The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle | Page 3

boys had imagined that adventures for them were a thing of the past. They were willing to take it easy, but this was not to be. Some bad men, including a sharper named Sid Merrick, were responsible for the theft of some freight from the local railroad, and Merrick, by a slick trick, obtained possession of some traction company bonds belonging to Randolph Rover. The Rover boys managed to locate the freight thieves, but Sid Merrick got away from them, dropping a pocketbook containing the traction company bonds in his flight. This was at a time when Dick, Tom and Sam had returned to Putnam Hall for their final term at that institution. At the Hall they had made a bitter enemy of a big, stocky bully named Tad Sobber and of another lad named Nick Pell. Tad Sobber, to get even with the Rovers for a fancied injury, sent to the latter a box containing a live, poisonous snake. The snake got away and hid in Nick Pell's desk and Nick was bitten and for some time it was feared that he might die. He exposed Tad Sobber, and fearing arrest the bully ran away from the Hall. Later, much to their surprise, the Rover boys learned that the bully was a ward and nephew of Sid Merrick, and when the sharper disappeared Tad Sobber went with him.
"They are certainly a bad pair," said Dick, but how bad the Rovers were still to find out.
With the boys on the train were John Powell, better known as "Songbird," because he had a habit of reciting newly made doggerel which he called poetry, Hans Mueller, a German youth who frequently got his English badly twisted, Fred Garrison, who had graduated with the Rovers, and some others.
"Dick, you haven't told me yet what you intend to do this summer," remarked Fred Garrison, as the train rolled on.
"Because I don't know, Fred," answered the elder Rover. "My father has something in store, but I don't know what it is."
"Can't you guess?"
"No."
"I wish we could take another trip like that on the houseboat--it was certainly a dandy."
"The best ever!" put in Tom. "Even if we did have trouble with Lew Flapp, Dan Baxter and some others."
"Speaking of Dan Baxter puts me in mind of something," came from Songbird Powell. "It has just leaked out that Tad Sobber sent a note to Captain Putnam in which Tad blamed some of the cadets for his troubles, and said he was going to get square some day."
"Did he mention any names?" questioned Sam.
"Yes."
"Mine?"
"Yes--and Dick's and Tom's, too."
"It is just like Sobber--to blame his troubles on somebody else," remarked Dick.
"I am not afraid of him," declared Tom. "He had better keep his distance--unless he wants to get the worst of it. We used to put up with a whole lot from Dan Baxter before he reformed--I am not going to put up with as much from Sobber."
"Tad certainly went off in bad company," said Sam. "His uncle ought to be in prison this minute."
"Have the authorities heard anything of Merrick?" asked Songbird.
"Not a thing."
"I dink me dot feller has skipped to Europe alretty," vouchsafed Hans Mueller. "He vould peen afraid to stay py der United States in, yah!" And the German boy shook his head wisely.
"Personally I never want to set eyes on Sobber again," said Dick, with a shrug of his broad shoulders. "The idea of introducing that deadly snake into the school was the limit. Why, half a dozen of us might have been bitten instead of only poor Pell."
"Maybe he did it only for a joke," said Larry Colby, another of the cadets.
"If he did, it was carrying a joke altogether too far--endangering one or more human lives. I don't believe in that sort of fun."
"Nor do I," came from several.
"If he is in Europe with his uncle perhaps I'll meet him there," said Larry Colby. "I am going to France and Italy with my uncle and cousin. Wish some of you fellows were going along," he added, wistfully.
"I am going to the Maine woods," said a lad named George Granberry. "You can never guess who is going there, too."
"Who?"
"William Philander Tubbs and Mr. Strong."
"What, our own dude going to camp in the wilderness," cried Tom. "Oh, if I was only along wouldn't I give him some surprises!"
"I'll have some fun--don't forget that!" replied George, with a grin. "But as Mr. Strong is going to be along, of course I'll have to be a little careful."
"Dear Mr. Strong!" murmured Sam, with a sigh. "What a fine teacher he is, and how I hate to give him up!"
"I envy your having him along," said Dick.
At that moment the train rolled into a station and Larry and some of the others got off.
"We leave you at the