"I'll get some snow and wash it off with that!" cried Fred, and did so. Then the wound was bound up once more, and Uncle Barney said he felt better. He told his story in detail.
"What am I going to do?" he groaned. "Those rascals have got my treasure box!"
"Who were they?" questioned Randy.
"I don't know exactly. I heard them talk, and faced them with my gun. They were in the dark, so I couldn't distinguish them very good. Then one of them threw a big rock, and that is all I can remember. As soon as I became unconscious they must have grabbed the box and run away with it."
"It must have been either Asa Lemm and Mr. Brown, or else Slugger and Nappy," said Randy.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, now those deeds are gone—not to say anything about my wife's jewelry and all that gold!" groaned the old lumberman.
"Just you take it easy, Uncle Barney. You mustn't excite yourself now," said Jack kindly. "We'll do what we can toward getting the box back."
The boys had brought some food along, and they insisted upon it that the old man eat and drink something. This seemed to strengthen Uncle Barney greatly, and he arose to his feet.
"Now we'll get after those rascals," he said, with something of the old-time fire in his eyes. "I'm not going to allow 'em to rob me in this fashion!"
While the old lumberman had been eating, the Rover boys had glanced around the cave curiously. It was a place partly natural and partly artificial. On one side it looked as if a little mining had been done, and Jack, who had studied geology, gazed at the surface of rocks and dirt with much interest.
"Why, Uncle Barney, this looks to me as if it was zinc ore!" he cried presently.
"Hush, hush, boy! I don't want anybody to know about that!" answered the old man quickly.
"Then it is zinc ore, is it?" queried Randy, who had also been inspecting a side of the cave.
"Yes, if you must know," was the surprising reply. "Right here, in the middle of this island, is one of the most valuable zinc ore beds to be found anywhere."
"The trouble is, those rascals have a twenty-four hours' start of us," remarked Jack. "For all we know they may be miles away by this time."
"It's too bad Uncle Barney didn't take our advice and either have those deeds recorded, or else place them in some bank vault," said Fred.
"The thing now is to see if we can trail those fellows, whoever they were," put in Randy.
"That's the talk!" cried his twin. "No use of crying over spilt milk, as the cat said when she tipped the pan over into the well," and at this remark there was a faint smile.
The Rovers had drawn to one side to talk over the situation while Barney Stevenson was preparing to accompany them from the cave. The old man was both excited and worried. He cared little about the wound he had received on the head. All he wanted to do was to get back his treasure box, as he called it.
The little party soon reached the point whereall had left their snowshoes. They looked around with care, and presently made out a trail leading toward the lake shore.
"If they went down to the lake, they most likely skated away," remarked Fred.
It was an easy matter to follow the trail through the snow. It led up to the vicinity of some rough rocks, and here turned southward.
"I guess they reasoned that they couldn't get over those rocks," remarked Uncle Barney. "Maybe they were afraid of a bad tumble. I wish they had gone over them and broken their necks!" he added bitterly.
"If only they had dropped the treasure box in the snow!" murmured Fred.
"No such luck for us, Fred," responded Jack. "I'm afraid that box and its precious contents are far away by this time."
They continued to follow the footprints, and at the end of a quarter of an hour found themselves at something of a clearing between the trees. Here those who had stolen the box had evidently stopped to rest, for it could be seen where they had been seated on a fallen log, and where they had placed the box.
"Look here!" cried Jack, who was inspecting the ground closely. "Just as I thought—those fellows were Slugger and Nappy, I feel certain."He pointed to several half-burnt matches, and also a number of cigarette stubs.
"I guess you're right," returned Randy. "I'm quite sure Asa Lemm doesn't smoke cigarettes, and when he was on the island Mr. Brown was smoking a black-looking cigar."
"Well, if those boys stole the box, they will most likely turn it over to the professor and Brown," said Uncle Barney. "Oh, if only I could get my hands on them!" and his eyes flashed.
The trail now led through a patch of woods and went into something of a semicircle. Then there was a little loop, which caused the boys some perplexity, but did not bother the old lumberman.
"They lost their way—that's all," explained Uncle Barney. "But, after moving around in a loop, they headed in this direction," and he pointed with his hand. "Come on! Maybe they got hopelessly lost further on and are still in the woods. I hope so."
The trail led deeper and deeper into the woods and wound in and out among a number of rocks. It was plainly evident that Slugger and Nappy had lost their way, and had made a number of false turns.
"Here is where they rested again," announced Jack presently, and showed where some rocks had been swept clear of the snow.
