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Read Ebook: The Rover Boys at Big Bear Lake; or The Camps of the Rival Cadets by Stratemeyer Edward Rogers Walter S Illustrator
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Ebook has 1248 lines and 37779 words, and 25 pages
"I saw the three fellows as they rushed back to the motor-boat after they came from the boathouse," put in Randy.
"So did I," added his twin, and Fred said the same.
"Did any of you recognize any of those persons?"
At this the Rover boys shook their heads.
"Did you recognize the motor-boat?" put in Captain Dale.
At this Jack grew thoughtful and looked at Fred.
"I don't like to say as to that," answered the major of the school battalion slowly. "I might be mistaken and get the wrong people into trouble."
"But you think you know something?" put in Colonel Colby quickly.
"I didn't recognize the motor-boat so far as looks go," answered Jack. "It was the peculiar put-put the engine made when the boat came in and when it went away. You know, motor-boats are apt to have a peculiar sound of their own."
"What did this motor-boat sound like, Rover? If you have any definite idea I think you ought to let me know."
"I don't want to hide anything, Colonel Colby. In fact, I'm almost as anxious to find out who set this fire as you are," went on Jack, with a little smile. "But I'd hate to accuse anybody wrongly. If, however, you insist upon knowing what is in my mind, I'll say that the put-put of that engine sounded to me like the put-put of one of the Longley Academy boats."
"Longley Academy!" exclaimed Colonel Colby and Captain Dale simultaneously.
"Are you sure of this?" demanded the captain.
"No, I'm not. That's the reason I didn't want to say anything about it."
"Why should any one from Longley come over here and want to burn down our boathouse?" demanded the colonel.
"Maybe they're sore because they lost those races," put in Andy.
"I don't believe they'd be mean enough to go as far as that," said the owner of the institution. "However, I'll start an investigation the first thing in the morning."
The cadets went back to their quarters and soon the Rover boys were once more preparing to retire.
"I wonder if Flanders, Halliday and Sands would be wicked enough to come over here and start a fire?" questioned Fred.
"I'd hate to accuse anybody of doing that," answered Randy.
"Perhaps it was some rascals who have a grudge against Colonel Colby," suggested Jack.
"Who could have such a grudge as that?" demanded Fred. "He treats all his hired help fine. I don't know of a single person around Colby Hall who doesn't like the colonel. And all the tradespeople in town like him too."
"I wasn't thinking of the people who work for him," answered the young major. "I was thinking of the fellows who used to be cadets here and who were fired out--fellows like Werner and Martell."
The boys talked the matter over for several minutes, but could arrive at no conclusion and finally retired. But it was some time before any of them got to sleep.
In the morning Colonel Colby, aided by Captain Dale, started his investigation into the origin of the fire. A hunt was made up and down the lake for the mysterious motor-boat, and Captain Dale even paid a visit to Longley Academy. There he was received with decided coldness.
"None of our boats were out last night. I am sure of that," said the head of the newly organized military academy. "To think that any of our cadets would be guilty of setting fire to your boathouse is ridiculous, Captain Dale."
"I did not say that they were guilty," answered the captain briefly. "We are simply trying to get at the bottom of this affair. I am sure if one of your buildings were burned you would like to find out who did it."
"I think this is simply a move on Colonel Colby's part to bring Longley Academy into disrepute," said the master of the institution frigidly. "It is an outrageous proceeding! I warn you not to make this matter public. If you do, you may find yourselves confronting a suit for damages."
"I am not saying anything in public," returned Captain Dale, and a few minutes later took his departure.
Of course the cadets talked the matter over freely among themselves. A few thought that some of their athletic rivals might have committed the crime, but the majority were of the opinion that it must have been done by outsiders, and possibly by those who in years gone by had been dismissed from the Hall. The actual damage did not amount to more than two hundred dollars, and Colonel Colby said he would have the boathouse repaired just as soon as the present school term came to an end.
At last, much to the cadets' satisfaction, the examinations were at an end. All of the Rovers and their friends had acquitted themselves creditably, passing with from ninety-two to ninety-six per cent. Of the three cadets at the Hall who did not pass, one was Henry Stowell. But to this that sneak gave little consideration.
"Why should I break my head to pass when I'm going to leave Colby Hall for good in a couple of days?" said Codfish to the few who would listen to him. "No more of this institution for me! I'm going to a first-class place this fall," and he stuck his nose up in the air.
"We'll miss you, Codfish," remarked Andy, who chanced to hear these words. "We'll miss you just like a fellow misses the toothache or a corn on his toe."
"Huh! Don't you talk to me, Andy Rover," grumbled Codfish. "I know you!" and then he hurried away without anything more to say.
It had been decided that the Rovers should return home for over the Fourth of July, and then they were to meet Gif and Spouter in Boston for the journey to Big Bear Lake.
"Good-by to Colby Hall!" cried Randy, when the term had at last come to an end. "Hurrah for Big Bear Lake!"
"And hurrah for all the bears we're going to shoot!" put in his twin.
"And the fish we're going to catch!" added Fred.
"And the jolly times generally we're going to have!" finished Jack.
The journey to New York City did not take long, and at the Grand Central Terminal the boys, as usual, found their mothers awaiting them with the family automobiles. There was a good deal of hugging and kissing, and then all drove up Fifth Avenue and over to the elegant homes on Riverside Drive.
"Gee, it's fine to be home again, Mother!" cried Fred.
"Yes, Fred. Only you don't like to stay in it after you get here," replied his parent fondly.
"Oh, well, you know a boy has got to be a boy," he answered.
That evening there was a grand family party between the boys and their parents, the girls having already departed for Valley Brook Farm with Ruth and May. Dick, Tom and Sam Rover wanted to know all about how the boys had been getting along at the school, and then told a little of how business matters were going with them.
"The oil wells in Texas and Oklahoma are doing wonderfully well," said Dick Rover in reply to a question from his son. "It was the best work I ever did to go down into those oil fields."
"How about matters in Wall Street?" questioned Randy.
"Couldn't be better, Randy," responded Tom Rover. "Everything seems to be coming our way now."
"Any more trouble with the Martell crowd?"
"No. Since we got rid of Martell and Brown everything has been going along swimmingly," replied Tom Rover.
"What are you folks going to do this summer?" questioned Andy. "Why can't you come and visit us while we're at Big Bear Lake?"
"Perhaps we shall," answered his Uncle Sam.
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