XVIII. On Board the Houseboat
XIX. Words and Blows
XX. Days of Pleasure
XXI. The Disappearance of the Houseboat
XXII. Dan Baxter's Little Game
XXIII. A Run in the Dark
XXIV. The Horse Thieves
XXV. Plotting Against Dora and Nellie
XXVI. The Search on the River
XXVII. Caught Once More
XXVIII. A Message for the Rovers
XXIX. Jake Shaggam, of Shaggam Creek
XXX. The Rescue--Conclusion



INTRODUCTION

My dear boys: "The Rover Boys on the River" is a complete story in
itself, but forms the ninth volume of "The Rover Boys Series for Young
Americans."

Nine volumes! What a great number of tales to write about one set of
characters! When I started the series I had in mind, as I have
mentioned before, to write three, or possibly, four books. But the
gratifying reception given to "The Rover Boys at School," soon made the
publishers call for the second, third, and fourth volumes, and then
came the others, and still the boys and girls do not seem to be
satisfied. I am told there is a constant cry for "more! more!" and so I
present this new Rover Boys story, which tells of the doings of Dick,