The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle | Page 2

an end, and the
school days of the three Rover boys at that institution were now a thing
of the past. Each had graduated with honors, yet all were a trifle sad to
think that there would be no going back to a place where they had made
so many friends.
"It's almost like giving up your home," Dick had said, several times,
while at the actual parting Sam had had to do his best to keep back the
tears which welled up in his eyes. Even fun-loving Tom had stopped a
good deal of his whistling and had looked unusually sober.
"We'll never have such good times as we've had at Putnam Hall," Sam
had said, but he was mistaken, as later events proved.
The three Rover boys did not wish to part from their many school
chums, yet they were, more than anxious to get home, and for this there
was a very good reason. Their father had told them that he had a very
important communication to make to them one regarding how the
summer was to be spent. So far no arrangements had been made for the
vacation, and the brothers were anxious to know "what was in the
wind," as Tom expressed it.
"Maybe we are to prepare for college," said Dick.
"Perhaps we are to go on another trip to Africa?" added Sam.
"Or start on a hunt for the North Pole," put in Tom. "That would be just
the thing for this hot weather."

"I can tell you one thing," went on Dick. "Whatever father has on his
mind is of a serious nature. It is no mere outing for pleasure."
"I know that," answered Sam, "I could see it by the look on his face."
"Well, we'll know all about it by this time tomorrow," said Tom. "I
hope it is some trip--I love to travel," and his brothers nodded their
heads in approval.
To those who have read any of the twelve previous volumes in this
"Rover Boys Series" the three brothers will need no special
introduction. For the benefit of new readers allow me to state that Dick
was the oldest, fun-loving Tom next, and Sam the youngest. They were
the sons of Anderson Rover, a widower and rich mine owner. The
father was a great traveler, and for years the boys had made their home
with their uncle, Randolph Rover, and their Aunt Martha, on a farm
called Valley Brook, in the heart of New York state.
From the farm, and while their father was in Africa, the boys had been
sent to Putnam Hall, as related in the first volume of this series, entitled,
"The Rover Boys at School." At the Hall they made a score of friends
and several enemies, some of which will be introduced later. A term at
school was followed by a trip on the ocean, and then one into the
jungles of the Dark Continent in search of Mr. Rover, who had
mysteriously disappeared. Then the Rover boys went out west and to
the great lakes, and later spent a fine time hunting in the mountains.
They likewise spent some time in camp with their fellow cadets, and
during the summer vacation took a long trip on land and sea. Then they
returned home, and during another vacation sailed down the Ohio River
in a houseboat, spent some time on the plains, took an unexpected trip
to southern waters, and then came back to the farm.
On getting back home, as related in the twelfth volume of this series,
called "The Rover Boys on the Farm," the 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