Books: The Rover Boys in the Jungle
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Arthur M. Winfield >> The Rover Boys in the Jungle
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"I don't want to run into that train," he muttered, and tried to
bring his bicycle to a halt.
But the movement did not avail without a brake, and so he was
compelled to seek for some side path into which he might guide his
machine.
But, alas! the road was hemmed in with a heavy woods on one side
and a field of rocks on the other. A sudden stop, therefore,
would mean a bad spill, and Tom had no desire to break his bones
by any such proceeding.
Nearer and nearer he drew to the railroad crossing. He could now
hear the puffing of the engine quite plainly and caught a glimpse
of the long train over the rocks to his left. On he bounded until
the crossing itself came into view. He was less than a hundred
yards from it -- and the oncoming engine was about the same
distance away!
There are some moments in one's life that seem hours, and the
present fraction of time was of that sort to poor Tom. He had a
vision of a terrific smash-up, and of Dick and Sam picking up his
lifeless remains from the railroad tracks. "I'm a goner!" he
muttered, and then, just before the tracks were reached, he made
one wild, desperate leap in the direction of a number of bushes
skirting the woods. He turned over and over, hit hard -- and for
several seconds knew no more.
When Dick and Sam came up they found Tom sitting in the very midst
of the bushes. The bicycle lay among the rocks with the handle-
bars and the spokes of the front wheel badly twisted.
"Are you much hurt, Tom?" asked his big brother sympathetically,
yet glad to learn that Tom had not been ground to death under the
train, which had now passed the crossing.
"I don't know if I'm hurt or not," was the 'slow answer, as Tom
held his handkerchief to his nose, which was bleeding.
"I tried to plow up these bushes with my head, that's all. I guess
my ankle is sprained, too."
"You can't ride that wheel any further," announced Sam.
"I don't want to ride. I've had enough, for a few days at least."
It was a good quarter of an hour before Tom felt like standing up.
Then he found his ankle pained him so much that walking was out of
the question.
"I'm sure I don't know what I am going to do," he said ruefully.
"I can't walk and I can't ride, and I don't know as I can stay
here."
"Perhaps Dick and I can carry you to Hopeton," said Sam,
mentioning a, small town just beyond the railroad tracks.
"It will be a big job. If you -- Here comes a wagon. Perhaps the
driver of that will give me a lift."
As Tom finished a large farm wagon rattled into sight, drawn by a
pair of bony horses and driven by a tall, lank farmer.
"Hullo, wot's the matter?" asked the farmer, as he drew rein.
"Had a breakdown? "
"No, I've had a smash-up," answered Tom.
"My brother's ankle is sprained, and we would like to know if you
can give him a lift to the next town," put in Dick. "We'll pay you
for your trouble."
"That's all right -- Seth Dickerson is allers ready to aid a
fellow-bein' in distress," answered the farmer. "Can ye git in
the wagon alone?"
Tom could not, and the farmer and Dick carried him forward and
placed him on the seat. Then the damaged bicycle was placed in
the rear of the turnout, and Seth Dickerson drove off, while Sam
and Dick followed on their steeds of steel.
"I see you air dressed in cadet uniforms," remarked the farmer, as
the party proceeded on its way. "Be you fellers from Pornell
school?"
"No; we come from Putnam Hall," answered Tom.
"Oh, yes - 'bout the same thing, I take it. How is matters up to
the school -- larnin' a heap?"
"We are trying to learn all we have to."
"Had some trouble up thar, didn't ye? My wife's brother was
a-tellin' me about it. A darkey stole some money an' watches, an'
that like."
"They think he stole them," said Tom.
"We can hardly believe it."
"Why don't Captain Putnam hunt around them air pawnshops fer the
watches?" went on Seth Dickerson, after a pause.
"The thief would most likely pawn 'em, to my way of thinkin'."
"He hasn't much of a chance to do that. But I presume the police
will keep their eyes open."
"I was over to Auburn yesterday -- had to go to see about a
mortgage on our farm -- and I stopped into one of them pawnbrokin'
shops to buy a shot-gun, if I could git one cheap. While I was in
there a big boy came in and pawned a gold watch an' two shirt
studs."
"Is that so," returned Tom, with much interest. "What kind of a
looking boy was it?"
"A tall, slim feller, with reddish hair. He had sech shifty eyes
I couldn't help but think that maybe he had stolen them things
jest to raise some spending money."
"Did he give his name?"
"He said Jack Smith, but I don't think thet vas correct, for he
hesitated afore he gave it."
"A tall, slim fellow, with reddish hair and shifty eyes," mused
Tom. "Do you remember how he was dressed?"
