CHAPTER VII 

THE ARRIVAL OF SONGBIRD 

"So you've made some enemies as well as some friends, eh?" remarked Songbird Powell, after he had been registered, taken up to his room, and had listened to what the Rover boys had to tell. "No use of talking, it doesn't take you fellows long to stir things up!" 

"You said you had a surprise for us, Songbird," returned Tom. "I'm dying by inches to know what it is." 

"Maybe it's a new poem," put in Sam with a grimace at his brothers. 

"I've got a poem--several of them, in fact," answered Songbird, "but I didn't have those in mind when I spoke. Who do you suppose I met yesterday morning, in Ithaca, while I was waiting for the train?" 

"Dora Stanhope and the Lanings," answered Tom promptly. 

"No. Tad Sobber." 

"Tad Sobber!" exclaimed the Rover boys in concert. 

"Songbird, are you sure of it?" demanded Dick. 

"Sure? Wasn't I talking to him!" 

"But--but--I thought he was lost in that hurricane, when the _Josephine_ was wrecked." 

"No. It seems he escaped to a vessel bound for England; but his uncle, Sid Merrick, was lost, and so were most of the others. Sobber just got back from England--came in on one of the ocean liners, so he told me." 

"How did he act?" asked Tom. 

"Where was he going?" added Sam. 

"Did he seem to have any money?" came from Dick. 

All of the Rovers were intensely interested, and showed it plainly. 

"Say, one question at a time, please!" cried Songbird, "You put me in mind of a song I once wrote about a little boy: 
what did Dick ask?
Who did Tom think Songbird had seen?
was it them?
who was it?
what did the boys think had happened to him?
who had been lost
was he the only one?
Had the boys only made enemies?
what else?
what did Sam think Songbird's surprise was?
did he have any?
was that his surprise?
what ship had wrecked?
was Sid Merrick Sobber's grandfather?
was he a relative?
what relationship?
were the Rover boys bored by the descussion?
how did thye feel?
what was Songbird reminded of
about?
if Songbird was sure
Songbird, are you sure of it?" demanded Dick. 
Dora Stanhope and the Lanings
Dora Stanhope and the Lanings," answered Tom
no
No. Tad Sobber." 
Tad Sobber
No. Tad Sobber
that he was lost in a hurricane
hought he was lost in that hurricane
Sid Merrick
Sid Merrick, was lost, 
no
was lost, and so were most of the others
no
So you've made some enemies as well as some friends
some friends
as well as some friends
a new poem
Maybe it's a new poem," put in Sam
yes
I've got a poem--several of them, in fact,"
no
"but I didn't have those in mind when I spoke
Josephine
 when the _Josephine_ was wrecked." 
no
but his uncle, Sid Merrick, was lost, 
yes
 but his uncle, Sid Merrick, was lost, 
uncle
but his uncle, Sid Merrick,
no
All of the Rovers were intensely interested
intensely interested
Rovers were intensely interested
a song
Songbird, "You put me in mind of a song I once 
a little boy:
song I once wrote about a little boy: