stolen stuff
will never do him much good."

The very next morning came word from the detectives. One of them
called at the hotel.

"I am afraid the case is queered," said he. "We tracked the rascal
to Oakland, and now it looks as if he had given us the slip for good."

"Can't you find any trace of him?" questioned Sam.

"Oh, yes! but he has shipped on a vessel which is bound for Australia,
and as she is already two days out of port he is out of our reach."

"You are certain he went on that vessel?" cried Tom.

"Yes. He went as a passenger, under the name of Robert Brown."

"And did he take the jewels and money with him?"

"More than likely. At any rate, we can find no trace of the jewels."

"Then that chase is done for," said Dick, "and we shall have to pocket
our loss."

The detective was chagrined to think that he had tracked Dan Baxter
only to lose him, and promised to see if anything more could be done
in the matter.

But nothing could be done, as there was no telling when the Golden
Wave would arrive at Australia, and what port the craft would first make.

"We have seen the last of Dan Baxter," said Sam.

But the youngest Rover was mistaken. They were to meet the bully
again, and under circumstances as astonishing as they were perilous.

CHAPTER IV

GOOD TIMES AT SANTA BARBARA

"What a land of plenty!"

It was Tom who made the remark.

The Rover boys were on their way to Santa Barbara, after having spent
three weeks at San Francisco and vicinity. They had received word
that Dora Stanhope and her mother and the two Laning girls were at
the fashionable watering place, and they were anxious to meet their
old friends.

On sped the luxurious train, over hills and through the valleys, past
heavy woodlands and by rich fruit farms. It was a scene which interested
them greatly, and they never tired of sitting at the windows, gazing out.

Presently the car door opened and a tall young fellow, carrying a
valise, stepped inside and walked down the aisle. As he came closer
Dick Rover leaped up.

"Bob Sutter!" he cried, with a smile of pleasure. "Who would ever
dream of meeting you out here?"

"Is it really Dick Rover?" questioned the newcomer, as he shook hands.
"And Tom and Sam, too! I must be dreaming. Is Putnam Hall on its
travels?"

"We are on our travels," replied Tom, also shaking hands, followed
by Sam. "But what are you doing here?"

Bob Sutter, a former scholar at Putnam Hall, s