The Rover Boys on the River

The Rover Boys on the River

Project Gutenberg's The Rover Boys on the River, by Arthur Winfield
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Title: The Rover Boys on the River The Search for the Missing
Houseboat
Author: Arthur Winfield
Release Date: May 25, 2005 [EBook #15904]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER ***

Produced by W. R. Marvin

The Rover Boys on the River
The Search for the Missing Houseboat
By
Arthur Winfield

CONTENTS
I. Plans for an Outing II. On the way to Putnam Hall III. The Doings of
a Night IV. What the Morning Brought Forth V. For and Against VI.
Link Smith's Confession VII. Fun on the Campus VIII. Good-bye to
Putnam Hall IX. The Rover Boys at Home X. A Scene in a Cemetery

XI. Attacked from Behind XII. Flapp and Baxter Plot Mischief XIII.
Chips and the Circus Bills XIV. Fun at the Show XV. Acts Not on the
Bills XVI. Aleck Brings News XVII. A Queer Captain XVIII. On
Board the Houseboat XIX. Words and Blows XX. Days of Pleasure
XXI. The Disappearance of the Houseboat XXII. Dan Baxter's Little
Game XXIII. A Run in the Dark XXIV. The Horse Thieves XXV.
Plotting Against Dora and Nellie XXVI. The Search on the River
XXVII. Caught Once More XXVIII. A Message for the Rovers XXIX.
Jake Shaggam, of Shaggam Creek XXX. The Rescue--Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
My dear boys: "The Rover Boys on the River" is a complete story in
itself, but forms the ninth volume of "The Rover Boys Series for Young
Americans."
Nine volumes! What a great number of tales to write about one set of
characters! When I started the series I had in mind, as I have mentioned
before, to write three, or possibly, four books. But the gratifying
reception given to "The Rover Boys at School," soon made the
publishers call for the second, third, and fourth volumes, and then came
the others, and still the boys and girls do not seem to be satisfied. I am
told there is a constant cry for "more! more!" and so I present this new
Rover Boys story, which tells of the doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam and
their friends during an outing on one of our great rivers,--an outing full
of excitement and fun and with a touch of a rather unusual mystery.
During the course of the tale some of the old enemies of the Rover
Boys turn up, but our heroes know, as of old, how to take care of
themselves; and all ends well.
In placing this book into the hands of my young readers I wish once
more to thank them for the cordial reception given the previous
volumes. Many have written to me personally about them, and I have
perused the letters with much satisfaction. I sincerely trust the present
volume fulfills their every expectation.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER

CHAPTER I
PLANS FOR AN OUTING
"Whoop! hurrah! Zip, boom, ah! Rockets!"
"For gracious' sake, Tom, what's all the racket about? I thought we had
all the noise we wanted last night, when we broke up camp."
"It's news, Dick, glorious news," returned Tom Rover, and he began to
dance a jig on the tent flooring. "It's the best ever."
"It won't be glorious news if you bring this tent down on our heads,"
answered Dick Rover. "Have you discovered a gold mine?"
"Better than that, Dick. I've discovered what we are going to do with
ourselves this summer."
"I thought we were going back to the farm, to rest up, now that the term
at Putnam Hall is at an end."
"Pooh! Who wants to rest? I've rested all I wish right in this
encampment."
"Well, what's the plan? Don't keep us in 'suspenders,' as Hans Mueller
would say."
"Dear old Hansy! That Dutch boy is my heart's own!" cried Tom,
enthusiastically. "I could not live without him. He must go along."
"Go along where?"
"On our outing this summer?"
"But where do you propose to go to, Tom?"
"For a trip on the broad and glorious Ohio River."

"Eh?"
"That's it, Dick. We are to sail the briny deep of that river in a
houseboat. Now, what do you think of that?"
"I'd like to know what put that into your head, Tom," came from the
tent opening, and Sam Rover, the youngest of the three brothers,
stepped into view.
"Uncle Randolph put it