Part 12 (1/2)
Some of the boys wished to speak to hiht
”You may think I am hard with him,” said Captain Putnam, later on, ”but to tell the truth he does not coood family and he has a step-brother already in prison”
”Aleck can't be held responsible for his stepbrother's doings,”
h for the ent search had been ht to light If Pop had taken the things he had either hidden thehtfall when Peleg Snuggers drove back to the Hall dick and Toates and saw that the , is he safe in jail?” called out Tom
”No, he ain't,” was the snappy reply
”Why, what did you do with him?” questioned dick quickly
”Do? I didn't do nuthin--not me It was him as did it all--cut that blessed rope and shoved ers
”Do you ot away froot away like a streak o' fightnin', thet's wot he did, consarn hi drove to the rear of the Hall, put his team in the barn, and went in to report to Captain Putnam
Another row resulted, and this nearly cost the utility Man his position But it appeared that he was not so much to blame that Alexander Pop had taken him unawares and finally he was sent away to his ith the caution to bethe next day a hunt was made for the colored one to New York, and shi+pped on one of the outward-bound ocean vessels The Rover boys fancied that they would never see hiain, but in this they were mistaken
CHAPTER IX
THE ROVER BOYS ON WHEELS
”Say, fellows, but this is the greatest sport yet!”
”I feel like flying, Torand”
”Nor I,” cao this afternoon?”
It was several weeks later, and the scholars were having a half-holiday Just six days before, Randolph Rover had surprised his three nephews by sending each a handsome bicycle, and it had taken them hardly any time to learn how to handle the machines
”Let us take a ride over to Chardale,” said dick ”I understand that the roads are very good in that direction”
”All right, I',” answered Sam, and Tom said the same
Soon the three brothers were on the way, dick leading and To behind, side by side
It was an ideal day for cycling, cool and clear, and the road they had elected to take was inviting to the last degree, with its broad curves, its beautiful trees, and the mountainous views far to the north and west
”It's a wonder we didn't get wheels before,” observed dick ”This beats skating or riding a to bits”
”Just you look out that you don't take a header!” warned Toht do a pile of da brother ”For the matter of that, we'll all have to keep our eyes open”
To reach Chardale they had to cross several bridges and then descend a long hill, at the foot of which ran the railroad to several towns north and south