The Rover Boys in Camp by Edward Stratemeyer
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Edward Stratemeyer >> The Rover Boys in Camp
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"We have come to the end of the trail," was Tom's comment, as he gazed
around sharply.
"Do you see anything?" queried his brother.
"Nothing much. One or two of the bushes over yonder seem to be brushed
aside and broken."
"What do you think we had best do now?"
"Listen!"
Both remained silent for several minutes, but nothing out of the
ordinary reached their ears.
"We may as well give it up, Sam. It is growing dark and there is no
telling where this search would lead us. We might even get lost in the
woods."
They retraced their steps as quickly as they could to where they had
left the rowboat.
"What luck?" queried Fred.
"None; he got away from us."
"It's too bad," said Powell; and then the return to the camp was made
without further delay.
CHAPTER XXIV
MORE RIVALRY
"Do you mean to tell me that you saw Arnold Baxter?" exclaimed Dick,
after listening to Sam and Tom's story.
"We did," replied the youngest Rover. "There was no mistake?"
"If it wasn't Arnold Baxter do you think he would take such pains to
get out of our reach?" asked Tom.
"That is true, Tom. But it seems so unnatural. What can he be doing in
this out-of-the-way place?"
"As Powell says, he must be keeping out of the reach of the law.
Perhaps he expects to keep shady until this affair blows over."
"As if it would blow over!" cried Sam. "Dick, we ought to do
something."
Captain Putnam had already learned why the four cadets had been late in
returning to camp. The Rovers now went to consult him further.
"I agree, something should be done," said the captain. "Perhaps you had
better go to the nearest telegraph office, Richard, and telegraph to
your folks. You might also get some of the local authorities to take up
the hunt for this criminal."
"Who are the local authorities?"
"I really don't know, but we can find out at Oakville."
In the end Dick and Tom received permission to leave camp for an
indefinite time. Late as it was, they hurried to Oakville and caught
the telegraph operator at the little railroad station just as he was
shutting up for the night.
Having sent the message to their father they made inquiries of the
operator and learned that the town boasted of a Judge Perkins and that
the local constable was Munro Staton.
"Do you mean the farmer who lives down on the road to Bass Lake?" asked
Dick. "The man who has twin daughters?"
"That's the man."
"Why, he was in camp to-day, with his daughters," cried Dick. "Wish I
had known of this before. I might have hired him to make a hunt for the
fellow we are after. Where does that judge live?"
"Sorry, but he went to New York yesterday and won't be back for several
days."
The boys said no more, but without delay turned away from Oakville and
made their way to the Staton farmhouse.
"Hullo! I didn't expect to see you again to-day!" exclaimed Munro
Staton, as he opened the door for them. "Come in."
They entered, to find the girls sewing and Mrs. Staton darning
stockings. Mr. Staton had been reading his favorite weekly newspaper.
"We have come on a very important errand, Mr. Staton," began Dick. "We
have been down to Oakville and learned there that you are the local
police officer."
"Ah! Do you want somebody arrested?"
"If it can be done."
"Somebody at the camp?" put in Helen.
"No, I wish he was at the camp," said Tom. "But I'm afraid he is miles
away."
All of the Statons were interested and listened to the tale Tom and
Dick had to tell with close attention.
"Seems to me I've heard of this Baxter and his son," said Munro Staton,
scratching his head. "How does he look?"
As well as he was able Tom described the man, while Dick took a sheet
of paper and a pencil and made a rough but life-like sketch of the
individual.
"Why, you are quite an artist!" said Alice Staton as she gazed at the
picture. "I'm sure I'd recognize that man if I met him."
"So would I," added her father. "Can I keep this picture?"
"To be sure," replied Dick. "Now, Mr. Staton, to come to business. What
are your services as constable worth a day?"
"Oh, about two or two dollars and a half."
