It was after midnight before all these happenings came to an end and the evildoers had either been placed in jail or under a strong military guard. The capture, of course, was kept as secret as possible by the government officials.
"And to think that the fathers of Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown are guilty!" cried Ruth Stevenson, when Jack met her later on and told her some of the particulars. "Isn"t it dreadful? What will they do with them?"
"Most likely they will be interned for the period of the war, and maybe they will get regular jail sentences," answered the young captain.
"And what will they do with Nappy and Slugger?"
"Oh, they will probably be interned also."
After the men at the cabin in the forest and the Germans from the wrecked submarine had been rounded up, Jed Kessler was called in, and without hesitation he recognized two of the men he had seen at the ammunition plant just before the explosion occurred. One fellow was a clean-shaven man, but it was proved that he was in the habit of wearing a heavy wig and a heavy false beard.
"That fellow is one of the two we saw in New York talking to Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell!" cried Randy. And he was right, as it afterwards proved.
For catching these two men who, it was later proved, had caused the wreckage at the ammunition plant, the reward offered was divided equally between Jed Kessler, the four Rovers and Gif and Spouter, much to their satisfaction.
"This gives each of us a very neat bank account," declared Spouter.
"I"m going to save most of it, but some of it I"ll spend this summer on my vacation."
"Maybe we"ll all do that," put in Andy.
From the authorities it was learned that Slogwell Brown had owned a large portion of the sh.o.r.e front lying between Camp Huxwell and Camp Barlight. He had sold all his holdings to the government, but this had not prevented the unscrupulous man from making a deal with some German agents for the use of the cave under the cliff by our country"s enemies.
"He was a rascal both ways," declared Captain Dale, in talking the matter over with the Rovers. "He took the government"s money at one end and the Germans" money at the other. It is right that he goes to jail."
And to jail Slogwell Brown went, accompanied by Nelson Martell, each to serve a number of years at hard labor. Slugger and Nappy were sent to a detention camp in the South; and that for the time being was the last the Rovers heard of them.
Although there was considerable excitement around the encampment caused by the discovery of the German submarine base, the cadets were not allowed to forego their drilling and their army maneuvers. Nor did they give up the athletic contests they had promised themselves. There were swimming races and boat races, and likewise several baseball matches, and also contests in running, high and broad jumping, and in a tug-of-war.
"I"ll tell you one thing--this encampment is one long to be remembered," remarked Jack, when the outing had almost come to an end.
The next day came a message from Camp Huxwell. The fathers of the Rovers, as well as many of their friends, were to depart immediately for Hoboken, there to take one of the big transports for France. Of course, the boys, as well as their sisters and their mothers, went to see d.i.c.k, Tom, and Sam Rover off.
"The best of luck to you, Dad!" cried Jack, when the time came for parting. "I hope you make a good record for yourselves."
"You can rest a.s.sured, Son, we will do our best," answered d.i.c.k Rover.
Then there were numerous handshakes, the waving of handkerchiefs, and while the girls and the women were trying hard to smile and to keep back the tears, the soldiers departed on the train.
"Gee, I wish I was going along!" sighed Fred. But this, of course, could not be, for all the boys were much too young to join the army.
By leaving Camp Barlight that day the Rovers had missed one of the important baseball games, but for this they did not care. They tried to join in the festivities that evening, but it was a failure. Their thoughts were with their fathers. Would they come back from the war in safety?
"All we can do is to hope for the best," remarked Randy; and there the matter was allowed to rest.
Of course, the boys were eager for news concerning the Browns and the Martells, and also the Germans who had been captured, and they eagerly devoured every shred of information that came their way.
"Well, one thing is certain--we are well rid of Slugger and Nappy and their fathers," remarked Jack.
"Yes, and I guess we are rid of Gabe Werner, too," returned Fred. "He seems to have dropped out entirely."
But in his remark concerning Werner the young lieutenant was mistaken.
Gabe Werner turned up in their path most unexpectedly, and how will be related in the next volume in this series, to be ent.i.tled "The Rover Boys on a Hunt; or, The Mysterious House in the Woods."
In that volume we shall learn what the Rover boys did on a most important outing, and also learn something of what happened to their fathers while fighting on the great battlefields of France.
"Well, boys, I"ve got pretty good news to-day," remarked Randy, rushing into the camp one afternoon and holding up a letter. "Mr.
Powell has invited all of us to spend ten days or two weeks at his camp on Lake George this summer. May is going to have all the girls there, including Mary and Martha and Ruth, and Mr. Powell wants every one of us to come up and take part in the good times."
"Gee, that suits me right to the top of the flagstaff!" burst out his twin brother. And then, in high spirits, Andy turned several flipflaps, and ended by beginning a wrestling match with Fred.
"Well, we"ll be there, all right enough!" cried Jack.
"Will we?" came from Fred. "Just wait and see!"
Then the drums rattled, and the young captain and the young lieutenant, followed by the others, rushed off to get ready for the evening roll call and parade. And here, for the time being, we will leave the Rover boys and say good-bye.
THE END