The Rover Boys at School

The Rover Boys at School, by
Arthur M. Winfield

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Title: The Rover Boys at School
Author: Arthur M. Winfield

Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5780] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 1,
2002]
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ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL ***

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THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
Or
THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL
By Arthur M. Winfield (Edward Stratemeyer)
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys:
"The Rover Boys at School" has been written that those of you who
have never put in a term or more at an American military academy for
boys may gain some insight into the workings of such an institution.
While Putnam Hall is not the real name of the particular place of
learning I had in mind while penning this tale for your amusement and
instruction, there is really such a school, and dear Captain Putnam is a
living person, as are also the lively, wide-awake, fun-loving Rover
brothers, Dick, Tom, and Sam, and their schoolfellows, Larry, Fred,

and Frank. The same can be said, to a certain degree, of the bully Dan
Baxter, and his toady, the sneak, commonly known as "Mumps."
The present story is complete in itself, but it is written as the first of a
series, to be followed by "The Rover Boys on the Ocean" and "The
Rover Boys in the Jungle," in both of which volumes we will again
meet many of our former characters.
Trusting that this tale will find as much favor in your hands as have my
previous stories, I remain,
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCING THE ROVER BOYS
"Hurrah, Sam, it is settled at last that we are to go to boarding school!"
"Are you certain, Tom? Don't let me raise any false hopes."
"Yes, I am certain, for I heard Uncle Randolph tell Aunt Martha that he
wouldn't keep us in the house another week. He said he would rather
put up with the Central Park menagerie -- think of that!" and Tom
Rover began to laugh.
"That's rather rough on us, but I don't know but what we deserve it,"
answered Sam Rover, Tom's younger brother. "We have been giving it
pretty strong lately, with playing tricks on Sarah the cook, Jack the
hired man, and Uncle Randolph's pet dog Alexander. But then we, had
to do something -- or go into a dry rot. Life in the country is all well
enough, but it's mighty slow for me."
"I guess it is slow for anybody brought up in New York, Sam. Why, the
first week I spent here I thought the stillness would kill me. I couldn't
actually go to sleep because it was so quiet. I wish uncle and aunt

would move to the city. They have money enough."
"Aunt Martha likes to be quiet, and uncle is too much wrapped up in
the art of scientific farming, as he calls it. I'll wager he'll stay on this
farm experimenting and writing works on agriculture until he dies.
Well, it's a good enough way to do, I suppose, but it wouldn't suit me. I
want to see something of life -- as father did."
"So do I. Perhaps we'll see something when we get to boarding school."
"Where are we to go?"
"I don't know. Some strict institution, you can be sure of that. Uncle
Randolph told aunty it was time the three of us were hand. He said
Dick wasn't so bad, but you and I --"
"Were the bother of his life, eh?"
"Something about like that. He doesn't see any fun in tricks. He expects
us to just walk around the