"Well if you will start a hunt for this man Baxter at once I'll
guarantee you three dollars, per day for a week or two, and if you
succeed in landing him in jail I'll guarantee you a reward of one
hundred dollars. I know my father will pay that amount willingly."
"And if he won't, I will," said Tom.
"You must be rich."
"We are fairly rich, Mr. Staton. This man is a great criminal and has
been an enemy to our family for years. We don't want to see him at
large."
"Well, I'll take the job and do the best I can for you," said Munro
Staton and arose to his feet. "My hired man can run the farm while I am
gone."
He said he knew the spot where the boys had first seen Arnold Baxter,
and he would visit it at sunrise the next day and take up the trail as
best he could.
"That trail through the woods used to lead to the village of Hopdale,"
he said. "Perhaps I'll learn something about him over there."
"I sincerely hope that you do," returned Dick.
The boys, and especially Tom, were worn out with traveling and readily
consented to borrow a horse from Munro Staton, on which to ride back to
camp. The steed was returned early in the morning.
"It's rather a wild-goose chase," said Dick, in talking matters over
with his brothers. "But I don't know of anything else to do. Mr. Staton
may catch Baxter quicker than a metropolitan detective could do the
job."
Three days passed, and during that time the boys received two telegrams
from home, stating they should do as they thought best in the Baxter
affair, and that a detective was on the way. Then the detective
appeared at the camp and followed Munro Staton on the hunt for the
missing criminal. But the search by both men proved useless, and
nothing more was seen of Arnold Baxter for the time being.
The cadets had arranged for a series of athletic contests, to come off
at the beginning of the following week. There was to be broad and high
jumping, and running, as well as throwing the hammer. All of the
students were interested, and for some time these contests formed the
total subject of conversation.
The cadets to enter for the various events, eight in number, were those
already introduced in these pages and a dozen or fifteen in addition,
all lively, wide-awake youths, each of whom looked as if he would do
his best to win.
In a manner not to be easily explained, the camp divided itself into
two factions, one led by Dick and Major Larry, and the other led by Lew
Flapp and Pender. To the former belonged the Rovers and their numerous
chums, and to the latter Rockley, Ben Hurdy, and boys of a similar
turn. Each crowd had one or more followers entered for every event and,
as before, numerous wagers were made as to which person and which crowd
would win.
Dick had entered for the high jump, Tom for the hammer throwing, and
Sam for a half mile race for cadets of his own class. The boys
practiced a good deal, although not always where the others could see
what they were doing.
The day for the contests was a perfect one and as news of the events
had traveled to Oakville and other places, quite a respectable crowd of
outsiders came to the camp to witness the affair.
"I hope you Rover boys win," said Alice Staton, who had come with her
twin sister and her mother in a buggy.
"Thank you," returned Dick politely. "We shall certainly do our best.
But you must remember that we have some first-class athletes at this
academy."
"Oh, I don't doubt it. All academies have them," put in Helen Staton.
The first event to come off was the hammer throwing, to take place in
the middle of the parade ground. There were four entries for this, Tom,
as already mentioned, Jackson, Powell, and a big boy named Larson.
Larson, who belonged to the Flapp crowd, was looked on as the probable
winner, for he handled the hammer exceedingly well. But Jackson could
also throw, as the others well knew. Nothing was known about the skill
of Tom or Powell in this direction.
The contest began with a throw by Powell. It was not very good and
Jackson outdistanced him by three feet.
"That's the style, Jackson!" cried Lew Flapp. "Show 'em what you can
do."
"This is the day our crowd comes out on top," put in Pender.
"Crowing rather early, seems to me," came from Fred Garrison dryly.
It was now Tom's turn and he threw the hammer with all the force at his
command. It fell just beyond the point reached by Jackson.
"Good for you, Tom!" cried Sam. "That's the way to do it."
"Humph! Just wait till Larson takes his turn," came from a Flapp
follower.
Larson stepped to the mark with the air of one who knows just what he
is doing. Up went the hammer with a long swing--to land in the very spot
where Tom had thrown it.