"He had on a rough suit of brownish-green and a derby hat with a
hole knocked in one side."
"My gracious me!" burst out the boy. "Can it be possible!"
"Can wot be possible, lad?"
"That description fits one of our students exactly." Tom called
to Dick and Sam. "Come up here, both of you!"
"What's up, Tom; do you feel worse?" asked Dick, as he wheeled as
closely to the seat of the wagon as possible.
"No, I feel better. But I've made a big discovery -- at least, I
feel pretty certain that I have?"
"What discovery?" questioned Sam.
"I've discovered who stole that money and other stuff."
"And who was it?" came quickly from both brothers.
"Jim Caven."
CHAPTER X
A STRANGE MESSAGE FROM THE SEA
"Jim Caven!" repeated Dick slowly, "What makes you believe that he
is guilty?"
"From what Mr. Dickerson here says," answered Tom, and repeated
what the farmer had told him.
"Gracious, that does look black for Caven!" said Dick, when he had
finished. He turned to the farmer. "Would you recognize that boy
again if you saw him?"
"I allow as how I would. His eyes was wot got me -- never saw
sech unsteady ones afore in my life."
"Yes, those eyes put me down on Caven the minute I saw him,"
answered Tom. "More than half of the boys at the Hall have put
him down as a first-class sneak, although we can't exactly tell
why."
"See here," said Dick. "I think it would be best if Mr. Dickerson
would drive back to the Hall with us and tell Captain Putnam of
what he knows."
"And see if he can identify Caven," finished Sam. "Are you
willing to do that, Mr. Dickerson?"
"Well, to tell the truth, I've got some business to attend to
now," was the slow reply.
"I am sure Captain Putnam will pay you for your trouble," went on
Sam. "If he won't, we will."
"You seem mighty anxious to bring this Caven to justice," smiled
the farmer.
"We are, for two reasons," said Tom. "The first is, because he
isn't the nice sort to have around, and the second is, because one
of the men working at the school, a colored waiter, whom we all
liked, has been suspected of this crime and had to run away to
avoid arrest."
"I see. Well --" The farmer mused for a moment. "All right, I'll
go back with ye -- and at once."
The team was turned around as well as the narrow confines of the
hilly road permitted, and soon the Rover boys were on their way
back to Putnam Hall, a proceeding which pleased Tom in more ways
than one, since he would not have now to put up at a strange
resort to have his ankle and his wheel cared for. They bowled
along at a rapid gait, the horses having more speed in them than
their appearance indicated. They were just turning into the road
leading to Putnam Hall grounds when Dick espied several cadets
approaching, bound for the lake shore.
"Here come Caven, Willets, and several others!" he cried. "Mr.
Dickerson, do you recognize any of those boys?"
The farmer gave a searching glance, which lasted until the
approaching cadets were beside the wagon. Then he pointed his
hand at Jim Caven.
"Thet's the boy I seed over to Auburn, a-pawning thet watch an'
them studs," he announced. "He's got his sodger uniform on, but I
know him jest the same."
Jim Caven looked at the farmer in astonishment. Then when he
heard Seth Dickerson's words he fell back and his face grew
deathly white.
"I -- I don't know you," he stammered.
"I seed you over to Auburn, in a pawnshop," repeated Dickerson.
" It -- It isn't true!" gasped Caven. "I was never over to Auburn
in my life. Why should I go there to a pawnshop?"
"I guess you know well enough, Caven," said Tom. "You bad better
come back to the Hall with us and have a talk with Captain
Putnam."
"I won't go with you. This is -- is a -- a plot against me,"
stammered the slim youth.
"You will go back!" cried Dick, and caught Caven by the arm. But
with a jerk the seared boy freed himself and ran down the road at
the top of his speed.
Sam and Dick pursued him on their bicycles, while some of the
others came after on foot. Seeing this, Jim Caven took to the
woods just as Dan Baxter had done, and the boys found it
impossible to track him any further.
"I wonder if he'll come back tonight?" said Dick, as the party
returned to where they had left Seth Dickerson and Tom.
"I don't think he will," answered Sam. "I declare, he must be
almost as bad as the Baxters!"
The farm wagon soon reached the Hall, and Dick ushered Seth
Dickerson into Captain Putnam's office. The captain looked
surprised at the unexpected visitor, but listened with deep
concern to all the farmer and the Rover boys had to say.
"This certainly looks black for Caven," he said at last. "I did
not think I had such a bad boy here. And you say he got away from
you?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is a question if he will come back -- providing he is really
guilty. I will have his trunk and bag searched without delay.
But if he is guilty how did that ruby stud and the watch come into
Alexander Pop's possession?"
