My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the eighth volume in a line issued under the general title, “The Second Rover Boys Series for Young Americans.”
As related in the First Series, this line of books was started with the publication of “The Rover Boys at School,” in which I introduced my readers to Dick, Tom and Sam Rover and their friends and relatives. This First Series, consisting of twenty volumes, told of what happened to these three Rover boys while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while on outings in this country and abroad. When the boys became married Dick Rover was blessed with a son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while Tom became the parent of a lively pair of twin boys.
From their homes in New York City the four younger Rovers went to boarding school, as related in the first volume of the Second Series, entitled “The Rover Boys at Colby Hall.” From that school the scene was shifted to “Snowshoe Island” and then to doings while “Under Canvas.” Then the boys went “On a Hunt,” and, later, to “The Land of Luck.” Then came exciting days at “Big Horn Ranch” and at “Big Bear Lake,” where we last met them. In the present volume the scene is shifted to the Atlantic Ocean. The boys were shipwrecked and had many thrilling adventures.
As many of my readers know, the sale of this series of books is now well past the three million mark. To me, this seems truly wonderful. My only hope is that the reading of these books will do all of the boys and girls good.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
Edward Stratemeyer.