"A tie! A tie!" was the cry.
"Well done, Larson!" came from Lew Flapp, but he was by no means
satisfied over the showing made.
Being tied, it was necessary for Tom and Larson to throw once more, and
again Tom took his position at the mark.
"Be careful, Tom," whispered Dick. "Take your time."
Again the hammer swung up into the air and went sailing forward.
"Hurrah, eight inches beyond his first mark!" came the cry.
"Larson will have to hump himself to beat that!"
It was now Larson's turn and he stepped to the mark with a quick,
earnest air. He realized that he must do his best if he expected to
beat Tom.
Jackson had picked up the hammer and he it was who had handed the
article to Tom.
As Larson swung the hammer on high Tom cried out quickly:
"Stop!"
"What's the matter with you?" cried Jackson uglily.
"I want Captain Putnam to examine that hammer."
"There ain't nothing wrong with it."
"Possibly not. But please remember that I used the one marked A."
"So did I," came from Powell.
Captain Putnam brushed forward.
"I will look at that hammer, please," he said to Larson quietly. He
knew that the cadets had several hammers for practicing throwing in the
camp.
"I--I guess it's all right," faltered Larson. "This hammer is marked B."
"B!" cried Tom. "That B hammer is about half a pound lighter than the
one marked A."
"It ain't so!" yelled Jackson.
"Let me see the hammer marked A," said the captain, and it was brought
from the spot where Jackson had thrown it. "It is certainly heavier
than this one," he went on. "Jackson, what do you mean by making such a
substitution?"
"I--er--I didn't know there was any difference."
"But why did you make the change at all?"
"I--er--I knew Larson liked this hammer better. The handle just suits
him."
"That is so," replied Larson blandly.
"We will try the contest over again," said Captain Putnam. "And every
contestant will use the hammer marked A."
"I don't like the hammer marked A," grumbled Larson.
"I would just as lief use the hammer marked B," said Tom quickly.
"So would I," added Powell, who felt he could not win anyway.
"Very well then, we will use the hammer marked B," said Captain Putnam.
"And after this, Jackson, be sure of what you are doing," he added
sharply, and at the words the boy who had tried to work such a mean
trick was glad enough to slink back out of sight as much as possible.
CHAPTER XXV
WINNING THE CONTESTS
Powell was again the first to throw the hammer and this time it went
two feet beyond his first mark.
"Good for you, Songbird!" said Tom. "I wish you had made it a yard."
Jackson came up with a scowling face. He did his best, but this time
fell behind Powell by four inches.
"You ought to have stuck to the other hammer, Jackson," laughed the
youth who composed songs.
"Don't you throw that up to me!" whispered Jackson fiercely. "If you do
I'll hammer you for it."
"Is that meant for a pun, Jackson?"
"No, it ain't. I won't stand being slurred. I'll pound you good."
"With the hammer?"
"No, with my fists."
"Really? Well, you'll have to spell able first." Tom came next, as
before, and now the hammer flew out four feet and nine inches beyond
his first mark.
"That shows what the other hammer can do," said Major Larry.
Larson was as much out of sorts as Jackson, but nevertheless he
resolved to do his best to win the contest. Up went the hammer with a
mighty swing and circled through the air. But the throw was behind that
of Tom by fourteen inches.
"Hurrah! Tom Rover wins!" was the cry, and many rushed forward to
congratulate him, while Larson and Jackson retired as quickly as they
could and in great disgust.
The next contest was a dash of two hundred yards and was won by a boy
named Bird.
"He's a bird!" sang out Tom loudly, and at this the crowd laughed
heartily.
Then came a race of a quarter of a mile for the little cadets and this
was won by Harry Moss, with Joe Davis a close second. Lew Flapp had
backed up Ben Hurdy, but cigarettes had done their work on Hurdy and
his wind gave out long before the race came to a finish.
