The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle by Edward Stratemeyer

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THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE

Or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht

by

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

1909

INTRODUCTION.

My DEAR Boys: This is a complete tale in itself, but forms the
thirteenth volume of the "Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

This line of books was started some ten years ago with the publication
of the first three volumes, "The Rover Boys at School ... .. The Rover
Boys on the Ocean" and "The Rover Boys in the Jungle." At that time I
thought to end the series with a fourth volume provided the readers
wanted another. But with the publication of "The Rover Boys Out West,"
came a cry for "more!" and so I added "On the Great Lakes," "In the
Mountains," "In Camp," "On Land and Sea," "On the River," "On the
Plains," "In Southern Waters" and "On the Farm," where we last left
our friends.

For a number of years Tom, Dick and Sam have attended a military
academy, but now their school days at Putnam Hall are at an end, and
we find them getting ready to go to college. But before leaving home
for the higher seat of learning they take a remarkable cruise on a
steam yacht, searching for an island upon which it is said a large
treasure is hidden. They are accompanied on this trip by their father
and a number of friends, and have several adventures somewhat out of
the ordinary, and also a good bit of fun for there is bound to be fun
when Tom Rover is around. They lose themselves and lose their yacht,
and once some of them come pretty close to losing their lives, but in
the end--well, the story will tell the rest.

I cannot close without again thanking my many friends for all the nice
things they have said about the "Rover Boys" stories and the "Putnam
Hall" stories. I trust the present volume will fulfill every fair
expectation.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,
EDWARD STRATEMEYER

CONTENTS

I Bound For Home
II An Important Telegram
III Fun On The Farm
IV A Midnight Search
V At The Old Mill
VI The Story Of A Treasure
VII In Which Something Is Missing
VIII The Rover Boys In New York
IX A Chase On The Bowery
X Dick Becomes A Prisoner
XI Aboard The Steam Yacht
XII Something About Firecrackers
XIII A Wild Automobile Ride
XIV What A Roman Candle Did
XV The Sailing Of The Steam Yacht
XVI A Row On Shipboard
XVII A Mishap In The Fog
XVIII The New Deck Hand
XIX Treasure Isle At Last
XX The Boys Make A Discovery
XXI Scaring Off The Enemy
XXII Prisoners In The Forest
XXIII What Wingate Had To Tell
XXIV A Missing Landmark
XXV The Trail Through The Jungle
XXVI A Dismaying Discovery
XXVII What Happened On The Steam Yacht
XXVIII A New Move Of The Enemy
XXIX The Hunt For The Treasure
XXX Homeward Bound--Conclusion

CHAPTER I

BOUND FOR HOME

"HURRY Up, Sam, unless you want to be left behind!"

"I'm coming!" shouted Sam Rover, as he crossed the depot platform on
the run. "Where is Tom?"

"He went ahead, to get two good seats for us," answered Dick Rover. He
looked around the crowd that had gathered to take the train. "Hi,
there, Songbird, this way! Come in this car, Hans!"

"Say, aren't you fellows coming aboard?" came a voice from the nearest
car, and a curlytopped head with a pair of laughing eyes appeared.
"Folks crowding in to beat the band! Come on in if you want seats."

"We'll be in directly," answered Sam, and followed his brother Dick to
the car steps. Here there was quite a jam, and the Rover boys had all
they could do to get into the car, followed by half a dozen of their
school chums. But Tom Rover had managed to keep seats for all, and
they sat "in a bunch," much to their satisfaction. Then the train
rolled out of the station, and the journey homeward was begun.

The term at Putnam Hall Military Academy was at 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 Hall. Later, much to their
surprise, the Rover boys learned that the bully was a ward and nephew
of Sid Merrick, and when the sharper disappeared, Tad Sobber went with
him.

"They are certainly a bad pair," said Dick, but how bad the Rovers
were still to find out.

With the boys on the train were John Powell, better known as
"Songbird," because he had a, habit of reciting newly made doggerell
which he called poetry, Hans Mueller, a German youth who frequently
got his English badly twisted, Fred Garrison, who had graduated with
the Rovers, and some others.

"Dick, you haven't told me yet what you intended to do this summer,"
remarked Fred Garrison, as the train rolled on.

"Because I don't know, Fred," answered the elder Rover. "My father has
something in store, but I don't know what it is."

"Can't you guess?"

"No."

"I wish we could take another trip like that on the houseboat--it
was certainly a dandy."

"The best ever!" put in Tom. "Even if we did have trouble with Lew
Flapp, Dan Baxter and some others."

"Speaking of Dan Baxter puts me in mind of something," came from
Songbird Powell. "It has just leaked out that Tad Sobber sent a note
to Captain Putnam in which Tad blamed some of the cadets for his
troubles, and said he was going to get square some day."