"Yes, and they stopped long enough to have something to eat," added Randy. "Here are a crust of bread and some cake crumbs."
The trail continued to wind in and out among the woods, and the Rovers and the old lumberman followed it for fully an hour longer. Then they came out on the eastern shore of the island.
"I guess this is the end of it," announced Uncle Barney dismally. "They probably skated away from this point."
"No, they didn't!" cried Jack, who was making an examination of the footprints. "They went down the lake shore."
"I'll tell you what I think!" said Randy. "They most likely wanted to get to Rockville, and they were afraid that if they attempted to cross to the other side of the island they would become lost again. So instead of going across, they went down to the lower end."
"Here come two men!" cried Randy suddenly. He had been peering out on the surface of the lake.
"Maybe they are Professor Lemm and Mr. Brown," suggested Andy.
The men were at a great distance, but skating rapidly toward the island. As they came closer, Jack saw that they were strangers, and he waved his cap and shouted at them.
"They may have seen Slugger and Nappy, or else they may have some news for us," he said.
As the two strangers came closer, Uncle Barney looked at them curiously. Then he drew himself up and his face stiffened.
"Don't you know those two men?" he questioned rather sharply, turning to the boys.
"No," answered Jack, and the others shook their heads.
"The man ahead is Fred Stevenson, and the other is Mr. Powell."
"Oh, is that so!" exclaimed Jack; and then without further ado he ran out on the ice to meet the newcomers.
"So this is Jack Rover, eh?" said Mr. Stevenson, shaking hands warmly. "I'm glad to know you; and I must thank you for sending me that telegram."
"I sincerely hope you can patch up your differences with old Uncle Barney," answered Jack quietly. "He's in a peck of trouble just now."
"Why, what has happened?" questioned Ruth's father. "But excuse me," he added. "This is my friend, Mr. Powell."
By this time the other Rovers had come forward, and all told the two men of what had taken place. In the meantime, Uncle Barney remained behind on the lake shore, resting on his gun and eyeing the visitors speculatively.
"I wish you would all do me a favor," said Mr. Stevenson, in a low tone of voice, so that the old lumberman might not hear. "I wish you would give me a chance to speak to Uncle Barney alone."
"Certainly we'll give you that chance, Mr. Stevenson," answered Jack readily. "We are after the two rascals who stole that treasure box. Tell Uncle Barney that we are going to continue the hunt while you are doing your talking. Maybe Mr. Powell would like to go with us."
"Certainly. I don't want to interfere with this affair between these other men," was the quick reply.
Leaving Ruth's father to talk matters over with the old lumberman, the Rover boys and Mr. Powell began the journey down the side of Snowshoe Island. As they proceeded, the boys told the man many of the particulars of how Professor Lemm and Mr. Brown, accompanied by Slugger and Nappy, had come to the island to take possession, and then how the old lumberman had been attacked in the cave and how the precious blue tin box had been stolen.
"That's certainly carrying matters with a high hand," was Mr. Powell's comment. "I sincerelytrust the old man gets the box back. If he doesn't, it may cause him a great deal of trouble, especially if those deeds have not been recorded since the old courthouse burnt down. I remember well that that fire caused a great deal of trouble among property owners in this county."
He told the boys that he and his wife and daughter May had been visiting the Stevensons at the time the Rovers' telegram arrived. He had left his wife and daughter to continue the visit, and had accompanied Mr. Stevenson on the trip just for the sake of a little outing.
"This quarrel between old Uncle Barney, as he is called, and the Stevensons is all nonsense," he declared flatly. "It could have been cleared up years ago if the old man would only have listened to reason. But he was much upset by his financial losses, and more upset when his wife died, and he wouldn't listen to a word. Now that he is willing to talk I am sure they can patch it up."
About a mile was covered, and then the Rovers and Mr. Powell found where Slugger and Nappy had gone ashore again at a point where the island was quite low.
"I'll wager they thought they could cross here with ease, and thus save themselves the trouble of going around the south point," said Jack, and in this surmise he was correct.
Once again the trail led into the woods, and now it was fairly straight up to a point where the ground became rougher. Here they found the snow scattered around some rocks, and rightly guessed that one of the youths had had a tumble.
"And I guess the tumble must have hurt some," announced Randy. "Look at those footprints further on, will you? One of the fellows did a lot of limping."
"Maybe he twisted his ankle, or something like that!" cried Andy.
"It's too bad he didn't hurt himself so severely that he couldn't go any further," grumbled Fred.
