g on one of our great
rivers,--an outing full of excitement and fun and with a touch of a
rather unusual mystery. During the course of the tale some of the old
enemies of the Rover Boys turn up, but our heroes know, as of old, how
to take care of themselves; and all ends well.

In placing this book into the hands of my young readers I wish once
more to thank them for the cordial reception given the previous
volumes. Many have written to me personally about them, and I have
perused the letters with much satisfaction. I sincerely trust the
present volume fulfills their every expectation.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER

CHAPTER I

PLANS FOR AN OUTING

"Whoop! hurrah! Zip, boom, ah! Rockets!"

"For gracious' sake, Tom, what's all the racket about? I thought we had
all the noise we wanted last night, when we broke up camp."

"It's news, Dick, glorious news," returned Tom Rover, and he began to
dance a jig on the tent flooring. "It's the best ever."

"It won't be glorious news if you bring this tent down on our heads,"
answered Dick Rover. "Have you discovered a gold mine?"

"Better than that, Dick. I've discovered what we are going to do with
ourselves this summer."

"I thought we were going back to the farm, to rest up, now that the
term at Putnam Hall is at an end."

"Pooh! Who wants to rest? I've rested all I wish right in this
encampment."

"Well, what's the plan? Don't keep us in 'suspenders,' as Hans Mueller
would say."

"Dear old Hansy! That Dutch boy is my heart's own!" cried Tom,
enthusiastically. "I could not live without him. He must go along."

"Go along where?"

"On our outing this summer?"

"But where do you propose to go to, Tom?"

"For a trip on the broad and glorious Ohio River."

"Eh?"

"That's it, Dick. We are to sail the briny deep of that river in a
houseboat. Now, what do you think of that?"

"I'd like to know what put that into your head, Tom," came from the
tent opening, and Sam Rover, the youngest of the three brothers,
stepped into view.

"Uncle Randolph put it into my head, not over half an hour ago, Sam.
It's this way: You've heard of John V. Black of Jackville?"

"The man that owed Uncle Randolph some money?"

"Exactly. Well, Black is a bankrupt, or next door to it. He couldn't
pay Uncle Randolph what was coming to him, so he turned over a
houseboat instead. She's a beauty, so I am told, and s