carried off by the directions of Josiah Crabtree, a former teacher
of Putnam Hall, who wished to marry Mrs. Stanhope and thus get his
hands on the money the widow held in trust for her daughter, but
the abduction had been nipped in the bud and Josiah Crabtree had
fled, leaving Dan Baxter to shoulder the blame of the transaction.
How Dora was restored to her mother and what happened afterward,
old readers already know.

A winter had passed since the events narrated above, and before
and after the holidays the Rover boys had studied diligently, to
make up for the time lost on that never-to-be-forgotten ocean
chase. Their efforts had not been in vain, and each lad had been
promoted to the next higher class, much to Randolph Rover's
satisfaction and the joy of their tender-hearted Aunt Martha.

"The boys are all right, even if they do love to play pranks," was
Randolph Rover's comment, when he heard of the promotions. "I
trust they improve their time during the term to come."

"They are good boys, Randolph," returned Mr. Rover. "They would
not be real boys if they did not cut up once in a while. As to
their daring -- why, they simply take after their father. Poor
man. If only we knew, what had become of him."

"Yes, a great weight would be lifted from our shoulders, Martha,
if we knew that. But we do not know, and there seems to be no way
of finding out. I have written to the authorities at various
places in Africa until I know not whom to address next."

"He must be dead, otherwise he would write or come home, Randolph.