For particulars regarding how Putnam Hall Military Academy was organized, and what fine times the cadets there enjoyed even before the Rovers appeared on the scene, read “The Putnam Hall Series,” six volumes, starting with “The Putnam Hall Cadets.”—­ Publishers

The first term at school was followed by an exciting trip on the ocean, and then another trip into the jungles of Africa, where the boys went looking for their parent.  Then came a journey to the West, and some grand times on the Great Lakes and in the Mountains.  After that, the Rover boys came back to the Hall to go into camp with their fellow-cadets.  Then they took a long journey over land and sea, being cast away on a lonely island in the Pacific.

On returning home, the boys had imagined they were to settle down to a quiet life, but such was not to be.  On a houseboat the lads, with some friends, sailed down the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, and then found themselves on the Plains, where they solved the mystery of Red Rock ranch.  Then they set sail on Southern Waters, and in the Gulf of Mexico discovered a deserted yacht.

“Now for a good rest,” Sam had said, and the three lads had returned to the home farm, where, quite unexpectedly, more adventures befell them.  Then they returned to Putnam Hall; and all graduated with considerable honor.

It had been decided by Mr. Rover that the boys should next go to college, and he selected an institution of learning located in the Middle West, not far from the town of Ashton.  Brill College was a fine place, and the Rovers knew they would like it as soon as they saw it.  With them went their old-time school chum, Songbird Powell, already mentioned.  At the same time, William Philander Tubbs came to the college from Putnam Hall.  He was a dudish fellow, who thought far more of dress than of gaining an education, and he was often made the butt of some practical joke.

It did not take the Rover boys long to make a number of friends at Brill.  These included Stanley Browne, a tall, gentlemanly youth; Bob Grimes, who was greatly interested in baseball and other sports; Max Spangler, a German-American youth, who was everybody’s friend; and Will Jackson, always called “Spud” because of his unusual fondness for potatoes.  Spud was a great story-teller, and some of his yarns were marvelous in the extreme.

During their first term at Putnam Hall, the Rover boys had become well acquainted with Dora Stanhope, who lived near the school with her widowed mother, and, also, Nellie and Grace Laning, Dora’s two cousins, who resided but a short distance further away.  It had not been long before Dick and Dora showed a great liking for each other, and, at the same time, Tom often “paired off” with Nellie, and Sam as often sought the company of Grace.  Then came the time when the boys did a great service for Mrs. Stanhope, saving her from the wicked plotting of Josiah Crabtree, a teacher at Putnam Hall.  Crabtree was exposed, and lost no time in leaving the school, threatening at the same time that, sooner or later, he would “square accounts with the Rovers.”