"Did he mention any names?" questioned Sam.

"Yes."

"Mine?"

"Yes--and Dick's and Tom's, too."

"It is just like Sobber--to blame his troubles on somebody else,"
remarked Dick.

"I am not afraid of him," declared Tom. "He had better keep his
distance unless he wants to get the worst of it. We used to put up
with a whole lot from Dan Baxter before he reformed--I am not going
to put up with as much from Sobber."

"Tad certainly went off in bad company," said Sam. "His uncle ought to
be in prison this minute."

"Have the authorities heard anything of Merrick?" asked Songbird.

"Not a thing."

"I dink me dot feller has skipped to Europe alretty," vouchsafed Hans
Mueller. "He vould peen afraid to stay py der United States in, yah!"
And the German boy shook his head wisely.

"Personally I never want to set eyes on Sobber again," said Dick, with
a shrug of his broad shoulders. "The idea of introducing that deadly
snake into the school was the limit. Why, half a dozen of us might
have been bitten instead of only poor Pell."

"Maybe he did it only for a joke," said Larry Colby, another of the
cadets.

"If he did, it was carrying a joke altogether too far--endangering
one or more human lives. I don't believe in that sort of fun."

"Nor do I," came from several.

"If he is in Europe with his uncle perhaps I'll meet him there," said
Larry Colby. "I am going to France and Italy with my uncle and cousin.
Wish some of you fellows were going along," he added, wistfully.

"I am going to the Maine woods," said a lad named George Granberry.
"You can never guess who is going there, too."

"Who?"

"William Philander Tubbs and Mr. Strong."

"What, our own dude going to camp in the wilderness," cried Tom. "Oh,
if I was only along wouldn't I give him some surprises!"

"I'll have some fun don't forget that!" replied George, with a grin.
"But as Mr. Strong is going to be along, of course I'll have to be a
little careful."

"Dear Mr. Strong!" murmured Sam, with a sigh. "What a fine teacher he
is, and how I hate to give him up!"

"I envy your having him along," said Dick.

At that moment the train rolled into a station and Larry and some of
the others got off.

"We leave you at the next station," said Songbird, to the Rovers.
"When you find out what you are going to do this summer, write and let
me know."

"I certainly shall," answered Dick.

The three Rover boys soon after found themselves alone. They had to
make a change of cars, and some time later rolled into the station at
Oak Run.

"Home again!" shouted Tom, as he alighted on the depot platform.

"Yes, and there is Uncle Randolph waiting for us," added Dick, as he
hurried forward to meet his relative. "How do you do, Uncle!" he
cried.

"I am well, Richard," answered Randolph Rover, and then he shook hands
with all three boys. "Your--er--your father--" he began and
hesitated.

"Father? What of him?" asked Tom, in quick alarm, for he saw that his
uncle was much disturbed.

"Isn't he with you?"

"Why, no!" answered the three, in a chorus.

"He started for home last night," added Dick.

"Took the train after the one you and Aunt Martha took."

"But he didn't come home," said Randolph Rover.

"Didn't come home?"

"No."

"Didn't he send any word?" questioned Sam.

"None that I received."

"He said he was going straight home would telephone from Lockville for
the carriage to meet the last train," said Tom. "This is mighty
queer."

It was queer and for the moment the Rover boys and their uncle stared
blankly at one another.

"Something is wrong," declared Dick, presently. "And I am going to
make it my business to find out at once what it is."

CHAPTER II

AN IMPORTANT TELEGRAM

Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's
disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover,
on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he
would take the last train home that night. This train got into Oak Run
at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the
platform usually deserted.

"Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came
in," suggested Tom.

They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and
crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had
played on him in times past. He shook his head at once.

"Don't keep the station open that long," he grunted. "I was home an'
in bed, an' I don't know anything about your father."

"Was anybody around the station, that you know of?" went on Dick.

"No."

"Did any telegram come in for our family?"

"If it did I reckon Jackson would send it over, or telephone."

"Let us ask Jackson and make sure," said Sam, and led the way to the
telegraph office. The telegraph receiver was ticking away at a lively
rate, and Jackson, who had charge of the office, was taking down a
message on a blank.

"Hullo!" cried the telegrapher, as he finished and looked up. "Here is
a message for Mr. Randolph Rover hot off the wire. It won't take long
to deliver it," and he handed it over. "It's paid for," he added. "But
you'll have to sign for it," and Mr. Rover did so.

Eagerly all the Rovers read the communication, which ran as follows:

"Am following man I want to catch if possible. May be away from home
several days or a week. Very important to see man--trip this summer
depends upon it.

"ANDERSON ROVER."

"Wonder who the man can be?" mused Dick, after reading the message
twice.

"He has something to do with this matter father was going to tell us
about," returned Sam. "It's certainly a mystery."

