When Captain Putnam came back he announced that he had recovered all but one watch.  The various goods and the money were distributed among their rightful owners, and it must be confessed that a big sigh of relief went up from the cadets who had suffered.  The single missing timepiece was made good to the boy who had lost it, by the captain buying a similar watch for the youth.

After this several weeks passed without anything of special interest occurring outside of a stirring baseball match with a club from Ithaca, which Putnam Hall won by a score of six to three.  In this game Dick made a much-needed home run, thus covering himself with glory.

“The Rovers are out of sight!” was Larry’s comment.  “Whatever they do they do well.”

“And they hang together like links of a chain,” added Fred.  “The friend of one is the friend of all, and the same can be said of an enemy.”

One morning a telegraph messenger from Cedarville was seen approaching the Hall, just as the boys were forming for the roll-call.

“Here’s a telegram for somebody,” said Sam.

“I hope it’s not bad news.”

“A message for Richard Rover,” announced George Strong, after receiving it, and handed over the yellow envelope.

Wondering what the message could contain and who had sent it, Dick tore open the envelope and read the brief communication.  As his eyes met the words his head seemed to swim around, so bewildered was he by what was written there.

“What is it, Dick?” came from Tom and Sam.

“It’s from Uncle Randolph.  He wants us to come home at once.  He says —­ but read it for yourselves,” and the elder Rover handed over the message, which ran as follows: 

“Have just received a strange message from the sea, supposed to be written by your father.  Come home at once.  Randolph Rover.”

“My gracious!  News from father!” gasped Tom.

“Is he really alive?” burst out Sam.  “Oh, I pray Heaven the news is true!”

“A strange message from the sea,” repeated Dick.  “I wonder what he can mean?”

“Perhaps it’s a message that was picked up by some steamer,” suggested Sam.  “Anyway, uncle wants us to come home at once.”

“He doesn’t say all of us.  The message is addressed to me.”

“But of course he wanted all of us to come,” put in Tom.  “Anyway, four horses couldn’t hold me back!” he continued determinedly.

“Nor me,” chimed in Sam.  He drew a long breath.  “If we hurry up we can catch the noon boat at Cedarville for Ithaca.”

“Yes, and the evening train for Oak Run,” finished Tom.  “Hurry up, Dick!”

Dick was willing.  To tell the truth, that message had fired him as he had never been fired before.  He burst into the captain’s office pell-mell, with Tom and Sam on his heels, to explain the situation.  Ten minutes later —­ and even this time seemed an age to the brothers —­ they were hurrying into their ordinary clothing and packing, their satchels, while Peleg Snuggers was hitching up to take them to the landing at Cedarville.