The Rover Boys on the Plains; Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch

as he saw his broth

med, the eldest Rover leaped over a limb of the

oment Dick could see little or nothing. He heard a cry f

way from the houseboat. A glance showed him that his br

o himself, and, without an instant

m as he came running out of the houseb

nd it was several seconds before he ca

lled. "What's

long to obey instructions. Then Dick caught Tom under the s

k you overboard?"

Tom over," a

eck again, Tom opened his

m I?" he dem

ck kindly. "Don't you remember,

ver drew a long breath.

r you, and Sam fi

d en

re more or less excited, and the girls and ladies came out hatless and coatless despite

hurt?" dem

nswered Mrs. Laning. "But it sca

e with glass," came from Songbird. "But wasn't that a

e, rushing up to Tom and almost embracing him. "You

, I'm glad myself," he ret

's nothing t

s true,

s like dot!" cried Hans. "I vos schar

t hadn't we better get inside again?

e told the truth. Daylight was streaming through a hol

aid Dick. "I'll do it," he added. "I can't get

who had recovered rapidly

Captain Starr, who had been working to shove off t

d to cover the hole with a heavy tarpaulin. It was a task lasting the best

e to lay up somewhere f

ue the journey i

next town we stop at," suggest

es and the girls straightened things out as best they could. As soon as

pened if that stroke of lightning had hit the

answered Dora. "I never wish to ge

rom one of the dock owners, they learned where they could find a master carpe

he. "But it will take at least a week, and it will take

t in first-class condition once more. Then Mrs. Stanhope sent a long letter to her frien

to the houseboat and shook hands warmly. His name was Cars

pen any letter that might be at the Braxbury post-office for her, I read it. We do not live in Braxbur

hen did you mo

trade my place in town for a plantation, or ranch, as my son Bob calls it, and I took it. We have a

"I don't wish to stay on the housebo

over for an hour, and

the houseboat,

ut you, and how you once saved her from a fellow named Josiah Crabtree. If you and your chums wish

nd taking a trip inl

horseback?" pu

ght do

ime, for the roads are not of the best down here. We usually take a train as far as Docker C

train, and all us boys can hire horses and make the trip that way. We can leave Captain Starr and Alec

t it into execution without delay. Mr. Denton wished them to make an extended sta

that I have been looking for," said Sam.

h a storm," said Fred. "See

ack will take about five days," said D

Tom. "What are we going to do when night come

own camp!" cried Songbir

talk," chi

," decided Dick. "But if it rains good and hard, I rec

ttle rain," put in Fred. "W

ed for the trip inland. Aleck Pop was sorry he could not acco

imes. The Dora is a valuable craft, and I shall feel s

see dat no harm comes to de houseboat. But I'

ime," said Dick, and with this t

ollowing morning, the boys going to the railroad station to see them off. There was a hearty ha

ady for our own st

r of horses, and for a proper consideration this individual let them have the use of the steeds they wanted. They were al

the horse owner. "It is pretty fair for the first fifteen miles or so, but t

fore this," answered Sam. "I guess we'l

k there would be any

at's al

. The other lads were also well informed, because of the military encampments in which they had parti

remarked Aleck when they were ready for a start

fe and sound!" exclaimed Sam. "Wha

. But dis am a quee

xpect to have a fine ou

added Dick. "That is, unless we make up our mi

right

to see the houseboat in first-class or

best," answer

the journey inland was begun. Little did they dream of