Public-domain ebook
Language: en5,057 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: School Stories·Children's Book Series·Children & Young Adult Reading
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #23286.
The Rover Boys Under Canvas is a school‑boy adventure that blends the familiar camaraderie of Edward Stratemeyer’s long‑running series with a wartime backdrop. The narrative picks up where the previous volume left the three brothers, Dick, Sam and Tom, back at their military academy, Colby Hall, as they prepare for the annual encampment. The opening scene thrusts the reader into a lively baseball contest between the academy and a rival high school, complete with shouted cheers, strategic batting, and a tightly contested score that mirrors the competitive spirit of the boys’ later exploits. From the detailed description of the game to the promise of a “mystery surrounding a wrecked submarine,” the book signals a blend of athletic rivalry, school life, and a hint of wartime intrigue that will carry the story forward.
Written in the brisk, dialogue‑heavy style typical of early twentieth‑century juvenile serials, the prose captures the earnest enthusiasm of adolescent heroes and the formal tone of a school newspaper. Its episodic structure, marked by chapters titled “First Days Under Canvas” and “An Astonishing Discovery”, offers a mix of action, humor, and patriotic sentiment. Readers who enjoy fast‑moving, school‑yard adventures set against a historical backdrop, especially those with an affection for classic series like the Rover Boys, will find this volume a satisfying continuation of the boys’ exploits.
The opening · free to read
Having acquired a good education, the three young men established themselves in business and became married. Presently Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while Tom Rover became the proud father of twin boys. At first the four lads were kept at home, but then it was thought best to send them to a boarding school, and in the first volume of the second series, entitled "The Rover Boys at Colby Hall," I related what happened to them while attending this institution.
From Colby Hall the scene was shifted to Snowshoe Island, where the lads went for a mid-winter outing. Here they ran into a most unusual mystery, and helped an old lumberman to establish his claim to the island.
In the present volume the boys are back at Colby Hall, but it is time for the annual encampment of the military school, and soon they depart for a brief season "Under Canvas." This is at the time of the World War, and the lads get mixed up in the mystery surrounding a wrecked submarine. What this led to, I leave for the pages which follow to relate.
In conclusion I wish to thank my numerous readers for all the nice things they have said about my books. I trust the reading of the volumes will do all of them good.
Affectionately and sincerely yours, EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
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