"He was down on Aleck," replied Tom, who had hobbled in after the
others. "And, besides, he thought if Aleck was arrested the
search for the criminal would go no further."
"Perhaps you are right, Thomas. It is a sad state of affairs at
the best."
The party ascended to the dormitory which Jim Caven occupied with
several smaller boy. His trunk was found locked, but Captain Putnam
took upon himself the responsibility of hunting up a key to fit the
box. Once open the trunk was found to contain, among other things,
a bit of heavy cloth tied with a piece of strong cord.
"Here we are, sure enough!" cried the captain, as he undid the
package and brought to light several of the missing watches and
also some of the jewelry. "I guess it is a clear case against
Caven, and Pop is innocent."
"I wish we could tell Pop of it," put in Dick.
"He must feel awfully bad."
"I will do what I can for the negro, Rover. I am very sorry
indeed, now, that I suspected him," said Captain Putnam, with a
slow shake of his head.
At the bottom of the trunk was a pocketbook containing nearly all
of the money which had been stolen. A footing-up revealed the
fact that two watches and three gold shirt studs were still
missing.
"And those were pawned in Auburn," said Sam. "Just wait and see
if I am not right."
A party was organized to hunt for Caven, and the captain himself
went to Auburn that very evening. The hunt for the missing boy
proved unsuccessful, and it may be added here that he never turned
up at Putnam Hall again nor at his home in Middletown, having run
away to the West.
When Captain Putnam came back he announced that he had recovered
all but one watch. The various goods and the money were distributed
among their rightful owners, and it must be confessed that a big
sigh of relief went up from the cadets who had suffered. The
single missing timepiece was made good to the boy who had lost it,
by the captain buying a similar watch for the youth.
After this several weeks passed without anything of special
interest occurring outside of a stirring baseball match with a
club from Ithaca, which Putnam Hall won by a score of six to
three. In this game Dick made a much-needed home run, thus
covering himself with glory.
"The Rovers are out of sight!" was Larry's comment. "Whatever
they do they do well."
"And they hang together like links of a chain," added Fred. "The
friend of one is the friend of all, and the same can be said of an
enemy."
One morning a telegraph messenger from Cedarville was seen
approaching the Hall, just as the boys were forming for the
roll-call.
"Here's a telegram for somebody," said Sam.
"I hope it's not bad news."
"A message for Richard Rover," announced George Strong, after
receiving it, and handed over the yellow envelope.
Wondering what the message could contain and who had sent it, Dick
tore open the envelope and read the brief communication. As his
eyes met the words his head seemed to swim around, so bewildered
was he by what was written there.
"What is it, Dick?" came from Tom and Sam.
"It's from Uncle Randolph. He wants us to come home at once. He
says -- but read it for yourselves," and the elder Rover handed
over the message, which ran as follows:
"Have just received a strange message from the sea, supposed to be
written by your father. Come home at once.
RANDOLPH ROVER."
"My gracious! News from father!" gasped Tom.
"Is he really alive?" burst out Sam. "Oh, I pray Heaven the news
is true!"
"A strange message from the sea," repeated Dick. "I wonder what
he can mean?"
"Perhaps it's a message that was picked up by some steamer,"
suggested Sam. "Anyway, uncle wants us to come home at once."
"He doesn't say all of us. The message is addressed to me."
"But of course he wanted all of us to come," put in Tom. "Anyway,
four horses couldn't hold me back,!" he continued determinedly.
"Nor me," chimed in Sam. He drew a long breath. "If we hurry up
we can catch the noon boat at Cedarville for Ithaca."
"Yes, and the evening train for Oak Run," finished Tom. "Hurry
up, Dick!"
Dick was willing. To tell the truth, that message had fired him
as he had never been fired before. He burst into the captain's
office pell-mell, with Tom and Sam on his heels, to explain the
situation. Ten minutes later -- and even this time seemed an age
to the brothers -- they were hurrying into their ordinary clothing
and packing, their satchels, while Peleg Snuggers was hitching up
to take them to the landing at Cedarville.
"Good-by to you, and good luck!" shouted Frank, as they clambered
into the wagon, and many other cadets set up a shout. Then the
wagon rattled off. The Rover boys had turned their backs on dear
old Putnam Hall for a long while to come.
CHAPTER XI
THE ROVERS REACH A CONCLUSION
For the three Rover boys the Golden Star could not make the trip
from Cedarville to Ithaca fast enough. They fretted over every
delay, and continually wondered if there was any likelihood of
their missing the train which was to take them to Oak Run, the
nearest railroad station to Valley Brook farm, their uncle's home.