"It won't be long now before we come out near that cabin where we stayed during that awful snowstorm," said Jack.
It was now well along inthemiddle of the afternoon, and the Rovers rightly concluded that this point had not been reached by Slugger and Nappy until late the day before.
"If one of them was hurt, they wouldn't want to skate away over to Rockville in the dark," said Randy. "Maybe they stayed on this island all night."
"There is that old cabin!" exclaimed Fred, as they reached a cleared space and could see some distance ahead.
The little cabin was thickly surrounded bysnow, and looked very much as it had when they had left it. But to their surprise, not to say delight, they saw a thin wreath of smoke curling up out of the chimney.
"Somebody is there as sure as fate!" exclaimed Jack.
"Come on, let's see who it is!" burst out Randy.
All hurried forward, making no noise in the snow, and soon reached the side of the cabin. Then Jack, who was in advance, peered in through a corner of the broken-out window, pulling aside the nailed-up blanket for that purpose.
The sight which met his gaze filled him with surprise and satisfaction. On a rude couch at one side of the single room of which the structure boasted, rested Slugger Brown, his ankle tied up in a rude bandage. In front of the fire sat Nappy Martell with the old lumberman's treasure box on his lap. Nappy had a knife in one hand, and, with the file blade, was trying to file apart the padlock to the box.
"How are you making out?" those outside the cabin heard Slugger Brown ask.
"It's slow work with such a small file," grumbled Nappy Martell. "If I had a big file I could get the padlock off in no time."
"What's the matter with smashing it off with a rock?" growled the bully. He arose to his feet and hobbled to where his crony sat. "Give it to me—I'll soon have it off!"
"Come on," whispered Jack to his cousins and Mr. Powell. "They are in there and trying to open the treasure box!"
It took the party but a few seconds to reach the door of the cabin. Jack pushed upon it, to find the barrier locked in some manner from the inside.
"Hello! who's there?" shouted Slugger.
"Maybe it's your father and Professor Lemm come back," added Nappy.
The bully came to the door and threw it open.When he found himself confronted by the Rovers and a strange man, he fell back in consternation.
"You!" he gasped. "How—er—did you get here?"
"You let us alone!" cried Nappy, in alarm; and, leaping to his feet, he tried to hide the precious box behind him.
"So we've got you, have we?" exclaimed Jack. "Nappy, you hand over that box."
"I—I don't know what you mean," stammered the lad addressed.
"See here! you haven't any right to come in here in this fashion," blustered Slugger, recovering somewhat from his surprise.
"Haven't we though!" broke out Randy.
"We've caught you, and we intend to make you suffer for what you've done," said Andy.
As lame as he was, Slugger attempted to edge his way toward the door, thinking he might get a chance to run away. But Jack caught him by the arm and sent him flying backward into a corner of the cabin.
"You'll stay right where you are, Slugger Brown!" declared the oldest Rover boy. "Don't you dare to run away!"
By this time Randy and Fred had approached Nappy, and suddenly the youngest Rover dartedbehind the youth and snatched the blue tin box from his grasp.
"Hi! you give me that box!" stormed Nappy. "You've no right to take it from me!" and then he, too, tried to run from the cabin. He got as far as the doorway when Andy put out his foot and sent him headlong into the snow outside. Then Andy quickly sat down on him, and, rushing up, Randy did the same.
"Don—don't smash me!" spluttered Nappy, whose face was partly in the snow.
"We're not going to let you get away," came firmly from Andy.
"Let's tie his hands behind him and make him a prisoner," suggested his twin, and this the two boys proceeded to do, using some skate straps for that purpose.
In the meanwhile, Slugger attempted to draw a pistol, but was promptly hurled back by Jack and Fred. Then Mr. Powell disarmed the youth, and he, too, was made a prisoner.
"You'll catch it for treating us this way!" growled Slugger, when he realized that he could do no more. "Just wait until my father hears of this!"
"And just you wait, Slugger, until Mr. Stevenson gets here," retorted Jack, and this answer made the bully turn pale.
Now that the two rascals had been captured, the Rover boys felt very much elated, the more so since they had recovered Uncle Barney's treasure box without the contents having been disturbed.
"Won't he be glad!" murmured Fred, as he looked the box over.
"Let's go out and see if we can't signal to him in some way," returned Randy.
He went outside and three shots were fired in rapid succession, a signal which had been agreed upon when the boys had first gone out hunting. After the signal had been given, Mr. Powell said he would go out and watch for the coming of the Stevensons. While he was doing this, the Rovers talked matters over with Slugger and Nappy.