"Good for you, Harry," said Dick, slapping the little cadet on the
back. "That was a fine run you made. And your run was almost as good,
Joe," he added, to Davis.
"I don't care if I did lose," panted Davis. "Both of us beat Ben Hurdy
hollow, and that's all I wanted to do."
"Oh, there's no moss growing on Moss," cried Tom, and this brought out
another laugh.
The next contest to come off was the high jump, for which Dick had
entered, along with Pender, Rockley, and four others, including Hans
Mueller. What had possessed the German boy to enter was beyond finding
out, for he could scarcely jump at all. Yet many, for the fun of it,
told him they thought he would surely win.
"Oh, you'll outjump everybody," said Sam. "None of 'em will come
anywhere near you."
"Dot's it! Dot's it!" cried Hans excitedly. "I vos chump so high like
nefer vos, ain't it?"
A lad named Lemon was the first to go over the bar, at a height of four
feet and two inches. Another cadet followed, going him two inches
better.
"Now, Hans, see what you can do," said Major Larry.
"Vos it mine turn to chump?"
"Yes. Are you ready?"
"Sure I vos."
"How high up shall they place the stick?"
"Apout like dot," and Hans pointed to the top of his head.
"All right, fellows, up she goes!" sang out Tom, and the stick went up.
Hans spat on his hands as if going to lift something. Then he squared
his shoulders and drew far back from the jumping place.
"Gif me lots of room, eferypotty!" he sang out.
"All the room you want, Dutchy!" cried one of the cadets.
Away Hans started for the stick, running as swiftly as his short legs
would carry him. When about ten feet away he made a wild leap, stuck up
both legs in the air, and came down flat on his back with a loud whack.
"Hurrah, Hans wins!" cried Tom. "Best fall I've seen in a year!"
"Wh--who--vat--" gasped Hans, trying to recover his wind. "Who knocked
me der pack ofer annahow?"
"Nobody hit you, Hans."
"Who put geese grease der groundt on ver I run, hey?"
"Nobody."
"Well, did I knock der stick town?"
"No, you didn't come anywhere near the stick."
"Do I got some more trials?"
"I think, Mueller, that you had better retire," said Captain Putnam
with a smile. "High jumping does not seem to agree with you."
"Maype dot's so, captain. Veil, I ton't care annahow. I vill drow der
hammer ven ve haf some more of dem kondests," and then Hans dropped to
the rear.
Rockley was the next to jump, and his record was an inch better than
that already made.
"That's all right," said Lew Flapp.
Two other pupils now took their turns in jumping and Rockley's record
was speedily eclipsed. Then Dick came along and sent the record still
higher.
"That's the talk, Dick," said Tom enthusiastically. "I don't think
Pender can do as well."
"Can't I," sneered Pender. "I'll show you."
On he came, measuring his distance with care, and went over the stick
at the same height Dick had taken.
"Another tie!" was the cry.
The last boy to jump did not do as well as Rockley, so the contest was
voted a tie between Dick and Gus Pender.
"Now, Dick, you must win," said Sam.
"You think a good lot of his ability," sneered Lew Flapp, who stood
close by, and started to walk off.
He had scarcely taken a step when Dick gave him a quick shove that sent
the tall boy flat on his face.
"I'll teach you to step on my foot, Lew Flapp!" he cried hotly.
"What's the trouble?" demanded several, while Mr. Strong came forward
to investigate.
"Lew Flapp stepped on my right foot, and he did it just as hard as he
could," said Dick.
"I--I didn't," growled Flapp.
"I say you did--and what is more, I think you did it on purpose."
"He did it to lame you, so you couldn't jump against Pender," came from
Tom.
"Flapp, did you step on Rover's foot on purpose?" demanded George
Strong.
"No, sir--didn't step on it at all."
"It is very strange. Rover says you did."
"He is mistaken."
"I am not mistaken. That is why I shoved him away, Mr. Strong."