"Well, this relieves our anxiety," said Randolph Rover. "So long as I
know nothing has happened, your father can stay away as long as, he
pleases."

"But I am dying to know what it is all about," burst out Tom, who was
always impatient to get at the bottom of things. "Uncle Randolph, do
you know what father has in mind to do this summer?"

"He talks about taking a sea trip, but where to I don't know."

"And he wants us to go along?" queried the youngest Rover.

"I believe so, Samuel."

"Hurrah! I'd like a sea trip first rate."

"Yes, but--" Mr. Rover lowered his voice. "He doesn't want anybody to
know where to. It's some kind of a secret--very important, I imagine
--something to do with a gold mine, or something of the sort. He did
not give me any particulars."

"He said he was going to let us know about it when we got home from
the Hall," said Dick. "I hope he catches his man."

"Wonder who it can be?" came from Tom.

Nobody could answer that question, and in a thoughtful mood the three
Rover boys followed their uncle to the carriage and got in. Then the
team was touched up and away they whirled, out of the village, across
Swift River, and in the direction of Valley Brook farm.

It was a beautiful day in June and never had the country looked finer.
As they swept along the well kept road Dick drew a deep breath of
satisfaction.

"This air makes a fellow feel new all over!" he declared.

"I suppose you are going to plant and grow some wonderful things this
summer, Uncle Randolph," said Tom. His uncle had studied scientific
farming for years, but had never made any tremendous success of it in
fact his experiments usually cost him considerably more than they
brought in.

"Well--er--I am trying my hand this year on some Mexican melons
said to be very fine, Thomas," was the reply.

"Mexican melons?" said the fun-loving Tom, innocently. "That puts me
in mind when I was over to Albany last I saw a pumpkin in a restaurant
window eight feet high and at least ten feet across."

"Is it possible!" ejaculated Randolph Rover, gazing at his nephew
incredulously.

"Sure thing. The pumpkin looked to be good, too. They had a lot of
pumpkin pies set around it, just for an advertisement."

"Thomas, did you measure that pumpkin?"

"No; why should I?"

"Then how do you know it was eight feet high and ten feet across?"

"Why, Uncle Randolph, I didn't say the pumpkin was eight feet high and
ten feet across. I said I saw it in a restaurant window eight feet
high and ten feet across," and Tom drew down the corners of his mouth
soberly.

"Tom, that's the worst ever!" cried Sam.

"You ought to be made to walk home for that," added Dick.

"Thomas! Thomas! you are as bad as ever!" said Mr. Rover, with a sigh.
"But I might have been on my guard. I know there are no pumpkins of
that size."

"Uncle Randolph, you'll have to forgive me," said Tom, putting his
hand affectionately on his relative's shoulder. "I really couldn't
help it--I am just bubbling over to think that school days are over
and I won't have to do any studying for several months to come."

"I fancy we'll have to tie you down to keep you out of mischief."

"You won't have to tie me down if I go on a sea trip with dad."

"Haven't you had sea trips enough with being cast away in the middle
of the Pacific, and being wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico? It seems to
me every time you and the others leave home something serious happens
to you."

"True but we always come back right side up with care and all charges
paid," answered the fun-loving Rover airily.

They soon made a turn in the road which brought them in sight of the
big farmhouse, nestling comfortably in a group of stately trees. As
they turned into the lane their Aunt Martha came to the front piazza
and waved her hand. Down in the roadway stood Jack Ness; the hired
man, grinning broadly, and behind Mrs. Rover stood Alexander Pop, the
colored helper, his mouth open from ear to ear. At once Tom began to
sing:

"Home again! home again! Safe from Putnam Hall."

And then he made a flying leap from the carriage, rushed up the steps
and gave his aunt such a hug as made her gasp for breath.

"Oh, Tom, you bear! Do let up!" she cried. "Now, there's a kiss for
you, and there's another! How do you do, Sam, and how are you, Dick?"
And she kissed them also. "I am glad you are back at last." She turned
to her husband "What of Anderson, did you hear anything?"

"Yes, he will be back in a few days."

"I'se jess too pleased fo' anything to see yo' boys back heah!" came
from Aleck Pop. "It's dun been mighty lonely since yo' went away."

"Don't worry, Aleck, we'll cheer you up," answered Tom.

"Oh, I know dat, Massa Tom yo'll turn dis place upside down in two
days suah!"

"Why, Aleck, you know I'd never do anything so rash," answered Tom,
meekly.

"Going to uncover some more freight thieves?" asked Jack Ness, as he
took charge of the team and started for the barn.

"I think dem boys had bettah cotch some of dem chicken thieves," put
in Aleck Pop. "Yo' don't seem to git holt ob dem nohow."

"Oh, never you mind about the chicken thieves," grumbled Jack Ness.

