Title:  The Rover Boys at School

Author:  Arthur M. Winfield

Release Date:  May, 2004 [EBook #5780] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 1, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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This etext was produced by Sean Pobuda.

THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL

Or

THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL

By Arthur M. Winfield
(Edward Stratemeyer)

INTRODUCTION

My Dear Boys: 

“The Rover Boys at School” has been written that those of you who have never put in a term or more at an American military academy for boys may gain some insight into the workings of such an institution.

While Putnam Hall is not the real name of the particular place of learning I had in mind while penning this tale for your amusement and instruction, there is really such a school, and dear Captain Putnam is a living person, as are also the lively, wide-awake, fun-loving Rover brothers, Dick, Tom, and Sam, and their schoolfellows, Larry, Fred, and Frank.  The same can be said, to a certain degree, of the bully Dan Baxter, and his toady, the sneak, commonly known as “Mumps.”

The present story is complete in itself, but it is written as the first of a series, to be followed by “The Rover Boys on the Ocean” and “The Rover Boys in the Jungle,” in both of which volumes we will again meet many of our former characters.

Trusting that this tale will find as much favor in your hands as have my previous stories, I remain,

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING THE ROVER BOYS

“Hurrah, Sam, it is settled at last that we are to go to boarding school!”

“Are you certain, Tom?  Don’t let me raise any false hopes.”

“Yes, I am certain, for I heard Uncle Randolph tell Aunt Martha that he wouldn’t keep us in the house another week.  He said he would rather put up with the Central Park menagerie —­ think of that!” and Tom Rover began to laugh.

“That’s rather rough on us, but I don’t know but what we deserve it,” answered Sam Rover, Tom’s younger brother.  “We have been giving it pretty strong lately, with playing tricks on Sarah the cook, Jack the hired man, and Uncle Randolph’s pet dog Alexander.  But then we, had to do something —­ or go into a dry rot.  Life in the country is all well enough, but it’s mighty slow for me.”