think he will try to harm us further?" and Dora's
face paled a trifle.
"Well, he seems to be like a bad penny--he turns up when you least
expect it."
"Anyway, he won't have Flapp to aid him."
"That is true. But I never feared Flapp--he was too much of a coward
at heart."
"Then you do fear Baxter, Dick?" and Dora looked at her best friend
curiously.
"It's not exactly that, Dora. I don't want you to have any trouble.
I don't care for myself."
"I shall do my best to keep out of his way. What a pity it is that
Baxter can not turn over a new leaf."
"It isn't in him to do so," put in Fred Garrison, who had come up.
"But his father has reformed," said Dora.
"I really think Dan is worse than his father," returned Dick. "There
is a certain viciousness about him that is lacking in his father's
make-up."
"Dan Baxter doesn't believe in forgiving or forgetting an injury,"
put in Sam, who had joined the crowd. "Once, after something went
wrong, he said he'd get square if it took a hundred years. I believe
he remembers that injury yet."
"He might do well, if he'd only settle down to something," said Fred.
"He isn't dumb, by any means."
"He is not smart, only cunning, Fred," answered Dick. "In regular
business I don't believe he'd ever make his salt."
"Do you think he is still following the houseboat?" was the question
put by Songbird Powell.
"I can't say as to that. If he is, he must hustle pretty lively, for
we are now making a good many miles a day."
After this conversation, the days had gone by swiftly and pleasantly
enough. Soon the broad Ohio River was left behind, and the houseboat
started down the Mississippi. Stops were made at various points, and
the young folks, as well as the two ladies, enjoyed themselves to
the utmost. They had a few friends in the South, and, when-ever they
stopped off to see these, they were treated with great cordiality.
"No more troubles of any kind for us," said Sam one day, but he was
mistaken. That very afternoon a lumber raft came close to hitting
the houseboat, frightening all who chanced to be on the deck at the time.
"Phew!" was Tom's comment. "No more such close shaves for me. That
raft might have smashed us to smithereens!"
Two days went by, and the boys and girls enjoyed themselves by going
fishing and by watching the sights on the river and along the shore.
The weather was ideal for the outing, and they had not a care until
the second big lumber raft came into sight, as mentioned at the
beginning of this chapter, and threatened, as the first had done, to
run them down.