Part 1 (2/2)
A winter had passed since the events narrated above, and before and after the holidays the Rover boys had studied diligently, to otten ocean chase Their efforts had not been in vain, and each lad had been proher class, much to Randolph Rover's satisfaction and the joy of their tender-hearted Aunt Martha
”The boys are all right, even if they do love to play pranks,” was Randolph Rover's comment, when he heard of the pro the terood boys, Randolph,” returned Mr Rover ”They would not be real boys if they did not cut up once in a while As to their daring--why, they simply take after their father Poor reat weight would be lifted from our shoulders, Martha, if we knew that But we do not know, and there see out I have written to the authorities at various places in Africa until I know not whom to address next”
”He must be dead, otherwise he would write or come home, Randolph
He was not one to keep us in the dark so long”
”I cannot believe my brother dead, and the boys will not believe it either Do you knohat dick said to et word he was going to Africa some day to hunt his father up”
”To Africa! What will that boy do in such a jungle, and a such fierce natives? He will be killed!”
”Perhaps not The boy is unco with his enemies Just look how nicely he and Tom and Sam served Arnold Baxter and those others It onderful doings--for boys”
”Yes, but they may not be so successful always, Randolph I should hate to see theer”
”So should I, my dear But they will take care of themselves, I feel that more and more every day,” concluded Randolph Rover; and there, for the ti, the subject was dropped
”I wonder what has become of old Josiah Crabtree?” remarked dick Rover, as he and his brothers walked around the parade ground to inspect several improvement which Captain Putnauess,” answered Tom
”Like as not he became scared to death I suppose you'll be satisfied if he keeps away from Dora and her mother in the future?”
”Yes; I never want to set eyes on hiain, Toe ways”
”I wonder how the Baxters feel to be locked up?” put in Sam ”I know Arnold Baxter is used to it, but it's a new experience for Dan”
”Dan is as bad as his father,” broke in Larry Colby, who had joined the brothers ”I was glad to hear that Mumps had turned over a new leaf and cut the bully dead”
”Oh, so were all of us!” said To business, out West, acting as some sort of a clerk”
”A spell in the West will take the nonsense out of hiot under Dan Baxter's influence I wonder how Arnold Baxter is getting along? He was quite severely wounded, you know, during that tussle on the yachts”
”He's about over that, so Frank Harrington says,” replied Larry
”I'll wager he isput him where he is”
”It was his own, fault, Larry If a person is going to do wrong he ht today be a fairly well-to-docadet here But instead they both threw themselves away--and now they must take what comes”
”My father used to say it took all kind of people to make a world,” went on Larry ”But I reckon we could do without the Baxter and the Buddy Girk kind”
”And the Josiah Crabtree kind,” added Saet that miserable sneak”
”Perhaps Crabtree has reformed, like Mumps”