The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island Part 1

The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island.

by Edward Stratemeyer.

INTRODUCTION

My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the second volume in a line issued under the general t.i.tle, "The Second Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

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." In those volumes my young readers were introduced to d.i.c.k, Tom and Sam Rover.

The volumes of the first series related the adventures of the three Rover boys while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while on numerous outings.

These Rover boys were, of course, growing steadily older. They met three young ladies in whom they became intensely interested, and, after becoming established in business, three happy marriages followed.

Presently d.i.c.k Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while the fun-loving Tom became the proud father of twin boys, who were as full of spirit as their parent had ever been. At first the boys were kept at home, but then it was thought best to send them to a boarding school.

At Colby Hall the young Rovers made a host of friends, and also some enemies. They had to work hard over their studies, but they had a thoroughly good time.

In the present volume the boys are still at Colby Hall, but presently the scene is s.h.i.+fted to Snowshoe Island, where the lads go for a short hunting season. How they ran into a most unusual mystery and helped an old lumberman to establish his claim to the island, I will leave the pages which follow to relate.

In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readers for the many kind things they have said about these Rover Boys books, and especially about the initial volume in the second series. I trust that all my readers will like Jack, Andy and Randy, and Fred as much as they did d.i.c.k, Tom, and Sam Rover.

Affectionately and sincerely yours, EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND

CHAPTER I

FUN 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 bent down to adjust the loosened bit of leather.

"Hurry up, Fred, we don'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's twin brother.

"Now remember, the race is to be to the old white pine and back,"

announced the starter. "Every contestant has got to touch the tree before he starts to come back; otherwise he'll be counted out."

"You ought to have a pistol to start us with," came from Jack Rover.

"I guess my old locomotive whistle will do for that," answered Frank Newberry. He paused to look at the line of skaters. "Now then, everybody on the job!" and a loud whistle rent the air.

Instantly there was a scurry of skates, and off the line started across Clearwater Lake to where a blasted pine tree reared its naked trunk against the skyline.

It was a Sat.u.r.day afternoon in early winter, and the cadets of Colby Hall Military Academy were out in force to enjoy themselves on the smooth ice of the lake, near which the school was located. The cadets had been amusing themselves in various ways, playing tag and hockey, and in "snapping the whip," as it is called, when Gif Garrison, at the head of the athletic a.s.sociation, had suggested a race.

"We might as well find out who is the best skater in the school," Gif had said.

"Right you are," had come from his particular chum, Spouter Powell. "Let us get up a race by all means."

With so many cadets who could skate well, it was an easy matter to arrange for the contest. To make the matter more interesting, one of the Hall professors, Mr. Brice, said he would give some prizes to the pupils coming in first, second and third.

"I'll give a fine book of adventures to the first cadet, and also books to the others," Mr. Brice announced. He was still a young man, and in hearty sympathy with everything in the way of outdoor sports.

Among those to enter the contest were Jack Rover and his three cousins, Fred, Andy and Randy. All were provided with hockey skates, and each felt confident of making a good record for himself. Yet they all knew that the school boasted of some fine skaters, one lad in particular, Dan Soppinger, having won several contests on the ice in years gone by.

"We've got our work cut out for us!" cried Fred Rover, as he skated beside Jack.

"Save your wind, Fred," answered his cousin briefly.

"Believe me, this is going to be some race!" came from Randy, who was on the other side of Jack, with his twin brother next to him.

"I don't care who wins so long as I'm not last," responded his twin merrily.

Over twenty cadets had started in the contest, and soon the line, which had been fairly even for a few seconds after the whistle had sounded, began to take on a straggly appearance, as some skaters forged ahead and others fell behind.

"Don't give up! Everybody keep in the race until the finis.h.!.+" cried Professor Brice encouragingly. "Remember, a race isn't over until the end is reached."

Thus encouraged, those who were in the rear did their best to overtake those ahead. But gradually the skaters divided into three groups; eight in the lead, six but a short distance behind them, and the others several yards further to the rear.

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 a mile, but the blasted pine tree was located some distance down the sh.o.r.e, so that the race would be close to a mile and a half in length.

Spouter Powell was in the lead when the first group of skaters came up to the pine tree. Dan Soppinger was close behind him, with Jack and Randy following. Behind Randy came Walt Baxter, another cadet who skated remarkably well. The others of the first group were gradually dropping back to the second contingent. Spouter Powell touched the tree with his finger tips, and was followed almost immediately by Dan Soppinger. As they turned to go back to the starting point, they were followed by Jack and Randy.

"Hi, you fellows! what do you mean by skating so quick?" piped out Andy Rover gaily.

"We'll leave the tree to you, Andy!" shouted his twin.

"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't have everything in this world," was the philosophic reply from the other Rover boy.

It could be seen that the race had now narrowed down to the five who were in the lead. Of these, Spouter Powell and Dan Soppinger were less than two feet apart, while only a yard to the rear came Jack, Randy and Walt Baxter.

"Go it, Randy!" sang out Andy, as he dropped still further behind. "Go it! I know you can win!"

"Keep it up, Jack!" yelled Fred, who, being the smallest of the four Rovers, found it impossible to keep up the pace. "Don't let Spouter and Dan hold you back!"