The Rover Boys on Land and Sea: The Crusoes of Seven Islands Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  GOOD TIMES AT SANTA BARBARA

  "What a land of plenty!"

  It was Tom who made the remark.

  The Rover boys were on their way to Santa Barbara, after having spentthree weeks at San Francisco and vicinity. They had received wordthat Dora Stanhope and her mother and the two Laning girls were atthe fashionable watering place, and they were anxious to meet theirold friends.

  On sped the luxurious train, over hills and through the valleys, pastheavy woodlands and by rich fruit farms. It was a scene which interestedthem greatly, and they never tired of sitting at the windows, gazing out.

  Presently the car door opened and a tall young fellow, carrying avalise, stepped inside and walked down the aisle. As he came closerDick Rover leaped up.

  "Bob Sutter!" he cried, with a smile of pleasure. "Who would everdream of meeting you out here?"

  "Is it really Dick Rover?" questioned the newcomer, as he shook hands."And Tom and Sam, too! I must be dreaming. Is Putnam Hall on itstravels?"

  "We are on our travels," replied Tom, also shaking hands, followedby Sam. "But what are you doing here?"

  Bob Sutter, a former scholar at Putnam Hall, smiled broadly.

  "I live in California now. My father is interested in real estate inLos Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. Our home is in Santa Barbara."

  "That is where we are going," came from Sam.

  "What are you doing just traveling around?"

  "Yes; we thought we'd put in time until the Hall opens again."

  "I heard it had been closed. Too bad! If you are going to SantaBarbara, you must call and see me by all means," went on Bob Sutter.

  "To be sure we will," said Tom, and his brothers nodded.

  "We were going down there now to call on the Stanhopes," said Dick."They have come here for the benefit of Mrs. Stanhope's health,and Nellie and Grace Laning are with them. I guess you know them all."

  "I know the Laning girls, and I think I did meet Miss Stanhope once--ata football game. I'll be glad to meet them again. But tell me aboutyourselves."

  Bob Sutter sat down, and soon all were talking at a lively rate. Thenewcomer was astonished to hear of the doings of Dan Baxter.

  "The Baxters always were a hard crowd," he said. "I hope you'll getback your stuff some time."

  It was late at night when Santa Barbara was reached, yet many of thehotels were a blaze of light from top to bottom. At the depot theRover boys parted with Bob Sutter, but promised to call upon him ina day or two.

  "I've got a fine yacht," said Bob Sutter. "Some time I want to takeyou for a trip."

  "Just what we were wishing for!" cried Tom. "Just name your time,that's all."

  "How will next Monday suit?"

  "Will your yacht hold us?" asked Sam.

  "The Old Glory will hold ten passengers on a pinch," answered Bob Sutter.

  "Then you don't sail the craft alone."

  "I can sail her in fair weather. But father makes me take an oldsailor named Jerry Tolman along with me. Jerry is a character--aregular old salt, and I love to have his company. And that makes methink! Why can't we make up a party and go out? You can bring thethree girls you are going to visit, and I can bring my cousin, MaryParloe."

  "Now you are talking!" shouted Sam. "What a jolly trip it will be!"

  The proposal met with immediate approval, and it was decided thatthe boys should meet not later than Saturday afternoon to completearrangements.

  The Rover boys had received word that Mrs. Stanhope had rented afurnished cottage not far from one of the leading hotels. The ladywas very nervous, and did not like too much noise and confusion abouther. Meals were brought in from the hotel, which made it very pleasant.

  When the three boys drove up in a carriage from the depot, threegirls came rushing out to greet them. The three were Dora Stanhopeand her two cousins, Nellie and Grace Laning.

  "So here you are at last!" cried Dora Stanhope, as she gave Dick'shand a tight squeeze.

  "We almost made up our mind you had missed the train," said NellieLaning to Tom, giving him a bright smile as she spoke.

  "How fine you are looking," said Grace to Sam. "Traveling must agreewith you."

  "Traveling does agree with us," said Sam.

  "We would have been here sooner, only we stopped to talk to an oldschoolmate," said Dick, and then he told about Bob Sutter.

  "Oh, I remember Bob Sutter," said Nellie. "We went on a straw-ridetogether once--before you came to Putnam Hall," she added, to Tom.

  "I know him, too," put in Grace. "He's a nice boy."

  "Of course he is," said Sam pointedly.

  "But he isn't as nice as some boys," went on Grace in a lower tone,and giving Sam an arch smile that made him feel very happy.

  They were soon in the cottage and greeting Mrs. Stanhope, who hadbeen lying on a couch. The lady greeted them in a motherly way thatmade them feel more at home than ever. She thought a great deal ofthe Rover boys, and especially of Dick, and did not object in theleast to the marked attention Dick bestowed upon her only child. Asmy old readers know, the Rover boys had, in the past, done motherand daughter more than one valuable service.

  The boys were fortunate in obtaining rooms in the hotel close to thecottage, which would make it possible for them to run in and out asthey pleased.

  "It's like old times to be together again," said Tom, when he andhis brothers were retiring that night. "And, as Mrs. Stanhope isfeeling so well, I guess we can have lots of fun."

  And fun they did have. There were bathing in the surf, and lawntennis, and dancing at the hotel in the evening, and also lovelywalks and drives, and once they went out on horseback to a largefruit farm some miles away, and were royally entertained by some ofBob Sutter's friends. Bob Sutter and his cousin, Mary Parloe, wentalong, and proved first-class company.

  The idea of a trip on Bob's yacht suited everybody, and it wasdecided that the whole party should go out early Monday morning,taking old Jerry Tolman with them. They were to load down well withprovisions and visit not only several points along the coast, butalso one or two of the islands lying twenty-five to thirty milessouth of Santa Barbara.

  The Rover boys had already inspected the Old Glory and found her tobe a first-class yacht in every respect. The craft was about sixtyfeet in length and correspondingly broad of beam. She carried a tallmast, but the lead in her keel was amply sufficient to keep her fromgoing over unless under full sail in a very heavy wind. The cabinwas fairly large and richly furnished, for the Sutters were a familyof means, and desired everything of the best.

  If the boys liked the yacht they also liked the man who had chargeof her, bluff and hearty Jerry Tolman--Captain Jerry, as Bob Suttercalled him. He was truly an old salt, having sailed the ocean sincehis tenth year, on both whalers and merchantmen. Captain Jerry lackeda book education, but he was naturally shrewd, and far from being a fool.

  "Downright glad to meet ye, my hearties," he said, when the boys werebrought on board. And he gave each hand a grip like that of iron."Want to look over my lady, eh? Well, she's a putty one to inspect,take my word on't." And he showed them over the craft with pleasure.They found the yacht clean "as a whistle," and each particular bitof brasswork polished like a mirror.

  By Saturday evening all was ready for the trip. On Sunday morningthe Rover boys went to church with the Stanhopes and the Lanings,and rested in the afternoon.

  They were just about to go to supper, when a note came for Dick. Itwas from Bob Sutter, and ran as follows:

  "MY DEAR DICK: My cousin and I have been in an accident. We wentdriving to church this morning and the horse ran away and threw usboth out on the rocks. Miss Parloe had her collar bone broken, andI broke my left ankle. Kindly come and see me if you can."