nemies.*

The first term at school was followed by a trip on the ocean, and then
another trip into the jungles of Africa. Then came a journey to the
West, and jolly times on the Great Lakes and in the mountains. Next
the boys returned to the Hall, to go in camp with their fellow cadets.
After that they took a long journey over land and sea, being cast away
on a lonely island of the Pacific.

"Now I've had enough adventures to last a lifetime," said Dick, on
returning home. But strenuous happenings to him and his brothers were
not yet over. On a houseboat the Rover boys sailed down the Ohio and
the Mississippi rivers, having many adventures by the way, and then
found themselves on the Plains, where they solved the mystery of Red
Rock ranch. Then they reached Southern Waters, and in the Gulf of
Mexico discovered a deserted steam yacht, which they eventually turned
over to its anxious owner.

"Now for a good rest," said Sam, and the three lads returned to the
home farm, where more adventures befell them. Next they returned to
Putnam Hall, where all graduated with considerable honor.

"College next," said Tom, and he made a wry face, for studying was not
particularly in his line, although he could knuckle down as hard as
anyone when it was necessary. But before they went to college the lads
and their father, accompanied by some others, went off on a treasure
hunt, locating what was known as the Stanhope fortune.

Brill College was a fine institution of learning, located in the middle
west, not far from the town of Ashton. With the Rovers went their
old-time school chum, Songbird Powell, already introduced. At the same
time William Philander Tubbs came there from Putnam Hall. He was a
dudish fellow who thought more of his dress and his personal appearance
than anything else, and was often made the butt of some practical joke.

At Brill the Rovers soon made other friends, including Stanley Browne,
a tall, gentlemanly youth, and Will Jackson, generally called Spud,
because of his unusual fondness for potatoes. Spud was a great story
teller and some of his yarns were certainly "the limit," to use Sam's
way of expressing it.

While at Putnam Hall the Rover boys had made the acquaintance of Dora
Stanhope, who lived nearby with her widowed mother, and also Nellie and
Grace Laning, Dora's two cousins. It was not long before Dick and Dora
showed a great liking for each other, and at same time Tom commenced to
"pa