Rover Boys Under Canvas

Edward Stratemeyer

Description

A popular entry in the second-generation Rover Boys series, The Rover Boys Under Canvas follows the sons of the original Rover Boys as they participate in a classic ritual at Colby Hall, the military academy they attend: the annual school camping trip. Along the way, the boys uncover an intriguing mystery. Will they be able to crack the case without incurring the wrath of their commanders? Dive into this eminently entertaining page-turner to find out.

Sujets

• Children's

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 mars 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775456476
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS
OR, THE MYSTERY OF THE WRECKED SUBMARINE
* * *
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
 
*
The Rover Boys Under Canvas Or, The Mystery of the Wrecked Submarine First published in 1919 ISBN 978-1-77545-647-6 © 2012 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Introduction Chapter I - A Game of Baseball Chapter II - About the Rover Boys Chapter III - The Ammunition Factory Explosions Chapter IV - A Rescue on the Lake Chapter V - Meeting Old Enemies Chapter VI - Celebrating the Baseball Victory Chapter VII - Fun with Codfish Chapter VIII - An Interrupted Feast Chapter IX - A Telegram from Home Chapter X - On the Way Home Chapter XI - Tom Rover's Dilemma Chapter XII - At the Rover Company Offices Chapter XIII - Fun at the Railroad Station Chapter XIV - Back to Colby Hall Chapter XV - The Election for Officers Chapter XVI - Off for the Encampment Chapter XVII - A Night on the Road Chapter XVIII - One Surprise and Another Chapter XIX - At Camp Barlight Chapter XX - First Days Under Canvas Chapter XXI - Strange Noises Chapter XXII - At the Rifle Ranges Chapter XXIII - Girl Visitors Chapter XXIV - Tom Rover's Announcement Chapter XXV - At Camp Huxwell Chapter XXVI - An Astonishing Discovery Chapter XXVII - On Board the Submarine Chapter XXVIII - The Cabin in the Woods Chapter XXIX - The Fight on the Submarine Chapter XXX - An Important Capture—Conclusion
Introduction
*
This book is a complete story in itself, but forms thethird volume in a line issued under the general title, "The SecondRover Boys Series for Young Americans."
As mentioned in a number of volumes of the first series, this line wasstarted some years ago with the publication of "The Rover Boys atSchool," "On the Ocean," and "In the Jungle," in which I introduced myyoung readers to Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover. The volumes of the firstseries related the doings of these three Rover boys while attendingPutnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while on numerousoutings.
Having acquired a good education, the three young men establishedthemselves in business and became married. Presently Dick Rover wasblessed with a son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, whileTom Rover became the proud father of twin boys. At first the four ladswere kept at home, but then it was thought best to send them to aboarding school, and in the first volume of the second series,entitled "The Rover Boys at Colby Hall," I related what happened tothem while attending this institution.
From Colby Hall the scene was shifted to Snowshoe Island, where thelads went for a mid-winter outing. Here they ran into a most unusualmystery, and helped an old lumberman to establish his claim to theisland.
In the present volume the boys are back at Colby Hall, but it is timefor the annual encampment of the military school, and soon they departfor a brief season "Under Canvas." This is at the time of the WorldWar, and the lads get mixed up in the mystery surrounding a wreckedsubmarine. What this led to, I leave for the pages which follow torelate.
In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readers for all the nicethings they have said about my books. I trust the reading of thevolumes will do all of them good.
Affectionately and sincerely yours, EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
Chapter I - A Game of Baseball
*
"Now for a home run, Jack!"
"Soak it out over the bleachers!"
"Show the Hixley boys what we can do!"
"Give him a swift one, Dink! Don't let him hit it!"
"Oh, dear, I do hope Jack scores!" came in a sweet, girlish voice.
"Of course he'll score!" returned a youth sitting near the girl whohad made the remark. "He's been holding back for just this chance."
"Oh, do you think so?" asked another girl in the grandstand.
"Surest thing ever was," was the airy rejoinder. "This is the timewe're going to show the Hixley boys what's what."
"Not on your life!" bellowed a heavy voice from the rear. "Here iswhere Colby Hall gets snowed under."
Then came a series of yells, followed by the tooting of horns and thesounding of rattles, making a din that was almost ear-splitting.
The occasion was the annual baseball game between Hixley High andColby Hall. It had been scheduled to take place on the high-schoolathletic field, but at almost the last minute this field had beendeclared out of condition, and it had been decided to hold the conteston the athletic grounds attached to the military academy.