"Is your foot hurt?"
"I don't think it is. But it didn't do it any good to have it stepped
on."
"Probably not. Do you still wish to jump?"
"Yes, sir. If I don't, some of the crowd will say I am afraid," said
Dick.
"In the future, Flapp, be more careful," said George Strong
significantly.
"By Jinks! but the Flapp crowd are dandies!" whispered Tom. "First
Jackson tried to change the hammers and now Flapp himself tries to
disable you. We must be on our guard after this."
"That's true," replied his elder brother, and Sam nodded.
Because of Dick's hurt foot it was decided that Gus Pender should jump
first. Pender did his best, clearing the stick by two inches better
than before.
"Put it up an inch higher," cried Dick, and made the jump, despite a
pain in the instep that was by no means pleasant. Then Pender tried
again, but failed, and Dick was declared the winner.
"This is the day for the Rovers!" cried one cadet, and a cheer for Tom
and Dick followed, while the Staton girls waved their handkerchiefs
wildly.
After this came several other contests, in each of which the crowd
pitted against the Flapp faction won. This made Lew Flapp, Rockley,
Pender, Jackson and a number of others feel very sore.
"We must win something," cried Pender fiercely. "If we don't we'll be
the laughing stock of the whole academy."
At last came the half mile race for which Sam had entered. Now, though
Lew Flapp was much larger than most of the others, he was in the same
class as Sam, and he had also entered this race, which boasted of ten
contestants, including William Philander Tubbs.
"You have got to win this, Lew," said Rockley. "It ought to be easy
for you, with such long legs."
"I mean to win and leave that Rover boy so far behind he'll feel sick,"
answered Flapp.
Sam had but little to say. But he knew that both Tom and Dick expected
him to win, and he resolved to "do or die" as the saying goes.
"Even if I lose they shan't say I didn't try," the youngest Rover told
himself.
Out on the field William Philander Tubbs was strutting around
boastfully.
"I can't help but win, don't you know," he drawled. "Running is exactly
in my line."
"Oh, what a whopper!" was Fred Garrison's comment. "Tubbs is about as
lazy as they make 'em."
Soon all of the contestants were ready, and George Strong explained the
conditions of the race.
"You are to run along the shore to the big rock where Lieutenant
Merrick is stationed," he said. "You are to round the rock by running
to the right, and you must keep to the right of the path on returning,
so that you won't run into anybody. The first to reach this mark on the
return wins the race. Do you understand?"
The runners said that they did.
"Very well then. Get ready. Go!"
Away piled the boys in a line that did not break for several yards.
Then Sam Rover shot ahead, followed by Flapp and two cadets named
Pigley and Franell.
"There they go!" was the shout.
"Leg it, Sam!" yelled Tom. "Leg it, old man!"
"Go it, Flapp! Don't let them win this race!"
"It's yours if you want it, Franell!"
"Remember how you won the race at Ithaca, Pigley!"
So the cries went on, while the outsiders cheered for nobody in
particular.
"Oh, I hope that Rover boy wins," said Alice Staton to her sister.
"So do I," answered Helen.
"By Jove, but I think I'll rest a bit!" panted William Philander Tubbs,
after running a couple of hundred yards, and he sat down on the grass,
while the crowd laughed at him.
Sam was keeping the lead in good shape, although hard pressed by Flapp,
Pigley, and Franell. His wind was good and he was running with a grace
which brought forth much favorable comment.
"Whether he wins or not, he is the most graceful runner in the school,"
whispered George Strong to Captain Putnam. "I never saw his equal."
"You are right, Strong," answered the captain. "I'll tell you what," he
added. "They are a great trio, those Rover boys. One cannot help but
love them, in spite of their tricks and occasional wrong-doings."
"I agree, Captain Putnam. And I must say I do not find their
wrong-doings so very great either," concluded George Strong.
The rock that was the turning point in the race was now almost gained.
