The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

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      CHAPTER III

       AN OLD ENEMY TURNS UP

       Table of Contents

      "That was certainly an odd dream," said Dick, after a short pause. "I am sure I never want to meet Josiah Crabtree under such circumstances."

      "It was silly, Dick — I'd forget it if I was you."

      "And she never mentioned the man at any other time?"

      "No. But I am certain she is glad he has left for parts unknown. I never, never, want to see him again," and the girl shivered.

      "Don't be alarmed, Dora; I don't think he will dare to show himself," answered Dick, and on the sly gave her hand a tight squeeze. They were warmer friends than ever since Dick had rescued her from those who had abducted her.

      The kite-flying was now in "full blast," as Sam expressed it, and the boys had all they could do to keep the various lines from becoming tangled up. His own kite and Fred's were side by side and for a long time it looked as if neither would mount above the other.

      "Run her up, Fred! You can win if you try!" cried several of the cadets.

      "Play out a bit more, Sam; you haven't given your kite all the slack she wants," said others. So the talk ran on, while each contestant did the best to make his kite mount higher. In the meantime the wind kept increasing in violence, making each kite pull harder than ever.

      "It's a dandy for flying," panted Tom, who was holding his kite with all the strength he possessed. "Something must give way soon," and something did give way. It was the string he was holding, and as it snapped he went over on his back in such a comical fashion that all, even to the girls, had to laugh.

      "Torn! Tom! What a sight!" burst out Nellie Laning. "You should have brought a stronger cord."

      "If I had I'd a-gone up in the clouds," answered Tom ruefully. "That's the last of that kite, I suppose; if I — "

      "The string has caught on Sam's kite!" interrupted Grace Laning. "Oh, my! See both of them going up!"

      "Now you can win, Sam!" laughed Dora. "Fred, your flying is nowhere now."

      "He didn't calculate to fly one kite against two," answered Fred. "Hold on, Sam, where are you going? The cliff is over in that direction!" he yelled suddenly.

      "I — I know it!" came back the alarming answer. "But I can't stop myself!"

      "He can't stop himself!" repeated Dora.

      "Oh, stop him somebody, before he goes over the cliff!"

      "Let go of the line!" shouted Dick. "Don't go any closer to the cliff!"

      "I — I can't let go! The line is fast around my wrist!" gasped poor Sam. "Oh, dear, it's cutting me like a knife!"

      "He's in a mess," came from Frank. "If he isn't careful he'll go over the cliff, as sure as he's born!"

      "Throw yourself down!" went on Dick, and, leaving his kite in Hans

       Mueller's care, he ran after his brother.

      By this time Sam had gained a few bushes which grew but a dozen feet away from the edge of the cliff, that at this point was nearly forty feet in height. With his right hand held a painful prisoner, he clutched at the bushes with his left.

      "I've got the bushes, but I can't hold on long!" he panted, as Dick came close. "Help me, quick!"

      Scarcely had the words left his mouth when the bushes came up by the roots and poor Sam fell over on his side. Then came another strong puff of wind, and he was dragged to the very edge of the rocky ledge!

      "I'm going!" he screamed, when, making a mighty leap, Dick caught him by the foot.

      "Catch the rock — anything!" cried the older brother. "If you don't you'll be killed!"

      "Save me!" was all poor Sam could say. "Oh, Dick, don't let me go over!"

      "I'll do my best, Sam," was Dick's answer, and he held on like grim death.

      By this time half a dozen boys were running to the scene. Dora Stanhope followed, and as she came up she pulled a tiny penknife from her pocket.

      "Can't I cut the line with this?" she asked, timidly, as she pushed her way to Dick's side.

      "Yes, Yes; cut it!" moaned Sam. "Oh, my wrist is almost cut in two!"

      Stooping low, Dora sawed away at the kite line, which was as taut as a string on a bass fiddle. Suddenly there was a loud snap and the cord parted. Sam and Dick fell back from the edge of the cliff, while the entangled kites soared away for parts unknown.

      "Thank Heaven you cut the line, Dora!" said Dick, who was the first to recover from the excitement of the situation. He saw that Dora was trembling like a leaf, and he hastened to her support, but she pushed him away and pointed to Sam.

      "Don't mind me — I am all right, Dick," she said. "Go care for poor Sam. See how his wrist is bleeding! Oh, how dreadful!"

      "Here is my handkerchief; he had better bind it up with that," said Grace Laning, as she offered the article.

      "We'll wash the wound first," put in Frank, and raced off for some water. Soon he returned with his stiff hat full, and the cut on Sam's wrist was tenderly washed by the Laning girls, who then bound it up with the skill of a hospital СКАЧАТЬ