For the benefit of new readers allow me to state that Dick was the oldest, fun-loving Tom next, and Sam the youngest.

They were the sons of Anderson Rover, a widower and rich mine owner.

The father was a great traveler, and for years the boys had made their home with their uncle, Randolph Rover, and their Aunt Martha, on a farm called Valley Brook, in the heart of New York state.
From the farm, and while their father was in Africa, the boys had been sent to Putnam Hall, as related in the first volume of this series, entitled, "The Rover Boys at School." At the Hall they made a score of friends and several enemies, some of which will be introduced later.

A term at school was followed by a trip on the ocean, and then one into the jungles of the Dark Continent in search of Mr.Rover, who had mysteriously disappeared.

Then the Rover boys went out west and to the great lakes, and later spent a fine time hunting in the mountains.
They likewise spent some time in camp with their fellow cadets, and during the summer vacation took a long trip on land and sea.