Hixley High was very anxious to win this game. During the previousfall, as related in a former volume of this series, the high-schoollads had lost the annual football game with Colby Hall by a singletouchdown. This defeat still rankled in their minds, and they weredetermined if possible to take the baseball game by a score thatshould be well worth while.
And they had good reason to be hopeful of doing this. While theirfootball team had always been considered by the other teams of thatlocality to be of the "second string variety," the baseball nine was aremarkably strong organization. At its head was Dink Wilsey, a pitcherwho was destined at some time in the future to show himself in one ofthe big leagues.
"Why, Dink alone can walk off with that game," was the way more thanone Hixley High student had expressed himself.
But more than this—Hixley High had an exceptionally good firstbaseman and a trio of outfielders whose batting average was high.
"We're going to put it all over Colby Hall this trip," was the way themanager of the Hixley High ball club declared himself on the dayprevious to the match.
The game was now at the second half of the sixth inning, and the scorestood, Hixley High, 4; Colby Hall, 2. Colby Hall was at the bat withtwo men out and one man at second.
It was therefore no wonder that the military academy students becameanxious when Jack Rover took up his bat and walked to the plate. Ahome run would mean the tying of the score, and with a chance to doeven better.
"Take your time, Jack," said Gif Garrison, who was the manager of thenine. "Make him give you a ball just where you want it."
"Watch yourself!" yelled one of the coaches to the runner at second,for the Hixley High pitcher had suddenly whirled around, sending theball down to the second baseman. There was a quick drop by the runner,and he escaped getting caught by a few inches only.
"Close shave! Watch yourself, Dan!" yelled Gif Garrison; and DanSoppinger, at second, nodded to show that he understood, and thendanced away in the direction of third base as before.
The first ball pitched to Jack Rover was a slow in-curve, and hestepped back and allowed it to pass him.
"Ball one!"
At this decision a howl of delight went up from the followers of ColbyHall, while a corresponding groan came from Hixley High.
"That's the eye!"
"Better get a pair of glasses!"
"Sure! The umpire must be blind! That was a perfect ball!"
"Sure it was a perfect ball! That's the reason he called it a ball!"came from Andy Rover, who sat on the substitutes' bench.
The second ball delivered was a fairly good one, although rather low.Jack swung at it, and high into the air spun the sphere, well back ofthe catcher's head.
"Foul!"
"Run, Billy, you can catch it!"
Flinging off his mask, the Hixley High catcher rushed back towardwhere the ball was coming down. But it was too far away for him, andit struck slantingly on one of the back posts, rolling off toward thegrandstand.
"Line it out, Jack! Don't be fooling with fouls!" yelled Fred Rover.
"Show 'em where the river is!" added Randy Rover.
The next ball to come in was a wide out-curve, and again Jack let itpass him.
"Ball two!" shouted the umpire.
"That's the way to do it, Jack! Make 'em give you what you want!"
With two balls against him, the noted pitcher for the high schoolexercised a little more care in his next delivery. He sent in astraight, swift one, directly over the outer point of the plate. Itwas not exactly what Jack desired, but it was good enough, and heswung at it with all his strength. Crack! And the ball went sailingdirectly over the head of the shortstop and into the field beyond.
"Run, Jack! Run! It's good for a two-bagger!"
"Leg it, Dan! Leg it for home!"
"Send the ball in, Wiffles! Don't let 'em get home!"
These and a hundred other cries rang out as nearly every spectatorsprang to his or her feet in the excitement. Dan Soppinger, half wayto third when Jack made the hit, had now touched that bag and wastearing for the home plate.
In the meantime Jack, running like a deer, had passed first and wasmaking for second. The shortstop had made a high but ineffectual jumpfor the ball, and now he and the fielder behind him were both afterthe sphere. There was a short mix-up, and then the fielder sent theball with unerring aim toward the catcher at the home plate.
"Slide, Dan, slide!"
And then Dan Soppinger, running as he had never run before, droppeddown and slid to the plate amid a whirl of dust, followed instantly bythe ball, which landed with a thud in the catcher's mitt.
"He's safe! He's safe!"
"And look! Jack Rover is going to make third!"
Realizing that it was too late to catch the man at the plate, thecatcher threw the ball down to second. But Jack Rover had alreadystarted for third, and now he streaked along with all his might,arriving at that bag just an instant before the ball followed him.
"That's the way to do it, boy! Keep it up!"
"Oh, he made three bases!" cried one of the girls in the grandstand."Isn't