The Rover Boys in Southern Waters

by Arthur M. Winfield

THE ROVER BOYS

IN SOUTHERN

WATERS

OR

THE DESERTED STEAM YACHT

BY

ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

(Edward Stratemeyer)

AUTHOR OF THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL, THE
ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN, THE PUTNAM
HALL SERIES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
Made in the United States of America

ON THE TOP OF THIS AFFAIR STOOD A CAMPSTOOL, AND ON THE STOOL SAT TOM ROVER.

The Rover Boys in Southern Waters

INTRODUCTION

My Dear Boys: "The Rover Boys in Southern Waters" is a complete story in itself but forms the eleventh volume of a line known by the general title of "The Rover Boys Series for Young Americans."

Eleven volumes! Just think of it! What a great number to write about one set of young people and their doings! When I started out, as I have mentioned before, I thought to pen three volumes, possibly four. I was not at all sure that the boys and girls would wish any of them. But no sooner had I given them "The Rover Boys at School" than there was a demand for "The Rover Boys on the Ocean" and then "The Rover Boys in the Jungle," and then, year after year, there followed "The Rover Boys Out West," "On the Great Lakes," "In the Mountains," "On Land and Sea," "In Camp," "On the River," and "On the Plains," where we last met them.

In the present tale the scene is shifted to the lower Mississippi and then the Gulf of Mexico. As before, Sam, Tom, and Dick are introduced, along with a number of their friends, and all have a variety of adventures and not a little fun. While on the Gulf the boys discover a deserted steam yacht, board the craft, and try to ascertain who is the owner, and this leads to a mystery which I leave the pages that follow to unfold.

Once again I take the opportunity to thank the thousands of young folks all over our broad land who have signified their appreciation of my efforts to afford them amusement and at the same time teach a moral. Were it possible I should like nothing better than to write to each and shake everyone by the hand. But that is out of the question, so I can simply pen my thanks, and subscribe myself,

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

Edward Stratemeyer.

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER		PAGE
I.	The Rover Boys and Their Friends	1
II.	About a Missing Houseboat	8
III.	A Friend in Need	15
IV.	Harold Bird's Strange Tale	24
V.	Stuck in the Mud	32
VI.	Fighting Bob Cats	41
VII.	The Houseboat in the Bushes	50
VIII.	In the Swamp	59
IX.	Two Young Prisoners	68
X.	The Chase on the River	76
XI.	What the Rockets Revealed	85
XII.	Stuck on a Snag	92
XIII.	The Capture of Solly Jackson	100
XIV.	On a Gulf Steamer	109
XV.	The Castaways of the Gulf	118
XVI.	A Deserted Steam Yacht	126
XVII.	In Undisputed Possession	134
XVIII.	In Peril of Steam	142
XIX.	The Storm on the Gulf	150
XX.	A Night of Anxiety	158
XXI.	The Picture in the Cardcase	166
XXII.	An Unexpected Meeting on the Water	174
XXIII.	The Enemy Tries to Take Possession	182
XXIV.	In the Engine Room	190
XXV.	One Plot and Another	198
XXVI.	Turning the Tables	206
XXVII.	Dan Baxter's Repentance	213
XXVIII.	Hatchway and Door	220
XXIX.	An Exciting Time All Around	227
XXX.	Homeward Bound—conclusion	235