Once more I feel called upon to thank my numerous readers for the many nice things they have said about these "Rover Boys" books. I earnestly hope that the reading of the volumes will do them all good. Affectionately and sincerely yours, Edward Stratemeyer. CONTENTS I OUT IN THE STORM II WHO THE ROVER BOYS WERE III TO THE RESCUE IV IN THE GYMNASIUM V THE RIVAL SCHOOL VI PLAYING HIXLEY HIGH VII NEWS FROM ABROAD VIII THE JOKE ON THE SNEAK IX THE GAME WITH LONGLEY X A GLORIOUS VICTORY XI BONFIRE NIGHT XII ON BLUEBELL ISLAND XIII WERNER'S ATTACK XIV BOUND FOR HOME XV BACK FROM FRANCE XVI DICK ROVER'S HEROISM XVII THE GREAT VICTORY PARADE XVIII BOUND FOR TEXAS XIX IN THE LAND OF LUCK XX PLOTTING AGAINST DICK ROVER XXI WORDS AND BLOWS XXII AMONG THE OIL WELLS XXIII A QUEER SUMMONS XXIV DICK ROVER'S REVELATION XXV DAVENPORT'S ACCUSATION XXVI NEWS OF RUTH XXVII CAUGHT BY THE ENEMY XXVIII AT THE FRANKLIN PLACE XXIX DAYS OF ANXIETY XXX THE NEW WELL--CONCLUSION THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK CHAPTER I OUT IN THE STORM "Jack, it looks as if we were in for another storm." "Yes, and it's starting right now," declared Captain Jack Rover, as he glanced through the trees to the overcast sky. "Don't you hear it on the leaves?" "It does beat everything!" declared Andy Rover, his usually bright face clouding a bit. "It has rained enough in the past two weeks to last a year." "Do you know, I like these constant rains less than I liked being snowbound up at Cedar Lodge," put in Lieutenant Fred Rover. "Oh, there was some fun in being snowbound," declared Randy Rover. "A fellow could go out in it and have the best time ever. But what can a chap do when the rain is coming down to beat the band?" "Well, you can go out and get a shower-bath free of charge," commented his twin gaily. "I'll take my showers in the gym," was the quick reply. "Gee! listen to that, will you?" There was no need for any of the four Rover boys to listen, or to look, either. A blinding flash of lightning had swept the sky, followed almost immediately by a crash of thunder in the woods behind them. Then followed another crash, as of falling timber. "It struck a tree, I'll bet a new cap!" exclaimed Jack. "Yes, and it was a little bit too close for comfort, too," answered his cousin Fred. The thunder and lightning were followed by a sudden rush of wind which caused the trees of the forest to sway violently. Then the downfall of rain increased until it was little short of a deluge. "We've got to get to some sort of shelter!" cried Jack. "And the sooner we get there the better. If we stay under the trees we'll be soaked to the skin."