CHAPTER II
ABOUT THE PAST
"Did you get any more particulars?" asked Sam, of the college poet.
"No. The newspaper man was busy, so the Doctor said, and didn't havetime to go into details," answered Songbird.
"Did he say who the other prisoners were who got away?" asked Dick.
"Yes, a tramp who was up for robbing a man on the road and a bankclerk who took some money from the bank."
"None of the crowd we are interested in," said Tom.
"I'm glad of it," returned his older brother. "It is bad enough forCrabtree to get away. I hope they keep a strict guard over the othersafter this."
"Oh, they will, rest assured of that," came from Stanley Browne. "Thehead jailer will get a raking over the coals for this, mark my words."
"The Stanhopes and the Lanings will be sorry to learn that Crabtreegot away," said Sam. "I wonder if they aren't searching for him,"mused Sam.
"Oh, they'll search for all of them," put in Songbird. "I think thenewspaper man said the sheriff had a posse out."
"Too bad!" said Dick, shaking his head gravely. "And just when we feltsure old Crabtree wouldn't be able to give us any more trouble!"
"It beats the nation, what that man can do!" cried Sam. "Maybe behypnotized one of the jailers--just as he hypnotized Mrs. Stanhopeyears ago.
"He'd be equal to it--if he got the chance," answered Tom; and thenall of the students had to go in to their classes.
To those who have read the previous volumes in this "Rover BoysSeries" of books, the lads we have just met will need no specialintroduction. For the benefit of my new readers, however, let me statethat the Rover boys were three in number, Dick being the oldest,fun-loving Tom coming next, and Sam being about a year younger still.When at home they lived with their father, Anderson Rover, and theirUncle Randolph and Aunt Martha on a beautiful farm called ValleyBrook, in New York State.
Years before, and while their father was in Africa, the three boys hadbeen sent by their uncle to Putnam Hall Military Academy, as relatedin detail in the first volume of this series, called "The Rover Boysat School." At the Hall they had made a number of friends, includingSongbird Powell and the dudish student, William Philander Tubbs. Theyhad also made some enemies, who did their best to bring the Rover boysto grief, but without success.
A term at school had been followed by a short cruise on the ocean, andthen a trip to the jungles of Africa, whither the lads went to findtheir father, who had disappeared. Then, during vacation, the boystook a trip West, and then another trip on the Great Lakes. After thatthey went in the mountains, and then came back to Putnam Hall, to gointo camp with their fellow cadets.
This term at Putnam Hall was followed by a long journey on land andsea, to a far-away island of the Pacific, where the boys and theirfriends had to play "Robinson Crusoe" for a while. Then they returnedto this country, and, in a houseboat, sailed down the Ohio and theMississippi Rivers. After leaving the Mississippi they took an outingon the plains, and then went down into southern waters, where, in theGulf of Mexico, they solved the mystery of a deserted steam yacht.
"And now for home and a big rest!" said Dick, and they went back tothe farm. But here something very unusual occurred, and the boys hadas lively a time as ever.
While at school the three Rover boys had become well acquainted withthree girls, Dora Stanhope and her cousins, the two Laning sisters,Nellie and Grace. Dora was the only daughter of Mrs. Stanhope, awidow, and soon she and Dick became the warmest of friends, while Tomwas quite taken by Nellie, and Sam often "paired off" with Grace.
In those days Josiah Crabtree had been an instructor at Putnam Hall.He was very dictatorial, and none of the cadets liked him, and theRovers liked him still less when they learned that he was trying topractically hypnotize Mrs. Stanhope into marrying him, so that hecould get control of the fortune which the widow was holding in trustfor Dora. They foiled the teacher's efforts to wed the lady, and inthe end Josiah Crabtree had to leave Putnam Hall. Later still he wasarrested for some of his misdeeds and given a short sentence in jail.
The Stanhope fortune, as a part of the money coming to the Stanhopesand the Lanings was called, had come to Mr. Stanhope in a peculiarway, and some outsiders claimed the treasure, which, at that time, wassecreted in a spot among the West Indies called Treasure Isle. Therewas a lively chase to get there first, but the Rovers won out, andbecause of this their enemies were more bitter than ever.
The boys had finished their term at Putnam Hall and on their returnhome became students at Brill College, a fine institution of learningof the Middle West. At the same time Dora, Nellie, and Grace becamepupils at Hope Seminary, located not many miles from Brill. At thecollege the Rovers made many friends, including Stanley Browne,already introduced, and Will, otherwise known as "Spud," Jackson, alad who loved potatoes, and who also loved to tell big yarns.
A term at college had been followed by a trip down East, taken for apeculiar reason, and then, while on a visit home, the three lads hadbecome the possessors of an up-to-date biplane, which they named theDartaway. In the biplane, as related in the volume before this, called"The Rover Boys in the Air," our heroes made a somewhat spectaculartrip from the farm to the college campus, much to the amazement oftheir fellow collegians and their instructors. Later they made a tripthrough the air to Hope Seminary, and at that time Dick was delightedto place upon Dora's finger a diamond engagement sing.
