Chapter I: Introduction

MY DEAR BOYS: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the eighth volume in a line issued under the general title, “The Second Rover Boys Series for Young Americans.”

As related in the First Series, this line of books was started with the publication of “The Rover Boys at School,” in which I introduced my readers to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover and their friends and relatives. This First Series, consisting of twenty volumes, told of what happened to these three Rover boys while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while on outings in this country and abroad. When the boys became married Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while Tom became the parent of a lively pair of twin boys.

From their homes in New York City the four younger Rovers went to boarding school, as related in the first volume of the Second Series, entitled “The Rover Boys at Colby Hall.” From that school the scene was shifted to “Snowshoe Island” and then to doings while “Under Canvas.” Then the boys went “On a Hunt,” and, later, to “The Land of Luck.” Then came exciting days at “Big Horn Ranch” and at “Big Bear Lake,” where we last met them. In the present volume the scene is shifted to the Atlantic Ocean. The boys were shipwrecked and had many thrilling adventures.

As many of my readers know, the sale of this series of books is now well past the _three million_ mark. To me, this seems truly wonderful. My only hope is that the reading of these books will do all of the boys and girls good.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD 1
II. SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THE ROVERS 15
III. A THANKSGIVING REUNION 29
IV. AT OLD NANTUCKET 40
V. LOST IN THE FOG 54
VI. ABOARD THE SCHOONER 65
VII. A NIGHT OF ANXIETY 76
VIII. PLANNING TO ESCAPE 87
IX. ANOTHER PLOT 98
X. IRA SMALL’S REVELATIONS 108
XI. THE ESCAPE 119
XII. ON THE MOTOR BOAT AGAIN 130
XIII. A CRASH IN THE DARK 140
XIV. ALONE ON THE OCEAN 150
XV. FACING STARVATION 160
XVI. ABOARD THE STEAM YACHT 169
XVII. ANIMALS, BIRDS AND SNAKES 179
XVIII. FRED’S LUCKY THROW 188
XIX. AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER 198
XX. THE DOOMED SHIP 206
XXI. ASHORE AT LAST 214
XXII. ABOUT A PIRATES’ TREASURE 223
XXIII. A TIME OF ANXIETY 232
XXIV. IN THE JUNGLE 241
XXV. THE THIRTEEN ROCKS 251
XXVI. THIEVES IN CAMP 261
XXVII. AT THE WALL OF ROCKS 270
XXVIII. A SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE 279
XXIX. IN THE CIRCLE OF THIRTEEN ROCKS 288
XXX. WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED――CONCLUSION 298

THE ROVER BOYS
SHIPWRECKED