The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward
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Название: The Rover Boys Series
Автор: Stratemeyer Edward
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 4064066380823
isbn:
No more was said just then, Dick, the captain, and the servant doing all they could to restore Mrs. Stanhope to consciousness. When the lady finally came to her senses she could not keep from crying bitterly.
"Oh, where can my Dora be?" she moaned. "Something dreadful has happened to her — I feel certain of it."
"Where is that note?" asked Dick.
"I left it on the mantelpiece in our dining room. It said: 'Dear Friend Dora: Meet me as soon as you can down at the old boathouse on the lake. I have something important to tell you,' and it was signed 'Richard Rover.'"
"Mrs. Stanhope, as true as I stand here, I never wrote that note or sent it."
"I believe you, Dick. But who did send it?"
"Some enemy who wanted to get her away from the house — Dan Baxter or — " Dick paused.
"Or who?"
"Well, Josiah Crabtree, if you must know. He hates her and he wants to separate her from you."
At the mention of Josiah Crabtree's name a curious shiver passed over Mrs. Stanhope. "We — we'll not talk about Mr. Crabtree," she faltered. "But, oh, I must have my Dora back!" And then she came near to fainting again.
"I would like to go over to the Stanhope cottage and investigate," said Dick, after the lady had been placed in Mrs. Green's care. "To my mind it won't do to lose time, either."
"You can go, Richard," answered Captain Putnam. "But be careful and keep out of trouble."
"Can I take Tom and Sam with me?"
At this the master of Putnam Hall smiled broadly. "Always like to be together, eh? All right, I don't know but what it will be safer for the three of you to go together," he said; and Dick lost no time in telling his brothers. In a few minutes the trio set off for the Stanhope cottage, little dreaming of the long time that was to elapse before they should see Putnam Hall again.
CHAPTER XV
DICK'S BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD
The three Rover boys reached the Stanhope cottage on a run, to find nobody in charge but a washwoman, who was hanging up some clothing in the back yard.
Explaining the situation so far as was necessary, they went inside and hunted up the note Mrs. Stanhope had mentioned.
"I believe that is Dan Baxter's writing," said Dick slowly.
"It is," came from Sam. "I know it from the flourishes on the capitals. He was always great on flourishes."
"We won't waste time here," went on Dick. "Let us go down to the old boathouse."
They were soon on the way, along a road lined with brush and scrubby cedars, the trees which in years gone by had given Cedarville its name.
At the old boathouse everything was quiet and not a soul was in sight. Walking to the end of the house float they gazed out on the lake.
"Not a boat anywhere," murmured Dick, "Now, what could have become of Dora, do you suppose?"
"It's ten to one that Baxter took her off in Mumps' boat!" cried Tom. "By jinks! I think I see through this. Don't you remember the plot Josiah Crabtree and Mumps were hatching? I'll wager they are all in this, to get Dora away from her mother."
"I believe Tom is right," came from Sam. "And if that is true, Dora was taken off on a boat beyond a doubt."
"If she was it won't take very long to find her," returned Dick. "Let us go to Cedarville and see if anybody has seen the Falcon."
Dick had scarcely spoken when a small steam tug hove into sight, bound up the lake.
"There's a tug now!" exclaimed Tom. "Hi there! hi!" he yelled. "Stop!"
The captain of the tug heard him and saw him waving his hand, and, slowing up, made a half-circle toward shore.
"What's wanted, young man?" he asked. "Anything wrong?"
"Yes, a good deal is wrong," replied Tom. "Have you seen a yacht named the Falcon today?"
"No, but I saw her late yesterday afternoon," was the reply.
"Around here?"
"No, further down the lake. I think she was bound for Cayuga."
"Did you notice who was on board?"
"You seem to be very particular about it."
"We are particular. A young lady has disappeared, and we think she was taken away on that yacht," explained Dick, as the steam tug came to a halt.
"Is that so? Yes, I did see a young lady on board of her. She called to our boat as we passed, but I thought it was only in fun."
"I guess she wanted you to help her," said Dick bitterly. Then he continued suddenly: "Have you anything to do just now?"
"No; I was going up to Ithaca to look for a tow."
"What will you charge to take us down to Cayuga?"
The captain of the tug thought for a moment. "Three dollars. It ought to be worth that to find the young lady."
"We'll go you," answered Dick promptly. "Swing in and we'll jump aboard."
Captain Lambert did as requested, and in a moment more the three Rover boys were on board of the Cedar Queen, as the craft was named. The captain proved to be a nice man and became thoroughly interested in the story the lads had to tell.
"I hope we spot the rascals," he said. "I'll certainly do all I can for you."
The Cedar Queen was a little craft and somewhat slow, and the boys fretted a good bit at the long time it took to reach Cayuga.
When they ran into the harbor of the town at the foot of the lake they looked in vain for the Falcon.
"We'll take a sail around," said Captain Lambert; and this they did, continuing the hunt until long after dark.
"It's no use!" groaned Dick. "We've missed her."
It took nearly all the money the boys could scrape up between them to pay off the captain of the tug, and when they had been landed at one of the docks they wondered what they had best do next.
"We've got to stay here over night," said Dick. "We may as well telegraph to Captain Putnam for cash;" and this they did, and put up at one of the hotels.
The place was crowded, for there was a circus in the town and a public auction of real estate had also taken place that day. The boys could get only a small room, but over this they did not complain. Their one thought was of Dora and of the rascals who had carried СКАЧАТЬ