"n.o.buddy hurt-leas'wise not in body, an' n.o.buddy sick nuther, in the ordinary way. But I reckon your friends from Cedarville is putty sick all the way through, when they think of their loss."

d.i.c.k s.n.a.t.c.hed the letter and glanced at it. It was in his father's handwriting and bore only a few lines, as follows:

"Just received a telegram from Mrs. Stanhope, wanting to know if I had received her money, as asked for? Telegraphed back that I had not asked for money and had received none. Then she telegraphed that she had sent money to a certain place at my request. I don't understand this at all. I fear something is wrong, and I am going to Cedarville without delay.

Better come home and wait to hear from me."

"Mrs. Stanhope's money?" mused d.i.c.k, as he handed the letter to his brothers. "Can she mean the fortune from Treasure Isle?"

"More than likely," answered Tom. "Before we came away father told me she has said something about investing it through him. He was to let her know when he wanted the money."

"But he says in this letter that he didn't send for the money," put in Sam.

"If the money had been obtained under false pretenses I guess it is Sobber's work," murmured d.i.c.k.

"More than likely," returned Tom. "Oh, this is the worst yet-and just when we were getting ready to enjoy ourselves, too!"

"Well, we'll have to go back, Tom. Father may need us."

"Sure we'll go back. I couldn't stay here and enjoy myself while I knew that fortune was gone."

"It's too bad on you fellows," said d.i.c.k, turning to Fred and Hans. "But you can see how it is."

"Oh, that's all right," answered Fred quickly.

"I d.i.n.k I got enough of camping owid annaway," came from the German youth. "Maype of we stay here much longer von of dem snakes comes and eats us up alretty, ain't it!"

"The telegrams came yesterday, but I waited until this morning to come here," said Jack Ness. "Your father left for Cedarville on the first train today."

"We'll pack right up and get back," answered d.i.c.k.

Although he tried not to show it, he was greatly excited. He was sure that the Stanhope fortune had in some manner fallen into the hands of Tad Sobber, and he wondered if that rascal would be able to get away with it.

"If he does it will be a sad blow to both the Stanhopes and the Lanings,"

he said to his brothers. "They were planning to get much good out of that money."

"It will be especially hard on the Lanings," said Tom, soberly. "For they are not as wealthy as the Stanhopes."

All of the boys worked with a will, and Jack Ness and the man who had rowed him to camp aided as much as they could. As a consequence in less than an hour the tent was down and packed, and the rest of the camping outfit placed aboard the sailboat. Then the journey for home was begun.

The wind was in their favor, so those in the little sailboat had to do little rowing, and they helped the other boat along. Arriving at the landing on Swift River, they found the farm wagon awaiting them and also a carriage with the best team of horses the Rover farm afforded.

"Thought you young gentlemen would like to go back that way," explained Jack Ness. "I can drive slower with the wagon. I would have brought the auto, only I can't manage that yet."

"I'm glad you thought of the carriage," answered d.i.c.k. "Now we can go home in jig time."

The boys entered the carriage, and d.i.c.k took the reins and touched up the horses. Away went the spirited team on a gallop, the turnout bouncing from side to side over the rocky road.

"Mine cracious!" gasped Hans, as he tried to hold himself down. "Look owid, Tick, oder we go overpoard alretty yet!"

"Maybe you'd rather ride home with Jack," suggested Tom.

"No, of you can stand him, so can I," answered the German youth, firmly.

Away they went for the Rover farm, up hill and down. Soon they left the river road and then struck a highway where going was much better. Here d.i.c.k made the team do their best, and poor Hans was badly scared, thinking the horses were running away.

"Of you can't sthop 'em, ve vos all busted up, so quick like neffer vos!"

he bawled.

"They are all right, Hans," answered Sam. "Let d.i.c.k alone, he knows how to handle 'em."

"Ain't da running avay?"

"No."

"All right, of you say so," returned Hans, but his face indicated that he thought otherwise.

At last they came in sight of the farm, and drove up to the house by the back way. Their Aunt Martha saw them coming, and ran out to meet them.

"Any more news from the Stanhopes?" asked d.i.c.k, quickly.

"Not that I know of," was Mrs. Rover's answer. "Your uncle has gone off to the telegraph office to wait for word from your father."

"I don't think father has reached Cedarville yet," said Sam.

The team was turned over to Aleck Pop and the boys went into the house.

There the Rovers read the telegrams which had been received from Mrs.

Stanhope. There was also a telegram from John Laning, in which he said he would look into the matter if he could get around, but that he had fallen from the hayloft of his barn and sprained his ankle.

"That will keep him home," said Sam. "Too bad-just when the Stanhopes may need his aid."

"I wish I knew the particulars of the affair-then a fellow would know how to act," said d.i.c.k, impatiently.

"Father may send word before night," answered Tom.

"I was sorry to see your father go away," said Mrs. Rover. "He was not very well."

"Not well?" cried Sam. "What was the matter with him?"

"Oh, it wasn't much, but it was enough. You'll remember how he struck his knee on a rock or something, while you were on that treasure hunt."

"Oh, yes, he fell down in the hole," said Tom. "He was so excited at the time he didn't notice the hurt."

"Exactly, Tom. Well, lately that has bothered him quite some, and he had to go to a doctor about it. The doctor told him to be careful of the knee, or it might give him lots of trouble and maybe get stiff."

"Then he shouldn't have gone to Cedarville," said d.i.c.k. "We don't want dad to get a stiff leg."