But the train was not missed; instead, they had to wait half an
hour for it. During this time they procured dinner, although Dick
felt so strange he could scarcely eat a mouthful.
"Uncle Randolph doesn't say much," he murmured to Tom. "He might
have said more."
"We'll know everything before we go to bed, Dick," answered his
brother. "I don't believe Uncle Randolph would telegraph unless
the news was good."
They indulged in all sorts of speculation, as the train sped on
its way to Oak Run. When the latter place was reached it was
dark, and they found Jack Ness, the hired man, waiting for them
with the carriage.
"There, I knowed it," grinned Jack. "Mr. Rover calculated that
only Dick would come, but I said we'd have 'em all."
"And what is this news of my father?" questioned Dick.
"It's a message as was picked up off the coast of Africky,"
replied Ness. "Mr. Rover didn't explain very clearly to me. He's
a good deal excited, and so is the missus."
"And so are we," remarked Sam. "Can it be that father is on his
way home?"
"I calculate not, Master Sam. Leas'wise, your uncle didn't say
so," concluded the hired man.
Never had the horses made better time than they did now, and yet
the boys urged Ness continually to drive faster. Swift River was
soon crossed -- that stream where Sam had once had such a stirring
adventure -- and they bowled along past the Fox and other farms.
"Here we are!" shouted Dick at last.
"There is Uncle Randolph out on the porch to greet us!"
"And there is Aunt Martha!" added Sarn. "I do believe they look
happy, don't you, Tom?"
"They certainly don't look sad," was the noncommittal answer; and
then the carriage swept up to the horse-block and the three boys
alighted.
"All of you, eh?" were Randolph Rover's first words. "Well,
perhaps it is just as well so."
"We simply couldn't stay behind, uncle," said Sam. "And we are
dying to know what it all means."
"But you must have supper first," put in Aunt Martha, as she gave
one and another a motherly kiss. "I know riding on the cars
usually makes Tom tremendously hungry."
"Well eat after we have had the news," said Tom. "We're dying to
know all, as Sam says."
"The news is rather perplexing, to tell the truth," said Randolph
Rover, as he led the way into the library of the spacious home.
"I hardly know what to make of it."
"Who brought it?" questioned Dick.
"It came by mail -- a bulky letter all the way from Cape Town,
Africa."
"From father?"
"No, from a Captain Townsend, who, it seems, commands the clipper
ship Rosabel. He sent me one letter inclosing another. The first
letter is from himself."
"And is the second letter from father?" burst out Tom.
"Yes, my boy."
"Oh, let us see it!" came in a shout from all three of the Rover
boys.
"You had better read the captain's communication first," answered
Randolph Rover. "Then you will be more apt to understand the
other. Or shall I read it for the benefit of all?"
"Yes, yes, you read it, Uncle Randolph," was the answer.
"The letter is dated at Cape Town, and was written a little over a
month ago. It is addressed to 'Randolph Rover, or to Richard,
Thomas, or Samuel Rover, New York City,' and is further marked
'Highly Important-Do Not Lose or Destroy.'"
"And what is in it?" asked the impatient Tom. "Do hurry and tell
us, Uncle Randolph."
And then his uncle read as follows:
"TO THE ROVER FAMILY, New York:
am a stranger to you, but I deem it my duty to write to you on
account of something which occurred on the 12th day of April last,
while my clipper ship Rosabel, bound from Boston, U. S. A., to
Cape Town, Africa, was sailing along the coast of Congo but a few
miles due west from the mouth of the Congo River.
"Our ship had been sent in by a heavy gale but the wind had gone
down, and we were doing more drifting than sailing to the
southward when the lookout espied a man on a small raft which was
drifting toward, us.
"On coming closer, we discovered that the man was white and that
he looked half starved. We put out a boat and rescued the poor
creature but he had suffered so much from spear wounds and
starvation that, on being taken on board of our ship, he
immediately relapsed into insensibility, and out of this we failed
to arouse him. He died at sundown, and we failed, even to learn
him name or home address.
"On searching the dead man's pockets we came across the enclosed
letter, addressed to you, and much soiled from water. As you will
see, it is dated more than a year back and was evidently in the
possession of the man who died for some time. Probably he started
out to deliver it, or to reach some point from which it could be
mailed.
"I trust that the message becomes the means of rescuing the
Anderson Rover mentioned in the letter, and I will be pleased to
learn if this letter of mine is received. The Rosabel sails from
Cape Town to Brazil as soon as her cargo can be discharged and
another taken on.
"Very truly yours,
"JOHN V. TOWNSEND, Captain."
As Randolph Rover ceased reading there was a brief silence, broken
by Tom.