"You're a fine pair to act in this fashion," said Jack sternly. "Don't you know you might have killed Barney Stevenson?"
"Oh, we didn't hurt him much," grumbled Slugger.
"And it was stealing to run off with this box!" said Randy.
"No, it wasn't! That box has got deeds in it that ought to go to my father!"
"I don't believe it, Slugger. Those deeds belong to Barney Stevenson."
A minute or two later all those in the cabin heard Mr. Powell give a shout.
"A couple of men are coming!" he cried.
"It's my dad and Professor Lemm!" broke out Slugger. "Now you fellows will catch it!"
"Be on your guard, everybody!" sang out Jack to his cousins, and each of them caught up his gun and waited.
A few minutes later, Professor Lemm and Mr. Brown appeared in front of the cabin. Their arms were full of camp supplies. Evidently, this place had been a rendezvous for the entire Brown party for several days. It was from here that Slugger and Nappy had gone up to the other end of the island to spy upon Uncle Barney.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Brown, when he found himself confronted by the Rovers.
"It means that we have made your son and Nappy Martell prisoners," explained Jack calmly.
"Prisoners!"
"Yes. And I think more than likely we'll have to hand them over to the authorities."
"I don't understand this at all," put in Asa Lemm, and his voice trembled a little.
Mr. Powell had now come up, and the Rovers told him who the men were. He at once took charge of matters.
"This is a serious business, Mr. Brown," he said sternly. "Your son and this other young man attacked old Barney Stevenson in a most outrageous manner and robbed him of a box of valuables. What Mr. Stevenson will do in the matter I don't know. I expect him here very shortly."
At once there was a wordy quarrel, Mr. Brown showing his temper in anything but a dignified manner. He wanted his son and Nappy released, and threatened all sorts of things, but all to no purpose. Mr. Powell was obdurate, and the Rovers kept themselves in readiness to use their firearms should the occasion require. Asa Lemm had little to say.
The discussion was growing exceedingly warm when there came another interruption, and Uncle Barney, followed by Frederic Stevenson, burst into the cabin. The old lumberman gazed at the assembled crowd, and then at the Rovers.
"My box? Did you find my box?" he questioned quickly.
"Yes, Uncle Barney, we've got the box safe and sound," answered Jack, and handed it over.
"Did those young rascals have it?" and Uncle Barney pointed to Slugger and Nappy.
"Yes. And that fellow was trying to file away the padlock when we got here."
"You whelps, you!" cried the old lumberman, his eyes blazing. And as he strode toward Slugger and Nappy they shrank back as far as the corner of the cabin permitted.
"Don't you hit me—don't you dare!" howled the bully.
"I—I didn't mean anything by it!" whined Nappy. He was now thoroughly cowed.
Another war of words followed, and the discussion grew even hotter than before. Again Mr. Brown threatened all sorts of things, but Uncle Barney simply laughed at him. Then Frederic Stevenson took a hand.
"Uncle Barney," he said, catching the old man by the shoulder, "you let me manage this for you, will you?"
"All right, Fred. You do as you please—only they can't have Snowshoe Island," was the old man's answer. Evidently the long standing differences between the pair had been patched up at last.
"What I've got to say, I can say in very few words," came from Ruth's father, as he confronted Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm. "You have tried to carry matters here with a high hand, and the result has been that you have laid yourselves liable to a suit at law, while those two young rascals are liable to go to prison."
"Oh, Dad! don't let them have us arrested!" pleaded Slugger.
"I don't want to bother with the law—I want to be left alone," said Uncle Barney in a low voice.
"This island belongs to my relative here—Mr. Barnard Stevenson," proceeded Ruth's father. "He has a free and clear title to it, as I well know. I understand something of your underhanded work, Brown. And I understand, too, how you and Professor Lemm found out that this island contained some very valuable zinc ore beds. But your scheme to gain possession of this place has fallen through."
"Don't be so sure of that!" snarled Slugger's father.
"I am sure of it. Unless you leave my relative here alone, you are going to get yourself into pretty hot water. And not only that—if you bother him again, I'll see to it that your son and that other young man are sent to prison for what they have done."
"Say! will you let us go if my dad gives up his claim to the island?" broke in Slugger eagerly.
"If your father and Professor Lemm will promise never to bother Barnard Stevenson in the future, I think he'll be willing to let this case against you drop."
"All right then. Dad, let's do that. We don't want the old island, anyhow!"
