Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island or, The Old Lumberman's Treasure Box

Edward Stratemeyer

Description

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.

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819902713
• Langue: English

Extrait

INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story initself, but forms the second volume in a line issued under thegeneral title, "The Second Rover Boys Series for YoungAmericans."
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." Inthose volumes my young readers were introduced to Dick, Tom and SamRover.
The volumes of the first series related theadventures of the three Rover boys while attending Putnam HallMilitary Academy, Brill College, and while on numerous outings.
These Rover boys were, of course, growing steadilyolder. They met three young ladies in whom they became intenselyinterested, and, after becoming established in business, threehappy marriages followed. Presently Dick Rover was blessed with ason and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while thefun-loving Tom became the proud father of twin boys, who were asfull of spirit as their parent had ever been. At first the boyswere kept at home, but then it was thought best to send them to aboarding school.
At Colby Hall the young Rovers made a host offriends, and also some enemies. They had to work hard over theirstudies, but they had a thoroughly good time.
In the present volume the boys are still at ColbyHall, but presently the scene is shifted to Snowshoe Island, wherethe lads go for a short hunting season. How they ran into a mostunusual mystery and helped an old lumberman to establish his claimto the island, I will leave the pages which follow to relate.
In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readersfor the many kind things they have said about these Rover Boysbooks, and especially about the initial volume in the secondseries. 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.
CHAPTER I
F UN 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 bentdown to adjust the loosened bit of leather. "Hurry up, Fred, wedon'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'stwin brother. "Now remember, the race is to be to the old whitepine and back," announced the starter. "Every contestant has got totouch the tree before he starts to come back; otherwise he'll becounted out." "You ought to have a pistol to start us with," camefrom Jack Rover. "I guess my old locomotive whistle will do forthat," answered Frank Newberry. He paused to look at the line ofskaters. "Now then, everybody on the job!" and a loud whistle rentthe air.
Instantly there was a scurry of skates, and off theline started across Clearwater Lake to where a blasted pine treereared its naked trunk against the skyline.
It was a Saturday afternoon in early winter, and thecadets of Colby Hall Military Academy were out in force to enjoythemselves on the smooth ice of the lake, near which the school waslocated. The cadets had been amusing themselves in various ways,playing tag and hockey, and in "snapping the whip," as it iscalled, when Gif Garrison, at the head of the athletic association,had suggested a race. "We might as well find out who is the bestskater in the school," Gif had said. "Right you are," had come fromhis particular chum, Spouter Powell. "Let us get up a race by allmeans."
With so many cadets who could skate well, it was aneasy matter to arrange for the contest. To make the matter moreinteresting, one of the Hall professors, Mr. Brice, said he wouldgive some prizes to the pupils coming in first, second and third."I'll give a fine book of adventures to the first cadet, and alsobooks to the others," Mr. Brice announced. He was still a youngman, and in hearty sympathy with everything in the way of outdoorsports.
Among those to enter the contest were Jack Rover andhis three cousins, Fred, Andy and Randy. All were provided withhockey skates, and each felt confident of making a good record forhimself. Yet they all knew that the school boasted of some fineskaters, one lad in particular, Dan Soppinger, having won severalcontests on the ice in years gone by. "We've got our work cut outfor us!" cried Fred Rover, as he skated beside Jack. "Save yourwind, Fred," answered his cousin briefly. "Believe me, this isgoing to be some race!" came from Randy, who was on the other sideof Jack, with his twin brother next to him. "I don't care who winsso long as I'm not last," responded his twin merrily.
Over twenty cadets had started in the contest, andsoon the line, which had been fairly even for a few seconds afterthe whistle had sounded, began to take on a straggly appearance, assome skaters forged ahead and others fell behind. "Don't give up!Everybody keep in the race until the finish!" cried Professor Briceencouragingly. "Remember, a race isn't over until the end isreached."