"So the man who died held a letter. And what is in that, Uncle
Randolph?"
"I will read it to you, boys, although that is a difficult matter,
for the writing is uneven and much blurred. On one part of the
sheet there is a blot of blood -- the blood, I presume -- of the
poor fellow who was trying to deliver the communication."
Unfolding the stained document, Randolph Rover bent closer to the
table lamp that he might read the more easily. As for the boys,
they fairly held their breaths, that no spoken word might escape
them.
"The letter is addressed to me," said the uncle. "But the
envelope is, as you can see, very much torn. I will read," and he
did so.
"NIWILI CAMP, on the Congo,
"July the 18th, 189--.
"DEAR BROTHER RANDOLPH:
"If, by the goodness of God, this reaches you, I trust that you
will set out without delay to my, assistance.
"I write under great difficulties, as a prisoner, of the Bumwo
tribe of natives, ruled by King Susko.
"I have discovered the secret of a gold mine here, and the king
will not let me go, fearing that I will tell the outside world of
my discovery and bring the English or French here to slay him and
his followers. They know nothing here of Americans.
"I entrust this to the care of an English sailor who is going to
try to make his escape. I cannot go myself, having had my leg
broken by a blow from one of my jailers.
"I am sick and weak in body, and it may be that I will soon die.
Yet I beg of you to do what you can for me. If I die, I trust you
to be a father to my dear boys, Dick, Tom, and Sam, and ask Martha
for me to be a mother to them.
"The king expects soon to remove to another camp at a place called
Rhunda Konoka (the Water Well). Perhaps he will take me along, or
else he may slay me.
"All those who were with me are dead excepting several natives who
have joined the Burnwo tribe.
"Good-by, and do what you can until you are certain that I am
dead.
"Your loving brother,
"ANDERSON ROVER"
When Randolph Rover ceased reading he saw that there were tears in
the eyes of all of the boys, and that his wife was also crying.
His own voice had had to be cleared continually. To all the
letter was like a message from the grave.
"And that is all?" questioned Dick, breaking the silence.
"That is all, my boy -- and the letter was written about a year
ago!"
"But we'll go in search of him!" put in Tom, quickly. "He may be
alive yet."
"I thought I would go," answered Randolph Rover, "and I thought,
possibly, that I might take Dick with me."
"Oh, you must take me too!" burst out Tom. "I could never bear to
be left behind."
"And you must take me," interrupted Sam. "We always go together,
you know."
At this talk Randolph Rover was somewhat taken aback. "All!" he
cried. "Why, what would three boys do in the heart of Africa?"
"Look for father!" cried Tom. I shan't stay behind -- you can't
make me!" he went on half defiantly.
"We have been through lots of adventures, uncle, you know that,"
came from Sam. "We are not afraid."
"But the danger, boys --" began the uncle.
"What danger wouldn't we face for father's sake!" said Tom. "I'd
go through fire and water for him."
"You had better let us all go," said Dick.
"If you don't let Tom and Sam go, why, the chances are they'll --"
"Run away and go anyway," finished Sam.
"Oh, Uncle Randolph, say we can go; please do!"
At this enthusiasm the uncle smiled sadly.
"All-right, boys; as you are bound to have it so, you shall all
go. But don't blame me if the perils are greater than you
anticipate, and if the undertaking costs one or more of you your
lives."
CHAPTER XII.
OFF FOR AFRICA
It was long after midnight before the conversation in relation to
the proposed trip to Africa came to an end. Mrs. Rover insisted
that the boys should eat something, and they sat around the table
discussing the viands and the two letters at the same time.
"Have you any idea where this Niwili Camp is?" asked Dick of his
uncle.
"It is on the Congo, but how far froth the mouth of that stream is
a question, lad. Probably we can learn all about it when we reach
Boma, the capital of the Congo Free State."
"The Congo is a pretty big stream, isn't it?" questioned Sam.
"Very large indeed. At its mouth it is about ten miles wide, and
it is from twelve to fourteen hundred miles long. Stanley traced
its course after an expedition in which he fought over thirty
battles with the natives."
"They must be fearfully savage."
"Those in the interior are. The natives that live close to the
ocean are peaceable enough, so I have been told."
"And how are we going to get there?" asked Tom. "I don't suppose
there are any regular steamers running to the Congo."
"No, indeed, Tom. I have written to a shipping firm in New York
for information, and they will probably send word by morning," was
the answer.
It can well be imagined that the boys slept but little that night.
In the morning they telegraphed to Putnam Hall for their trunks,
and also let Captain Putnam and their chums know how matters
stood. Then began preparations for such a tour as none of them
had ever before anticipated.
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