A short while later an alarming thing occurred. The boys were out inthe Dartaway when they met Grace on the road and learned that Dora andNellie had been abducted by Josiah Crabtree, Tad Sobber, and some oftheir other old enemies. They gave chase in the biplane, and, afterseveral adventures, located the girls in a lonely mansion in thecountry, where they were prisoners, in charge of Sobber's aunt Theboys at once went for the authorities, and, after something of afight, the rascals were made prisoners, and the girls were rescued andtaken back to the Seminary.
"You will appear against these scoundrels?" asked the sheriff, JacksonFells, of the Rover boys, as they were about to leave the sheriff'soffice at Plankville.
"We'll appear all right enough," Tom had answered. "Why, Mr. Sheriff,you couldn't beat us away with a club!" And so it had been arrangedthat the Rover boys should appear in court against the evildoerswhenever wanted. Then Crabtree, Sobber, and the others had been putunder lock and key in the old-fashioned country jail; and there, forthe time being, the matter had rested.
"I wish we could learn more about Crabtree's escape," remarked Tom, ashe and his brothers entered the main building of the college.
"So do I," added Sam. "Can't we telephone over to Plankville, toSheriff Fells?"
"More than likely the sheriff is out, hunting for Crabtree and theothers," answered Dick. "But I'll tell you what we might do--if theweather stays good," he added, suddenly.
"Sail to Plankville in the Dartaway?" queried both of the others.
"Yes, if Doctor Wallington will give us permission."
"He ought to--since we are so much interested in this case," returnedTom.
"We'll find out, as soon as the morning session is over," said theeldest Rover boy; and then all hurried to their classes, for the finalbell had ceased to ring.
It was hard work for the boys to keep their minds on their lessons.Dick, especially, was very serious, and for a good reason. Somethingwas worrying him greatly--something of which Tom and Sam knew little.What it was we shall learn later.
The boys had a quarter of an hour after classes before going to lunch,and they immediately sought out Doctor Wallington, whom they found inhis private office.
"Yes, it is too bad that that rascal Crabtree escaped," said the headof the college. "I can well imagine that you are worried--since hehas caused you and your friends so much trouble in the past. Let ushope that the authorities will quickly recapture him."
"Have you had any further word, sir?" asked Dick.
"I had word at eleven o'clock, from the newspaper office. Up to t
hattime he had not been located."
"We wish to ask a favor," went on Dick, and spoke about the proposedtrip to Plankville.
"Very well, you may go, and in your biplane if you deem it safe," saidthe worthy doctor. Secretly he was quite proud of the students'success with the Dartaway, as it had advertised Brill College not alittle.
"Possibly we won't be able to get back until to-morrow," said Tom. "Wemay be detained, or it may storm."
"Take your time on the trip. Only be careful that you have noaccidents."
"We'll try to be careful," answered Dick, with a grim smile. "We don'twant a tumble if we can help it."
"It is a grand sport," answered the head of the college. "Before longI expect to see aeroplanes in constant use."
"Wouldn't you like to go up with us some day, Doctor?" questioned Tom,slyly.
"Well--er--perhaps, Thomas. But not just yet. I wish--er--to seethem more in general use first." And then the doctor bowed thestudents out.
The boys lost no time in preparing for the trip to Plankville. After asomewhat hasty lunch they put on their flying suits and then went downto where the Dartaway was housed, in one of the buildings attached tothe gymnasium.
"Looks to be all right," remarked Dick, after an inspection of theflying machine, and while Sam and Tom were filling the gasoline tankand the oil distributor.
The engine was tried out for a minute, and found to be in perfectorder. As usual, as soon as the explosions of the motor were heard, acrowd commenced to gather, to see the start of the flight.
"Wish you luck!" cried Stanley.
"Say, look out that you don't forget how to stop and sail to the NorthPole!" sang out Spud Jackson.
"As if that could really occur!" murmured William Philander Tubbs,with a lofty look of, disdain.
"Sure it could happen," returned Spud, good-naturedly. "Why, I heard ofan airman who went up once and forgot how to turn his machine down,and he went around and around in a circle for sixteen hours. And thenhe dropped ker-plunk right on top of a baker's wagon and smashedtwenty-six pies--all because his gasoline gave out."
"Ridiculous!" murmured William Philander.
"Absolute fact, Tubbs," responded Spud, earnestly. "Come with me, someday, and I'll show you where the pies made a dent in the street whenthe flying machine struck 'em." And then a general laugh went up, andthe dudish student stepped back in the crowd, out of sight.
"All aboard!" sang out Dick, as he hopped into the driver's seat andtook hold of the wheel. "Start her up, somebody!"
Sam and Tom got aboard and willing hands grasped the propellers andgave each a twist. Bang! bang! bang! went the explosions, and soon thepropellers were revolving swiftly, and then with a swoop the Dartawayran over the campus on its wheels and suddenly arose in the air. Acheer went up, and the students threw up their caps. Then Dick swungaround in a quarter circle and headed directly for Plankville.
It was an ideal day for flying, not too hot or too cold, and with verylittle breeze, and that of the "steady" kind, not likely to develop"holes"--the one great terror of all airmen.
"Wish we had the girls along," remarked Sam, when they were well onthe way.
"Not for this trip, Sam," answered Dick, grimly. "We have got our workcut out for us."
"Why, what do you mean?"
"If old Crabtree hasn't been caught yet me must see if we can't roundhim up."