The Rover Boys Down East

by Arthur M. Winfield

THE ROVER BOYS

DOWN EAST

OR

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE STANHOPE
FORTUNE

BY

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

(Edward Stratemeyer)

AUTHOR OF THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL, THE
ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN, THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES, Etc.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK

GROSSET & DUNLAP

PUBLISHERS

Made in the United States of America

"WELL, NOW THE TENT IS FIXED, WE'LL HAVE SUPPER," SAID DICK.

INTRODUCTION

My Dear Boys: This is a complete story in itself, but forms the fifteenth volume of the "Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

Twelve years ago the line was started with the publication of the first three stories, "The Rover Boys at School," "On the Ocean," and "In the Jungle." I earnestly hoped that the young people would like the tales, but never did I anticipate the tremendously enthusiastic welcome which was given to the volumes from the start, nor the steady sale, ever increasing, which has been accorded the series up to the present time. The publication of the first three books immediately called for a fourth, "The Rover Boys Out West," and then followed yearly "On the Great Lakes," "In Camp," "On Land and Sea," "On the River," "On the Plains," "In Southern Waters," "On the Farm," "On Treasure Isle," and then "At College," where we last left our heroes.

Dick, Tom and Sam are older than when we first made their acquaintance and told how they went to Putnam Hall. They are now college boys, attending a well-known institution of learning in the middle-west. But though older, they are as lively as ever, and Tom, at least, is just as full of fun. They have a great struggle to save the Stanhope fortune, and have to work hard to get the best of several enemies. They take a long journey Down East, and their adventures are both mysterious and exciting.

Again I take this opportunity to thank my friends, both young and old, for all the nice things they have said about my books. I am more than sorry that I cannot answer all the letters that pour in upon me from everywhere praising the stories. I earnestly hope the present volume will please all my readers and do them some good.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

Edward Stratemeyer

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER		PAGE
I.	A Game of Baseball	1
II.	The Fire on the Steamer	13
III.	College Boys to the Rescue	23
IV.	What Flockley Had to Tell	33
V.	A Celebration on the Campus	43
VI.	Good-Bye to Brill	53
VII.	Dreams of Youth	63
VIII.	Home Once More	73
IX.	Preparations for the Fourth of July	84
X.	When the Cannon Went Off	94
XI.	A Day to Remember	105
XII.	Off for Camp	115
XIII.	Hans Mueller's Queer Catch	125
XIV.	The Happenings of a Night	135
XV.	Strange News	145
XVI.	Something of a Clue	155
XVII.	Dan Baxter's Revelation	165
XVIII.	A Fortune and a Lady Disappear	175
XIX.	On the Way to Boston	185
XX.	An Adventure in Boston	195
XXI.	From One Clue to Another	205
XXII.	A Chase up the Coast	215	XXIII.	Aboard The "Mary Delaway"	223
XXIV.	Out on Casco Bay	231
XXV.	On Chesoque Island	238
XXVI.	A Talk of Importance	246
XXVII.	What Happened in the Cave	254
XXVIII.	At the Bottom of the Pool	262
XXIX.	A Minute too Late	270
XXX.	Back Home—Conclusion	278