Up the lake on the other side of Haven Point was located Clearwater Hall, a boarding school for girls. During a panic in a moving picture theater the four Rover boys became acquainted with several girls from this school, including Ruth Stevenson and May Powell, a cousin of Spouter. Later on Mary and Martha Rover became pupils at the girls’ school, and all of the young folks got to be warm friends.
After a term at Colby Hall the four Rover boys had the pleasure of spending the winter holidays on “Snowshoe Island.” Then a little later they went “Under Canvas” with their fellow cadets, and later still went on a grand hunt, using a bungalow up in the woods which belonged to Gif Garrison’s uncle. This was during the great World War and when the older Rovers had all gone to France to fight for democracy.
The return of the older Rovers brought a surprise. Dick Rover had saved the life of a man from Texas and in return had received a deed to some land which later on was supposed to contain oil. Dick decided to go to Texas and Oklahoma, and the four boys begged to go with him. And they had some stirring adventures in what has so often been called “The Land of Luck.”
After their adventures in the Southwest the four boys returned again to Colby Hall. At this time Jack was captain of Company C and Fred was a lieutenant in the same command.
There was a spirited rivalry when a new election for officers was held. But in spite of many efforts made to defeat them, Jack was chosen major of the school battalion and Fred was made captain of Company C. Andy and Randy might have held minor offices, but both preferred to remain privates, especially as that would enable them to take part in the various athletic exercises. At first Colonel Colby had allowed the cadets to join the baseball nine, football eleven, and the rowing teams, even though they were officers. But there had been some grumbling that “some cadets were trying to do everything and would not give the others a show,” and so it had been decided that while all cadets were supposed to go in for athletics in general, they could not be officers and take part in any official athletic contests.
During this term at school Spouter asked the Rovers and Gif Garrison to spend the summer vacation with him out in Montana on a ranch owned by his father. How the Rovers went out there with their chums and what stirring times they encountered have been related in the volume preceding this, entitled “The Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch.” In that book they exposed the acts of one of their enemies, Brassy Bangs, and also brought a number of horse thieves to justice.
“We have certainly had some strenuous times here,” remarked Jack, one day.
“I suppose it will be dead quiet for us this winter when we return to Colby Hall,” his cousin Randy had answered.
“Well, that will give us a chance to catch up in our studies,” Fred had suggested. “We don’t want to fall behind. If we do, our folks may take us away from Colby Hall.”
“Oh, we don’t want to leave that place—at least, not just yet!” Andy had put in hastily.