# The Rover Boys on the Plains

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Tenth volume in the Rover Boys series
THE ROVER BOYS
ON THE PLAINS
OR
THE MYSTERY OF RED ROCK RANCH
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
"THE STEER CHARGED UPON SAM."
From Rover Boys on the Plains.
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: "The Rover Boys on the Plains" is a complete story in itself, but forms the tenth volume of a line known under the general title of "The Rover Boys' Series for Young Americans."
Ten volumes make a great number, and, as I look back, I wonder how I have been able to write so many. As I have said before, when I started this series I had in mind to pen three volumes and possibly a fourth. But no sooner had "The Rover Boys at School," "The Rover Boys on the Ocean," "The Rover Boys in the Jungle" and "The Rover Boys Out West" appeared than there was a demand for another volume, and then more, and so I have had to take the boys from time to time, "On the Great Lakes," "In the Mountains," "On Land and Sea," "In Camp" and "On the River," where we last left them.
The present tale tells of adventures on the mighty Mississippi River, and then on the great plains, where Dick, Tom and Sam, and some of their friends, have a variety of adventures and assist in unraveling the mystery surrounding a ​lonely ranch. Of course, their old enemy, Baxter, is bound to make himself known, but the Rover boys do not fail to take care of themselves, as of old.
Again, I thank the many thousands who have shown their appreciation of my efforts to amuse and instruct them. I earnestly hope the present volume will not disappoint them.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
Edward Stratemeyer
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | | PAGE |
| I. | On the Houseboat | 1 |
| II. | The Big Lumber Raft | 9 |
| III. | A "pepper" Ghost | 17 |
| IV. | Trouble with Negroes | 26 |
| V. | Dan Baxter Appears | 36 |
| VI. | The Effects of a Big Storm | 46 |
| VII. | A Day on the Road | 56 |
| VIII. | Fun at the Hotel | 64 |
| IX. | Hans as a Poet | 72 |
| X. | A Twenty-dollar Bill | 80 |
| XI. | A Midnight Scare | 89 |
| XII. | The Runaway Steer | 98 |
| XIII. | Jim Jones, the Cowboy | 106 |
| XIV. | Out of an Unpleasant Situation | 114 |
| XV. | Something of a Mystery | 122 |
| XVI. | A Scene from a Treetop | 132 |
| XVII. | The Bank Bills on the Table | 140 |
| XVIII. | Dick and Sam Become Prisoners | 149 |
| XIX. | Peter Poll, The Dolt | 157 ​ |
| XX. | An Offer from the Enemy | 165 |
| XXI. | Through the Forest | 174 |
| XXII. | In a Snakes' Den | 183 |
| XXIII. | James Monday Takes a Hand | 191 |
| XXIV. | Tom Carries a Letter | 199 |
| XXV. | In Which Tom is Exposed | 207 |
| XXVI. | Together Once More | 214 |
| XXVII. | The Burning of the Ranch | 222 |
| XXVIII. | From One Surprise to Another | 230 |
| XXIX. | On the Trail Once More | 238 |
| XXX. | A Round-up—Conclusion | 245 |
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1930, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 93 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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