Chapter XXX: The Round-Up――conclusion

“Somebody’s in trouble! We’ll have to see if we can’t help him!”

“Beware! It may be one of the Davenport crowd.”

“That may be true, but we can’t let him die. Come on.”

Another flash of lightning lit up the scene, and by this the Rover boys saw where a tall tree of the mountainside had been broken off. The top hung down over some sharp rocks and under several limbs rested the form of a man, held down so that he could do little but kick frantically with one leg.

“It’s Ocker!” exclaimed Fred, as they drew closer.

“Help! Help!” came faintly from the man as he saw the dim forms of the boys in the darkness. “Help! I’m being crushed to death!”

Fully realizing that they might be playing into the hands of their enemies and yet not willing to see Ocker crushed to death, the four lads sprang forward and began to tug at the tree branches which held the fellow a prisoner. They could see that any instant the top of the tree might break away entirely from the trunk and then Ocker would be crushed to a pulp.

It was strenuous work, but the military experiences of the former cadets stood them in good stead, and now, as the twins and Jack raised one limb after another, Fred propped them up with such stones as were handy so that they could not slip back. Then, while the twins continued to exert pressure on the treetop, Jack hauled Ocker away.

The man was bruised and bleeding and for the moment so winded he could scarcely speak. At first he had not recognized his rescuers and he stared in astonishment when another flash of lightning revealed their faces.

“You!” he gasped hoarsely. “You! And I was helping to keep you prisoners!”

“Ocker, we have saved your life, and you know it,” answered Jack quickly. “Now then, it is up to you to help us escape. Will you do it?”

“I sure will!” panted the man. “I’m done with that crowd, anyhow. I told Davenport I wasn’t brought up to do such dirty work as he has planned.” Ocker paused to regain his breath. “Why, Davenport is as bad a skunk as Pete Garrish!”

“Pete Garrish!” exclaimed Randy. “Do you know anything about that man?”

“I know everything about him,” muttered Ocker. “He and his crowd are trying to swindle your father and some other men out of their interest in the Rolling Thunder mine.”

“You come with us, Ocker, and you won’t regret it,” put in Jack hurriedly. “Show us the way to Cal Corning’s house.”

For an instant the man hesitated.

“If I take you back where you belong, you won’t have me arrested, will you?” he pleaded. “I don’t want to hurt you fellows, and I’d just as lief tell Mr. Rover what I know about Garrish.”

“You won’t be arrested,” answered Jack. “I’ll give you my word on it. Come――hurry up! We not only want to get back, but we want to have a chance to round those other fellows up.”

“But don’t do it before I’ve a chance to get away!” And the man’s face showed his sudden terror.

“All right, we’ll give you your chance, and we’ll make it worth your while, too,” answered Jack.

Ocker had been on foot, not daring to take his horse when he had stolen away from the Davenport crowd. He led the way to a broader and better trail, and less than half an hour later found the whole crowd on Sunset Trail. By this time the storm was passing and only a few scattering raindrops were coming down.

That tramp was one the Rover boys never forgot. Soaked to the skin, and so footsore they could scarcely walk, they reached Cal Corning’s place at about five o’clock in the morning. Their knock on the door brought Corning to that portal, gun in hand.

“Why――why, it’s the Rover boys!” called out the man, in amazement. “Hurrah! Mr. Rover! Mr. Rover! The boys are here, safe and sound!” he yelled.

It was then that pandemonium seemed to break loose. From a couple of the bedrooms rushed Tom Rover followed quickly by Sam and Dick. The men were partly dressed, having removed only their coats and shoes.

“My boys! My boys!” cried Tom Rover, and there was almost a sob in his throat as he rushed to embrace the twins. Then Dick ran to Jack and Sam to Fred, and there was a genuine hugging match all around.

“Gee, but it’s good to be back!” was the way Andy expressed himself, and each of the other lads endorsed that sentiment.

“We were out looking for you until the storm came up,” said Dick Rover. “We were going out again as soon as it was daylight.”

“Where have you been and what did those rascals do to you?” questioned Sam Rover.

“It’s a long story, Dad,” answered Fred, and then he added quickly: “Here’s a man you’ll like to see, Uncle Tom. His name is Ocker, and he knows all about Peter Garrish.”

“Did he find you?” questioned Tom quickly.

“No. We found him――under a tree that was struck by lightning,” put in Jack quickly. “We’ll give you the particulars in a little while. Just now we want to know if you don’t want to get a crowd together to go after Davenport and his bunch. Those men ought to be rounded up and put back in prison.”

“Sure, we’ll round them up if it can be done,” announced Dick Rover.