Thus encouraged, those who were in the rear didtheir best to overtake those ahead. But gradually the skatersdivided into three groups; eight in the lead, six but a shortdistance behind them, and the others several yards further to therear.
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 amile, but the blasted pine tree was located some distance down theshore, so that the race would be close to a mile and a half inlength.
Spouter Powell was in the lead when the first groupof skaters came up to the pine tree. Dan Soppinger was close behindhim, with Jack and Randy following. Behind Randy came Walt Baxter,another cadet who skated remarkably well. The others of the firstgroup were gradually dropping back to the second contingent.Spouter Powell touched the tree with his finger tips, and wasfollowed almost immediately by Dan Soppinger. As they turned to goback to the starting point, they were followed by Jack and Randy."Hi, you fellows! what do you mean by skating so quick?" piped outAndy Rover gaily. "We'll leave the tree to you, Andy!" shouted histwin. "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'thave everything in this world," was the philosophic reply from theother Rover boy.
It could be seen that the race had now narrowed downto the five who were in the lead. Of these, Spouter Powell and DanSoppinger were less than two feet apart, while only a yard to therear came Jack, Randy and Walt Baxter. "Go it, Randy!" sang outAndy, as he dropped still further behind. "Go it! I know you canwin!" "Keep it up, Jack!" yelled Fred, who, being the smallest ofthe four Rovers, found it impossible to keep up the pace. "Don'tlet Spouter and Dan hold you back!"
There were numerous cries of encouragement for allof the skaters as they swept forward toward the starting point.Here a line had been drawn on the ice, and the cadets stood ateither end, some with their watches in their hands to time thewinners. "I'll bet Dan Soppinger wins!" cried one of the cadets."He's the best skater on the lake." "Well, Spouter Powell is a goodskater, too," returned another. "Huh! what's the matter with theRover boys?" burst out a third cadet, round-faced and remarkablyfat – so fat, in fact, that he had not dreamed of participating inthe contest. "I don't know much about how they can skate," was thereply. "They weren't here last winter, you remember." "Yes, I knowthat," answered Fatty Hendry. "Here they come!"
By this time the skaters were half way on the returnfrom the blasted pine. Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were stillin the lead, but Walt Baxter was crawling up steadily, while Jackand Randy were close behind. "Say, this is going to be aneck-and-neck race!" cried one of the cadets, Ned Lowe by name. Hehad wanted to race himself, but knew that his skates were too dullfor that purpose. "Stand back! Give them plenty of room!" exclaimedProfessor Brice, and he took measures to clear the cadets away fromthe finishing line.
Quite a crowd had assembled to witness the contest,not only cadets, but also some folks from the neighboring town ofHaven Point, and also a number of young ladies from ClearwaterHall, a seminary located some distance away.
The skaters had still a distance of several hundredyards to cover when it was seen that Spouter Powell was graduallyfalling behind. Then Jack Rover forged forward, followed by hisCousin Randy. "The Rovers are crawling up!" "See, Jack Rover andhis Cousin Randy and Dan Soppinger and Walt Baxter are all in aline!" "This certainly is one close race!"
The excitement increased as the racers drew closerto the finishing line. Walt Baxter was panting painfully, showingthat he had used up almost every ounce of his strength. "Oh, dear!I do hope the Rovers come in ahead," whispered one girl skater toanother. She was a tall girl, remarkably good looking and dressedin a suit of brown, with furs. "So do I hope the Rover boys win,Ruth," answered her girl companion, "now that my Cousin Dick hasfallen behind." "It's too bad, May, that your Cousin Dick couldn'thave kept up," answered Ruth Stevenson.
Closer and closer to the finishing line crept thefour leading skaters, Jack and Randy in the middle, with DanSoppinger on their left and Walt Baxter on their right. Now SpouterPowell had fallen back to the second group of racers. "Here theycome!" "It's Dan Soppinger's race!" "Not much! Here comes WaltBaxter! Gee, see him strike out!" "It's the Rovers who are comingto the front!" exclaimed Ned Lowe. "I knew they couldn't hold thoseRover boys back," was Frank Newberry's comment. "Now then, boys,for a final dash!" he shouted.
All four of the leading contestants were bendingforward and striking out as powerfully as possible, their armsswinging from side to side like pendulums and their skates ringingclearly on th