The Rover Boys on the Plains; Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch

Produced by W. R. Marvin
By Arthur M. WinField
Grosset & Dunlap Publishers
Copyright 1906 by the Mershon Company
My Dear Boys: The Rover Boys on the Plains is a complete story in itself, but forms the tenth volume of a line known under the general title of The Rover Boys' Series for Young Americans.
Ten volumes make a great number, and, as I look back, I wonder how I have been able to write so many. As I have said before, when I started this series I had in mind to pen three volumes and possibly a fourth. But no sooner had The Rover Boys at School, The Rover Boys on the Ocean, The Rover Boys in the Jungle and The Rover Boys Out West appeared than there was a demand for another volume, and then more, and so I have had to take the boys from time to time, On the Great Lakes, In the Mountains, On Land and Sea, In Camp and On the River, where we last left them.
The present tale tells of adventures on the mighty Mississippi River, and then on the great plains, where Dick, Tom and Sam, and some of their friends, have a variety of adventures and assist in unraveling the mystery surrounding a lonely ranch. Of course, their old enemy, Baxter, is bound to make himself known, but the Rover boys do not fail to take care of themselves, as of old.
Again, I thank the many thousands who have shown their appreciation of my efforts to amuse and instruct them. I earnestly hope the present volume will not disappoint them.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
Say, Tom, what's that big thing coming down the river?
I'm sure I don't know, Sam. It's big enough to be a house. replied Tom Rover.
Maybe it is a house, came from Dick Rover, who was standing beside his brothers on the rear deck of the houseboat which was taking them down the Mississippi River.