The disappearance of Dan, and Josiah Crabtree's yearning for
wealth, had led to further complications. Near Putnam Hall resides
the widow Stanhope and her pretty daughter Dora, and Crabtree, who
exerted a sort of hypnotic power over the widow, tried to get the
lady to marry him, so that he might obtain the fortune she held in
trust for her daughter. But how the Rover boys fooled the grasping
teacher, and how Dora was saved from the plot Crabtree and Dan
Baxter hatched up against her, has already been told in "The Rover
Boys on the Ocean."

Anderson Rover had gone to Africa to locate certain mines in that
country, and when many years passed and no word came from him the
three boys grew worried and wanted to go in search of him. At last
came a strange letter written by a sea captain, containing some
important information, and acting on this the Rover boys,
accompanied by their Uncle Randolph, set out for the heart of the
Dark Continent to find the long-lost. On the way they fell in with
one Alexander Pop, who had formerly been a waiter at Putnam Hall,
who proved a valuable friend when it came to dealing with men of
his own ebony hue. In this hunt they likewise ran across Josiah
Crabtree, who was out with an exploring party from Yale, and with
Dan Baxter, and both of these rascals tried to do them much harm.
But the schemes of the rascals fell through, and Crabtree only
escaped after a severe whipping at the hands of Dick Rover, while
Dan Baxter fared little better. Soon after this Mr. Rover was
found, as a prisoner of a savage African tribe, and rescued, and
then the entire party returned to the United States. Alexander Pop
remained in the employ of the two elder Rovers, and the three boys
returned to finish the term at Putnam Hall.