Sam still led, but Flapp was right at one shoulder, with Pigley at the
other. Franell, at a look from Flapp, had dropped behind.
On the rock stood the lieutenant George Strong had mentioned. He was
friendly to Lew Flapp and as Sam swept around the rock, he leaned
forward, making the youngest Rover run about a yard further than was
necessary. Then he allowed Flapp to cut the rock closely.
But Sam was on his mettle and now bounded ahead faster than ever,
leaving Flapp and Pigley several yards in the rear.
"Confound him," thought Lew Flapp. "He'll win sure, unless Franell does
as he agreed--good!"
Flapp almost shouted the word, as he saw Sam run into Franell with a
crash and go down. The other boy had crossed the running path and
gotten directly into Sam's way.
"I see you are out of it!" cried Flapp gleefully, as he shot by the
prostrate figure.
"It was a trick!" muttered Sam to himself, and tried to rise to his
feet. But the wind was knocked completely out of him and before he
could recover the race was over, and Lew Flapp had come in ahead.
CHAPTER XXVI
SAM SHOWS WHAT HE CAN DO
"It was another trick. He knocked me down on purpose."
Thus spoke Sam, as soon as he could get a hearing.
"Well, if that isn't beastly!" cried Franell, in apparent surprise. "I
knocked him over! Why the little clown plumped right into me!
"Were you running on your side of the path?" questioned George Strong.
"I was, sir. Flapp and Pigley can prove it."
"That's right, Mr. Strong," said Lew Flapp.
"It was entirely Rover's fault," added Pigley. "He didn't keep to the
right as he should."
The other runners were questioned, but could give no testimony, as they
had not been close enough at the time of the collision.
"It is too bad it happened," said Captain Putnam.
"I would have won if it hadn't been for the fall," said Sam bitterly.
"I was in the lead."
"Yes, but you were about winded," said Flapp. "I saw you getting
groggy. That's what made you fall into Franell, I guess."
This remark made the youngest Rover more angry than ever.
"Mr. Strong," he said, turning to the head teacher suddenly, "will you
do me a favor?"
"What do you wish, Rover?"
"Will you time me if I run that race over again.
"You mean to run it over alone?"
"Yes, sir--unless Flapp will run against me."
"I've won the race and that's all there is to it," grumbled the tall
boy doggedly.
"Certainly I'll time you, if you wish it," said Mr. Strong, who saw how
disappointed Sam was. "But it won't be a race, you know."
"I don't care--I want to show them what I can do."
"Very well."
Sam drew up to the mark and declared himself ready.
"Shall I run with you?" asked Tom. "Just to urge you on, you know?"
"All right, Tom, come on."
"Go!" cried George Strong, watch in hand and his eye on the second
hand.
Away went the brothers side by side, while a cheer went up from those
who had wished to see Sam win.
Tom kept close to his brother until the rounding rock was gained and
here Sam compelled him to drop behind.
"Go on!" yelled Tom good-naturedly. "Go! I'm after you!" and he put on
an extra spurt. Sam also spurted and kept the lead by about two yards.
"Humph! that ain't running!" muttered Lew Flapp to Rockley, but
nevertheless, he was greatly disturbed.
Down the line swept the two runners with the speed of the wind, Sam
keeping his two yards' lead in spite of Tom's efforts to overtake him.
"Won!" was the shout. "And Tom Rover is close behind." And then the
crowd gathered around George Strong to learn the time.
"Eight seconds better than Lew Flapp!" was the cry. "And Tom Rover came
in four seconds better!"
"That shows what Sam Rover would have done had Franell kept out of his
way."
"The race should have gone to Sam Rover!"
So the cries kept up until Captain Putnam compelled the cadets to quiet
down.
Lew Flapp and his cronies were much disgusted and left the field almost
immediately.
"He's afraid to stay," declared Dick. "He doesn't want Sam to challenge
him," and this was the truth.
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