"We've been on the water for nearly two weeks now," said Dick, "and to sleep in a real bed will be something of a novelty."
As it was in the height of the summer season the hotel was crowded; but some guests were just departing, and they managed to get a fairly good room on the second floor. This had a double bed, and a cot was added, to accommodate Sam; Dick and Tom sleeping together, as usual.
It was supper time when the boys arrived, and as soon as they had registered and washed up and combed their hair, they descended to the spacious dining room, where fully a score of tables were set.
"This way, please," said the head waiter, and showed them to a table at one side, overlooking one of the wide verandas of the hotel.
"I'm as hungry as a bear!" exclaimed Tom. "You can't serve us any too quick," he added, to the waiter who came up to take their orders.
"Yes, sah, do the best I can, sah," grinned the colored man. " What kind of soup, please?"
"I'll have ox-tail — " began Tom, when he happened to glance out of the window. As his gaze fell upon a man sitting in an easy chair on the veranda he uttered a low whistle. "By jinks, boys, look! Josiah Crabtree, as sure as you're born!" he whispered.
CHAPTER III
JOSIAH CRABTREE FREES HIS MIND
The individual to whom Tom referred had been a former master at Putnam Hall, but his disagreeable ways had led to his dismissal by Captain Putnam.
Josiah Crabtree was a tall, slim individual, with a sharp face and a very long nose. During the past term at Putnam Hall he had been very dictatorial to the Rover boys, and it must be confessed that they had made life anything but a bed of roses for him. Crabtree had been very desirous of marrying a certain widow by the name of Stanhope, but the marriage was opposed by Dora, the widow's daughter, and as Dick was rather sweet on Dora he had done all he could to aid the girl in breaking off the match, even going so far as to send Crabtree a bogus letter which had taken the teacher out to Chicago on a hunt for a position in a private college that had never existed. Dick knew that Crabtree was comparatively poor and wished to marry the widow so that he could get his hands on the fortune which the lady held in trust for her only child.
"It is Crabtree," said Dick, as he gave a look.
"I wonder how he liked his trip to Chicago?" laughed Sam. " Perhaps the Mid-West National College didn't suit his lofty ideas."
"Hush! don't let him hear you talk of that," returned Dick. "He might get us into trouble."
"What kind of soup, sah?" interrupted the waiter, and then they broke off to give their order, and the waiter hurried off to fill it.
"I'd like to know if he has been around the Stanhope cottage again," mused Dick, as he sipped his soup.
"Dick can't bear to think of anybody around Dora," laughed Tom.
"I don't want him around," retorted the elder Rover, growing red in the face. "He wants the Stanhopes' money and that's all he does want. I don't believe he really loves Mrs. Stanhope."
"But why does she encourage him?" came from Sam. "Why don't she send him about his business?"
"Oh, she is sickly, as you know, and he seems to have a peculiar hypnotic influence over her — at least, that's what Dora thinks. If I — What are you laughing at, Tom?"
"I — I — was thinking of the time we put the crabs in old Crabtree's bed," answered the younger brother.
"No, you weren't. You were — "
"Well?" demanded Tom, as Dick paused.
"You were laughing because I mentioned Dora, and — "
"'Pon my honor I wasn't," smiled Tom, but his look belied his words.
"You were. If I mention her cousins, Grace and Nellie Laning, I guess the laugh will be on you and Sam — "
"We'll call it quits," answered Tom hurriedly. "They're all nice girls, eh, Sam?"
"To be sure. But, I say, hadn't we best keep out of old Crabtree's way?"
"I don't know as it's necessary," said Dick. "I'm not afraid of him, I'm sure."
"Oh, neither am I, if you are going to put it that way," answered the youngest Rover.
"If he's stopping here I'm going to have some fun with him," grinned Tom.
The evening meal was soon finished, and the boys took a stroll around the grounds. They were just on the point of retiring when Dick drew his brothers' attention to a figure that was stealing through a nearby grove of trees.
"There goes Crabtree."
"I wonder where he is going," mused Sam. "Where does that path lead to?"
"Down to the river," came from Tom. And then he added suddenly: "Come, let us follow him."
"What's the good," grumbled Dick. "I'm tired out."
"There may be some chance for fun. Come on," and thus urged Dick and Sam followed their fun-loving brother.
The path through the grove ran directly to the cliff overlooking the Hudson, at a point where a series of stone steps led up from the water's edge. As they gained a spot where they could look down upon the river, Dick uttered a short cry.
"Look, boys, a yacht!" he said, pointing through the moonlight. "I'll wager it is the Falcon!"
"And Mumps is coming to meet Josiah Crabtree," put in Sam.
"But what would he want to see Crabtree about?" demanded Tom.
"That remains to be seen. Remember, at Putnam Hall the only friends Josiah Crabtree had were Dan Baxter and Mumps."
"That is true, Dick. See, Crabtree has his handkerchief out and is waving it as a signal."
"And here comes somebody up the steps. Mumps, sure enough," whispered Sam.
"Let us get behind the trees and learn what is going on," came from Dick, and the three brothers lost no time in secreting themselves in the immediate vicinity.
"Well, John, I've been waiting for you," said Josiah Crabtree, as Mumps came forward and the two shook hands.
"So have I been waiting for you," returned the former sneak of Putnam Hall. "Why didn't you come yesterday?"
"It was impossible to do so, my lad. Is that the Falcon down there?"
"It is."
"Who is in charge of her?"
"A sailor named Bill Goss."
"Is he a — ahem — a man to be trusted?"
"I guess I can trust him," snickered Mumps. "If he dared to give me away I could send him to jail."
"You mean that you — er — have him — ahem — in your power?"
"That's it, Mr. Crabtree."
"Very good. And is he a good sailor?"
"As good as any on the river."
"Then he can sail the yacht down the river without mishap?"
"He can take her to Florida, if you wish to go that far."
"No, I don't want to go that far — at least, not at present."
"Don't you think you ought to let me in on your little game," went on Mumps earnestly. "So far I'm in the dark."
"You will know all very soon, John — and you shall be well paid for what you do."
"That's all right. But if it isn't lawful — "
"I will protect you, never fear."