Chapter I: Introduction

My Dear Boys: "The Rover Boys in Camp" is a complete story in itself, but forms the eighth volume of "The Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

As I have mentioned before, when I started this line of stories I had in mind to make not more than three, or possibly four, volumes. But the publication of "Rover Boys at School," "Rover Boys on the Ocean," "Rover Boys in the Jungle," and "Rover Boys Out West" did not appear to satisfy my readers, and so I followed with "Rover Boys on the Great Lakes," "Rover Boys in the Mountains," and lastly with "Rover Boys on Land and Sea." But the publishers say there is still a cry for "more! more!" and so I now present to you this new Rover Boys book, which relates the adventures of Dick, Tom, and Sam, and a number of their old-time friends, at home, at dear old Putnam Hall, and in camp on Pine Island.

In writing this tale I have had in mind two thoughts--one to give my young readers an out-and-out story of jolly summer adventure, along with a little touch of mystery, and the other to show them that it very often pays to return good for evil. Arnold Baxter had done much to bring trouble to the Rover family, but what Dick Rover did in return was Christian-like in the highest meaning of that term. Dick was not a "goody-goody" youth, but he was a thoroughly manly one, and his example is well worth following by any lad who wishes to make something of himself.

Once more let me thank all of those who have expressed themselves as satisfied with the previous stories in this series. I earnestly trust the present volume will also prove acceptable to them, and will do them good.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.

CONTENTS

I. The Rover Boys at Home
II. News of Interest
III. A Midnight Visitor
IV. A Useless Pursuit
V. On the Way to Putnam Hall
VI. Fun on the Boat
VII. Something About the Military Academy
VIII. A Scene in the Gymnasium
IX. Settling Down to Study
X. An Adventure in Cedarville
XI. A Quarrel and it Results
XII. The Election for Officers
XIII. The Fight at the Boathouse
XIV. Getting Ready for the Encampment
XV. On the March to the Camp
XVI. The First Day on Pine Island
XVII. The Enemy Plot Mischief
XVIII. Hazers at Work
XIX. A Storm in Camp
XX. The Rover Boys and the Ball
XXI. A Tug of War
XXII. A Swim and Some Snakes
XXIII. A Glimpse of an Old Enemy
XXIV. More Rivalry
XXV. Winning the Contests
XXVI. Sam Shows What He Can Do
XXVII. A Prisoner of the Enemy
XXVIII. Dick's Midnight Adventure
XXIX. True Heroism
XXX. Turning a New Leaf--Conclusion