"Has somebody been stealing chickens again?" asked Dick, remembering
that they had suffered several times from such depradations.

"Yes, da has took two chickens las' Wednesday, foah on Saturday, an'
two on Monday. Jack he laid fo' 'em wid a shotgun, but he didn't cotch
nobody."

"I'll catch them yet, see if I don't," said the hired man.

"Perhaps a fox is doing it," suggested Sam. "If so, we ought to go on
a fox hunt. That would suit me first rate."

"No fox in this," answered Jack Ness. "I see the footprints of two
men,--tramps, I reckon. If I catch sight of 'em I'll fill 'em full
of shot and then have 'em locked up."

CHAPTER III

FUN ON THE FARM

Two days passed and the boys felt once more at home on the farm. The
strain of the recent examinations and the closing exercises at school
had gone and as Sam declared, "they were once more themselves," and
ready for anything that might turn up.

In those two days came another telegram from Mr. Rover, sent from
Philadelphia, in which he stated that he had caught his man, but had
lost him again. He added that he would be home probably on the
following Sunday. This message came in on Monday, so the boys knew
they would have to wait nearly a week before seeing their parent.

"I am just dying to know what it is all about," said Tom, and the
others said practically the same.

Tom could not keep down his propensities for joking and nearly drove
Sarah, the cook, to distraction by putting some barn mice in the bread
box in the pantry and by pouring ink over some small stones and then
adding them to the coal she was using in the kitchen range. He also
took a piece of old rubber bicycle tire and trimmed it up to resemble
a snake and put it in Jack Ness' bed in the barn, thereby nearly
scaring the hired man into a fit. Ness ran out of the room in his
night dress and raised such a yell that he aroused everybody in the
house. He got his shotgun and blazed away at the supposed snake,
thereby ruining a blanket, two sheets, and filling the mattress with
shot. When he found out how he had been hoaxed he was the most foolish
looking man to be imagined.

"You just wait, Master Tom, I'll get square," he said.

"Who said I put a snake in your bed?" demanded Tom. "I never did such
a thing in my life."

"No, but you put that old rubber in, and I know it," grumbled the
hired man and then went back to bed.

Tom also had his little joke on Aleck Pop. One evening he saw the
colored man dressing up to go out and learned that he was going to
call on a colored widow living at Dexter's Corners, a nearby village.

"We can't allow this," said the fun-loving Rover to his younger
brother. "The next thing you know Aleck will be getting married and
leaving us."

"What do you think of doing?" asked Sam.

"Come on, and I'll show you."

Now, Aleck was rather a good looking and well formed darkey and he was
proud of his shape. He had a fine black coat, with trousers to match,
and a gorgeous colored vest. This suit Tom was certain he would wear
when calling on the widow.

When in Ithaca on his way home the fun-loving Rover had purchased an
imitation rabbit, made of thin rubber. This rabbit had a small rubber
hose attached, and by blowing into the hose the rabbit could be blown
up to life size or larger.

Leading the way to Aleck's room, Tom got out the colored man's coat
and placed the rubber rabbit in the middle of the back, between the
cloth and the lining. It was put in flat and the hose was allowed to
dangle down under the lining to within an inch of the split of the
coat tails, and at this point Tom put a hole in the lining, so he
could get at the end of the hose with ease.

It was not long before Aleck came in to dress. It was late and he was
in a hurry, for he knew he had a rival, a man named Jim Johnson, and
he did not want Johnson to get to the widow's home ahead of him. He
washed up and donned his clothing with rapidity, and never noticed
that anything was wrong with the coat.

"Now, Sam, you fix his necktie for him," whispered Tom, who, with his
younger brother, was lying in wait outside the house. "Tell him it
doesn't set just straight."

Sam understood, and as soon as Aleck appeared he sauntered up side by
side with Tom.

"Hullo, Aleck, going to see your best girl?" he said pleasantly.

"I'se gwine to make a little call, dat's all."

"He's after the widow Taylor," put in Tom. "He knows she's got ten
thousand or so in the bank."

"Massa Tom, you dun quit yo' foolin'," expostulated Aleck.

"If you are going to make a society call you want your necktie on
straight," said Sam. "It's a fine tie, but it's no good the way you
have it tied. Here, let me fix it," and he pulled the tie loose.

"I did hab a lot ob trubble wid dat tie," agreed the colored man.

"It's too far around," went on Sam, and gave the tie a jerk, first one
way and another. Then he began to tie it, shoving Aleck again as he
did so.

In the meantime Tom had gotten behind the colored man and was blowing
up the rubber rabbit. As the rubber expanded Aleck's coat went up with
it, until it looked as if the man was humpbacked. Then Tom fastened
the hose, so the wind could not get out of it. Next the youth brought
out a bit of chalk and in big letters wrote on the black coat as
follows:

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