All entered the house, and very soon the boys and the others were provided by the Corning sisters with a substantial breakfast. While eating, the lads told their story and then the men questioned Ocker.

The good luck of the Rover boys in escaping from the cave and falling in with the man who had guided them to the Corning place was followed directly after breakfast by more good luck. Two cowboys and six miners, including Lew Billings and Hank Butts, came riding by the place and were immediately halted and told what was in the air. These men at once agreed to join the others in an attempt to bring Davenport and his cohorts to justice.

“I want to go along,” said Jack to his father when the posse was ready to start, and the other lads echoed that sentiment, and somewhat against the wishes of their parents the four boys joined the men in the hunt for the rascals.

The round-up lasted until sundown, when Davenport, Tate and Jackson were located by part of the crowd under Dick Rover. Several shots were exchanged and Davenport received a slight wound in the shoulder. Then the three men held up their hands in token of surrender.

In the meantime the boys and some of the other men managed to catch Digby and Booster. The young man who had so imposed upon the lads in New York and Chicago did his best to get away and then tried to show fight. But Jack promptly knocked him down by a smashing blow on the jaw, and when Booster got up again Randy hit him in the ear and Fred got behind him so that when Andy gave the fellow a shove he went down flat on his back with a thud. Then he was captured and his hands were bound tightly behind him.

“I don’t think you’ll play any more confidence games in a hurry,” said Jack. And he was right, for as a result of his participation in the plot against the boys, Joe Booster, as well as Digby, was sent to prison for a number of years.

Davenport, Tate and Jackson looked much crestfallen when confronted by the lads and their fathers. They were fearful of being lynched, knowing that some of the miners and cowboys might be in favor of such a proceeding. They were glad when the sheriff was called and they were taken off to the county jail. They, too, were sentenced to prison for long terms.

From Ocker Tom Rover was able to gain much information regarding Peter Garrish and his method of running the Rolling Thunder mine. As a result of this and the action of Tom and several of the other large stockholders Garrish was compelled to cancel a contract he had made with the ore company in which he and his friends were interested and was likewise made to surrender some stock which he had appropriated. Then he was allowed to retire, a poorer if not a wiser man.

Because of what he had done for the boys and for Tom, Ocker was not prosecuted. Instead, the Rovers gave him sufficient money to buy his passage to the gold fields of Alaska where, they hoped, he would turn over a new leaf and make a real man of himself.

“Well, they didn’t get that hundred and fifty thousand dollars after all!” chuckled Randy after the rascals had been rounded up and the boys were safe once more at Cal Corning’s house.

“No, they didn’t get it,” answered his father. “Just the same, we were ready to pay it in case we couldn’t get any trace of you.”

“It certainly was a strenuous experience――being kept prisoners in that cave on the mountainside,” said Jack. “I don’t believe we’ll ever have such a thrilling thing happen again.” But Jack was mistaken. More thrilling days were in store for the four lads, and what these were will be related in another volume, to be entitled “The Rover Boys Winning a Fortune.”

During the week the boys had spent as prisoners a number of letters had come for them, including communications from their mothers and from the girls, and also letters from Gif, Spouter and Phil Franklin.

“Well, the girls are having a good enough time,” said Jack, who was reading a letter from Ruth. “And I’m glad of it.”

“I suppose they’ll be coming home soon, now that the Davenport crowd are rounded up,” returned Fred.

“Here’s good news from Phil Franklin!” burst out Andy. “He’s found the silver trophy. Fished it up out of the lake two days after he sent that last letter.”

“Good enough!” cried his twin. “Now we won’t have that on our minds any more,” and his face showed his satisfaction. “Now if only we could get a new cannon for Colonel Colby, to replace the one that busted, we’ll be all right.” And let me add here that later on Jack’s father did obtain a new piece from the government and it was installed on the Military Academy campus with much ceremony.

And now, while the Rover boys are talking about their friends and discussing the finding of the silver trophy, and their adventures while prisoners on the mountainside, we will say good-by.

THE END

_This Isn’t All!_

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in this book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same store where you got this book.

_Don’t throw away the Wrapper_

_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete catalog._

THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES

By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

(EDWARD STRATEMEYER)

=Beautiful Wrappers in Full Color=

No stories for boys ever published have attained the tremendous popularity of this famous series. Since the publication of the first volume, The Rover Boys at School, some years ago, over three million copies of these books have been sold. They are well written stories dealing with the Rover boys in a great many different kinds of activities and adventures. Each volume holds something of interest to every adventure loving boy.

A complete list of titles is printed on the opposite page.

FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES

BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)

OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES.

=Uniform Style of Binding. Colored Wrappers.=
=Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA
THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE
THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED
THE ROVER BOYS ON SUNSET TRAIL
THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS

By JAMES CODY FERRIS

=Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by=
=WALTER S. ROGERS=
=Each Volume Complete in Itself.=

Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures in the great open spaces.

The Manly Boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride, how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any and all circumstances.

The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when required but full of fun and daring――a bunch any reader will be delighted to know.

THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS
THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE HARDY BOY’S SERIES

By FRANKLIN W. DIXON

=Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during vacations and their off time from school they help their father by hunting down clues themselves.

THE TOWER TREASURE

A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been secreted “in the tower.” It remained for the Hardy Boys to make an astonishing discovery that cleared up the mystery.

THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF

The house had been vacant and was supposed to be haunted. Mr. Hardy started to investigate――and disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of excitement.

THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL

Counterfeit money was in circulation, and the limit was reached when Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale full of thrills.

THE MISSING CHUMS

Two of the Hardy Boys’ chums take a motor trip down the coast. They disappear and are almost rescued by their friends when all are captured. A thrilling story of adventure.

HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD

Mr. Hardy is injured in tracing some stolen gold. A hunt by the boys leads to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen. A western story all boys will enjoy.

THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY

Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously from the Shore Road. It remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the mystery.

THE SECRET OF THE CAVES

When the boys reached the caves they came unexpectedly upon a queer old hermit.

THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND

A story of queer adventures on a rockbound island.

THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY

The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the disappearance of some valuable mail.

GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK

THE TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES

By FRANKLIN W. DIXON

=Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.=

No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of the skies.

OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight_.

RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_.

OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness_.

FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott, Over the Pacific_.

THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott, Over the West Indies_.

SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott, On a Secret Mission_.

ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia_.

THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_.

FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_.

OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_.

LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_.

THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley_.

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

THE TOM SWIFT SERIES

By VICTOR APPLETON

=Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers.=
=Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading.

TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

THE DON STURDY SERIES

By VICTOR APPLETON

Author of “The Tom Swift Series”

Every red-blooded boy will enjoy the thrilling adventures of Don Sturdy. In company with his uncles, one a big game hunter, the other a noted scientist, he travels far and wide――into the jungles of South America, across the Sahara, deep into the African jungle, up where the Alaskan volcanoes spout, down among the head hunters of Borneo and many other places where there is danger and excitement. Every boy who has known Tom Swift will at once become the boon companion of daring Don Sturdy.

DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES
DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS
DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS
DON STURDY CAPTURED BY HEAD HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN LION LAND
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF GIANTS

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

THE RADIO BOYS SERIES
(Trademark Registered)

By ALLEN CHAPMAN

Author of the “Railroad Series,” Etc.

=Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

Here is a series that gives full details of radio work both in sending and receiving――how large and small sets can be made and operated, and with this real information there are the stories of the radio boys and their adventures. Each story is a record of thrilling adventures――rescues, narrow escapes from death, daring exploits in which the radio plays a main part. Each volume is so thoroughly fascinating, so strictly up-to-date, and accurate that all modern boys will peruse them with delight.

Each volume has a foreword by Jack Binns, the well known radio expert.

THE RADIO BOYS FIRST WIRELESS
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS
THE RADIO BOYS ON SIGNAL ISLAND
THE RADIO BOYS IN GOLD VALLEY
THE RADIO BOYS AIDING THE SNOWBOUND
THE RADIO BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
THE RADIO BOYS TO THE RESCUE

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

THE RAILROAD SERIES

By ALLEN CHAPMAN

Author of the “Radio Boys,” Etc.

=Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated.=
=Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance――railroad wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a “wildcat” locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on board――but there is much more than this――the intense rivalry among railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the getting through “on time” in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin.

RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE; or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.

RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER; or, Clearing the Track.

RALPH ON THE ENGINE; or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.

RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS; or, The Trials and Triumphs of a
Young Engineer.

RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER; or, The Mystery of the Pay Car.

RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN; or, The Young Railroader’s Most Daring
Exploit.

RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER; or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.

RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH; or, The Stolen Government
Bonds.

RALPH ON THE MOUNTAIN DIVISION; or, Fighting Both Flames and
Flood.

RALPH AND THE TRAIN WRECKERS; or, The Secret of the Blue
Freight Cars.

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

Transcriber’s Notes:

――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).

――Printer’s, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently
corrected.

――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.

――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.