Produced by John Pobuda
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
OR A CHASE FOR A FORTUNE
BY Arthur M. Winfield
(Edward Stratemeyer)
INTRODUCTION
My dear Boys: "The Rover Boys on the Ocean" is a complete tale initself, but forms a companion volume to "The Rover Boys atSchool," which preceded it.
In the former volume I tried to give my young readers a glimpseof life as it actually is in one of our famous military boardingschools, with its brightness and shadows, its trials andtriumphs, its little plots and counterplots, its mental andphysical contests, and all that goes to make up such anexistence; in the present tale I have given a little more ofthis, and also related the particulars of an ocean trip, which,from a small and unpretentious beginning, developed intosomething entirely unlooked for an outing calculated to test thenerves of the bravest of American youths. How Dick, Tom, andSam, and their friends stood it, and how they triumphed overtheir enemies, I will leave for the story itself to explain.This volume will be followed by another, to be entitled, "TheRover Boys in the jungle," telling of curious adventures in theheart of Africa.
As the first volume of the series was so I well received, my onewish is that the present tale may find equal favor at your hands.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
September 20, 1899
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
CHAPTER I
SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS
"Luff up a little, Sam, or the Spray will run on the rocks."
"All right, Dick. I haven't got sailing down quite as fine as youyet. How far do you suppose we are from Albany?"
"Not over eight or nine miles. If this wind holds out we'll makethat city by six o'clock. I'll tell you what, sailing on theHudson suits me first-rate."
"And it suits me, too," put in Tom Rover, addressing both ofhis brothers. "I like it ten times better than staying on UncleRandolph's farm."
"But I can't say that I like it better than life at Putnam Hall,"smiled Sam Rover, as he threw over the tiller of the littleyacht. "I'm quite anxious to meet Captain Putnam and Fred,Frank, and Larry again."
"Oh, so am I," answered Tom Rover. "But an outing on the Hudsonis just the best of a vacation. By the way, I wonder if all ofour old friends will be back?"
"Most of them will be."
"And our enemies?"
"Dan Baxter won't come back," answered Dick seriously. "He ranaway to Chicago with two hundred dollars belonging to his father,and I guess that's the end of him—so far as Putnam Hall and weare concerned. What a bully he was!"
"I feel it in my bones, Dick, that we'll meet Dan Baxter again,"came from Sam Rover.
"Don't you remember that in that note he left when he ran away hesaid he would take pains to get square with us some day?"
"He was a big blower, Sam," put in Tom. "I am not afraid of him.
An his chum, Mumps, was a regular sneak coward. I hope Putnam
Hall will be free from all such fellows during the next term.
But we—Hold hard, Sam—there is another yacht bearing down
upon us!"
Tom Rover leaped to his feet and so did Dick. Tom was right;another craft, c