The scarlet fever scare did not amount to much, for which the captain is very thankful." "I sent him a telegram, stating we were safe," said Sam.

"I knew he would like to hear from us.

The captain is a brick." "The best ever," said Tom, with his mouth full of chicken.
"And ditto, Mr.Strong," put in Dick, referring to the head assistant at the Hall.
"Exactly, Dick.

But no more Jasper Grinders in mine," went on Tom, referring to a tyrannical teacher who had caused them much trouble, and who had been discharged from the academy, as already mentioned in "The Rover Boys in the Mountains." "Or Josiah Crabtrees," said Dick, referring to another teacher, who had been made to leave Putnam Hall, and who had wanted to marry the widow Stanhope, in an endeavor to get control of the money that was coming to Dora.

Crabtree's misdeeds had landed him in prison, where he was likely to stay for some time to come.
While the meal was still in progress the boys began the recital of their many adventures, and this recital was kept up until a late hour.
It was astonishing how much they had to tell, and how interesting it proved to the listeners.
"You might make a book of it," said Anderson Rover.