INTRODUCTION

My dear boys:  “The Rover Boys on the River” is a complete story in itself, but forms the ninth volume of “The Rover Boys Series for Young Americans.”

Nine volumes!  What a great number of tales to write about one set of characters!  When I started the series I had in mind, as I have mentioned before, to write three, or possibly, four books.  But the gratifying reception given to “The Rover Boys at School,” soon made the publishers call for the second, third, and fourth volumes, and then came the others, and still the boys and girls do not seem to be satisfied.  I am told there is a constant cry for “more! more!” and so I present this new Rover Boys story, which tells of the doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam and their friends during an outing on one of our great rivers,—­an outing full of excitement and fun and with a touch of a rather unusual mystery.  During the course of the tale some of the old enemies of the Rover Boys turn up, but our heroes know, as of old, how to take care of themselves; and all ends well.

In placing this book into the hands of my young readers I wish once more to thank them for the cordial reception given the previous volumes.  Many have written to me personally about them, and I have perused the letters with much satisfaction.  I sincerely trust the present volume fulfills their every expectation.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

Arthur M. Winfield.

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER

CHAPTER I

PLANS FOR AN OUTING

“Whoop! hurrah!  Zip, boom, ah!  Rockets!”

“For gracious’ sake, Tom, what’s all the racket about?  I thought we had all the noise we wanted last night, when we broke up camp.”

“It’s news, Dick, glorious news,” returned Tom Rover, and he began to dance a jig on the tent flooring.  “It’s the best ever.”

“It won’t be glorious news if you bring this tent down on our heads,” answered Dick Rover.  “Have you discovered a gold mine?”

“Better than that, Dick.  I’ve discovered what we are going to do with ourselves this summer.”

“I thought we were going back to the farm, to rest up, now that the term at Putnam Hall is at an end.”

“Pooh!  Who wants to rest?  I’ve rested all I wish right in this encampment.”

“Well, what’s the plan?  Don’t keep us in ‘suspenders,’ as Hans Mueller would say.”

“Dear old Hansy!  That Dutch boy is my heart’s own!” cried Tom, enthusiastically.  “I could not live without him.  He must go along.”

“Go along where?”

“On our outing this summer?”

“But where do you propose to go to, Tom?”

“For a trip on the broad and glorious Ohio River.”

“Eh?”

“That’s it, Dick.  We are to sail the briny deep of that river in a houseboat.  Now, what do you think of that?”