"You can't do anything without those deeds," added Nappy.
"Shut up! You boys make me sick!" grunted Mr. Brown.
"But Martell is right—we can't do anything without the deeds," whispered Professor Lemm. He was growing more fearful every moment over the outcome of what had taken place.
More words followed, but in the end Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm promised to let their so-called claim on Snowshoe Island drop. Then Slugger and Nappy were released, and all were told to take their departure as soon as possible.
"You think you're smart, don't you?" grumbled Slugger to Jack, when he was ready to go. "You just wait, Jack Rover! I'm not going to forget you and your cousins in a hurry!"
"And I won't forget you, either!" added Nappy Martell.
What these two unworthies did in the future to worry the Rovers will be told in another volume, to be entitled, "The Rover Boys Under Canvas; Or, The Mystery of the Wrecked Submarine." In that volume we shall meet many of our old friends again, and learn the particulars of some out-of-the-ordinary happenings.
"Well, I'm mighty glad they're gone," said Fred, after the visitors had disappeared in the distance.
"Glad doesn't express it!" added Andy. "I could fairly dance a jig for joy!"
"And to think we saved the treasure box!" broke in Jack.
"That's the best of all," came from Randy.
Old Uncle Barney was exceedingly happy, not only to have the box restored to him, but also because the trouble between himself and his relatives had been completely cleared away.
"I guess I was something of an old fool to quarrel with Fred and his family," he remarked to Jack later on, when talking the matter over. "It shows that a man should not be too hasty and headstrong. If I had only listened in the first place, all this would never have happened."
"I'm glad you're friends once more," said Jack.
"I owe you boys a great deal for this, just as I owe you a great deal for saving the treasure box and saving my life in the woods that time," answered the old lumberman with feeling.
The next day was spent by Uncle Barney and Mr. Stevenson in going over the matter of the deeds. Ruth's father insisted upon it that they be duly recorded and then placed away in a bankvault. It may be added here that later on this was done, and, later still, the zinc ore beds on the island were opened up and found to be fully as valuable as anticipated. Old Uncle Barney became quite a rich man, and took up his home with the other Stevensons.
While the Stevensons were consulting about the deeds, the Rover boys went out on another hunt, this time accompanied by Mr. Powell, who was quite a sportsman. They had considerable luck, bringing in over a dozen rabbits, four squirrels and several partridges.
"And now we've got to get ready to go home," said Jack, a day or two later.
"Yes. And get ready for the grind at Colby Hall," added Fred.
"But we've had some dandy times on this island!" declared Andy.
"Couldn't have been better!" came in a chorus.
And here we will say good-bye to the Rover boys.
THE END
Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLETOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOATTOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIPTOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOATTOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUTTOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGETOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERSTOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICETOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACERTOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLETOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLDTOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDERTOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITYTOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERATOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHTTOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNONTOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONETOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIPTOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNELTOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERSTOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANKTOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUTTOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCHTOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERSTOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVETOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOATTOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHERTOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETSTOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by
WALTER S. ROGERS
Every Volume Complete in Itself
In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY;Or, Autoing in the Land of the Caravans.
An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild animals and crafty Arabs.
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS;Or, Lost in the Jungles of the Amazon.
Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes to be found in South America—to be delivered alive! The filling of that order brought keen excitement to the boy.
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD;Or, The Old Egyptian's Great Secret.
A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings in Egypt. Once the whole party became lost in the maze of cavelike tombs far underground.
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE;Or, Cast Away in the Land of Ice.
Don and his uncles joined an expedition bound by air across the north pole. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship.
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES;Or, The Trail of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska in a territory but recently explored. A story that will make Don dearer to his readers than ever.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
(Trademark Registered)
Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending and receiving—telling how small and large amateur sets can be made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fascinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse them with great delight.
Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio expert.
THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS;Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize.
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT;Or, TheMessageThat Saved the Ship.
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION;Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room.
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS;Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance.
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE;Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS;Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL;Or, Making Safe the Ocean Lanes.
RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS;Or, Saving the City in the Valley.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Author of the "Radio Boys," Etc.
Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance—railroad wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat" locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on board—but there is much more than this—the intense rivalry among railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin.
RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE;Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.
RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER;Or, Clearing the Track.
RALPH ON THE ENGINE;Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.
RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS;Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.
RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER;Or, The Mystery of the Pay Car.
RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN;Or, The Young Railroader's Most Daring Exploit.
RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER;Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.
RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH;Or, The Stolen Government Bonds.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York