"Why, Aleck, this is a surprise," said Dora. "Some day they will want
you to become the chef in a big hotel." And this compliment tickled the
colored man greatly.

"T'ank yo' Miss Dora," he answered. "But I don't want to be no chef in
a hotel. All I wants to do is to stay wid de Rober boys so long as I
lib."

During the afternoon the boys tried their hands at fishing and caught
quite a mess. By four o'clock Pleasant Hills was reached and they tied
up in a convenient spot. All of the girls and Mrs. Stanhope went ashore
with Mrs. Laning, to visit the friend that had been mentioned.

"Bring them down to the houseboat to-night, if they care to come," said
Dick.

"Thank you, Dick, perhaps we will," answered Mrs. Laning.

"Let us take a swim while they are gone," suggested Tom. "That water is
too inviting to resist."

"Agreed!" shouted the others, and ran to their rooms, to get out their
bathing suits. Soon Tom was ready, and leaping to the end of the houseboat,
took a straight dive into the river. Sam followed and Fred came next,
and then Dick, Songbird, and Hans came down in a bunch. The water was
just cold enough to be pleasant, and they splashed around in great sport.

"This is what I call living!" yelled Tom and diving under, he caught
Hans by the big toe.

"Hi, hi! let go mine does!" shrieked the German lad. "Somedings has me
py der does cotched!"

"Maybe it's a shark," suggested Fred.

"A shark! Vos der sharks py der Ohio River?"

"Tons of them," came from Sam. "Look out, Hansy, or they'll swallow
you."

"Du meine Zeit!" gasped the German cadet. "Vy didn't you tole me dot
pefore, hey? I guess I don't schwim no more." And he started to climb
up a rope ladder leading to the deck of the houseboat.

"Don't go, Hans!" sang out Songbird. "They are fooling you."

"Dere ton't been no sharks in der river?"

"No, nothing but sawfish and whales."

"A vale! Dot's chust so bad like a shark."

"No, not at all. A shark bites. A whale simply swallows you alive," put
in Sam, with a grin.

"Swallows me alife, hey? Not on your life he ton't!" returned Hans, and
started again for the rope ladder. But Sam pulled him back and ducked
him, and was in turn ducked by Fred, who went under by a shove from
Dick; and then followed a regular mix-up, the water flying in all
directions.

"By golly, dat's great!" cried Aleck, from the deck. "I dun' t'ink a
lot ob eels was dancin' a jig down dar!"

"Come down here, Aleck, and get some of the black washed off!" shouted
Tom, gleefully.

"Not fo' a dollah, Massah Tom--leasewise, not while yo' is around."

"What are you afraid of?" asked Tom, innocently.

"Yo' is too full ob tricks fo' dis chile. When I wants a baf I'se gwine
to take dat baf in a tub, an' when yo' ain't around," answered Aleck.
"Yo' am--Oh--wough!" And then the colored man retreated in great haste,
for Tom had sent up a shower of water all over him.

"Here comes a big river boat!" cried Songbird, presently. "Let us go
out and catch the rollers!" And out they swam and waited until the
swells, several feet high, came rolling in. It was immense fun bobbing
up and down like so many corks.

"Wish the steamers would continue to come past," said Fred. "This suits
me to death."

"Here comes another pretty big boat," answered Tom. "And she is closer
to shore than that other craft, so we'll get the rollers at their
best."

"Don't get too close," cried Songbird. "I knew a fellow who did that
once and got sucked under."

On came the river boat and was soon opposite to where the houseboat
lay. She carried only a few passengers, but a very large quantity of
freight.

"Here she comes!" cried Fred. "Now for some more fun."

"Don't get too close!" repeated Songbird, but Tom did not heed him and
went within fifty feet of the steamboat's side. The rollers here were
certainly large, but all of a sudden Tom appeared to lose interest in
the sport.

"Hullo, Tom! What are you so quiet about?" sang out Dick in alarm.

"Perhaps he has a cramp," put in Sam. "Tom, are you all right?" he
cried.

"Yes, I'm all right," was the answer, and then Tom swam to his brothers
with all speed. The steamboat was now well on its way down the Ohio.

"What is it?" asked Dick, feeling that something was wrong. "If you
have had even a touch of a cramp you had better get out, Tom."

"I haven't any cramp. Did you see them?"

"Them? Who?"

"The two fellows at the stern of that boat?"

"No. What of them?"

"One was Dan Baxter and the other was Lew Flapp."




CHAPTER XIX

WORDS AND BLOWS


"Baxter and Flapp!"

The cry came from several at once, and all climbed to the deck of the
houseboat after Tom.

"Are you certain of this, Tom?" asked Dick.

"Yes, I saw them as plain as day. They were looking at the houseboat."

"Did they see you?"

"I think they did, and if so they must have seen the rest of our crowd
too."

"We ought to go after them," came from Fred. "The name of that
steamboat was the _Beaver_."

"Wonder where she will make her first stop?"

For an answer to this question Captain Starr was appealed to, and he
said the craft would most likely stop first at a town which we will
call Penwick.

"How far is that from here?" asked Sam.

"About six miles."

"Can we get a train to that place?"

"Yes, but I don't know when."

A time-table was consulted, and it was found that no train could be had
from Pleasant Hills to Penwick for two hours and three-quarters.

"That is too late for us," said Dick. "If they saw Tom they'll skip the
moment the steamboat touches the landing."

"If you want to catch them why don't you follow them up in the tug?"
suggested Songbird.

"Dot's the talk!" came from Hans. "I would like to see you cotch dot
Flapp and Paxter mineselluf."

"I'll use the tug," said Dick.

He summoned the captain and explained the situation. It was found that
steam on the tug was low, but Captain Carson said he would get ready to
move down the stream with all possible speed.

"I would like you to stay on the houseboat," said Dick, to Songbird,
Fred, and Hans. "I don't want to leave Captain Starr in charge all
alone."

So it was agreed; and fifteen minutes later the tug was on the way
after the _Beaver_, with Dick, Tom, and Sam on board.

"Can we catch the steamboat, captain?" questioned Tom, anxiously.

"We can try," was the answer. "If I had known you wanted to use the tug
again to-night I should have kept steam up."

"Well, we didn't know."

The _Beaver_ was out of sight and they did not see the steamboat again
until she was turning in at the Penwick dock.

"There she is!" cried Sam.

"Hurry up, Captain Carson!" called out Dick. "If you don't hurry we
will lose the fellows we are after, sure."

"I am hurrying as much as I can," replied the captain.

In five minutes more they gained one end of the dock and the Rovers
leaped ashore. The _Beaver_ was at the other end, discharging passengers
at one gang plank and freight at another.

"See anything of them?" asked Sam.

"Yes, there they are!" shouted Tom, and pointed to the street beyond
the dock.

"I see them," returned Dick. "Come on!" And he started for the street,
as swiftly as his feet could carry him.

He was well in advance of Sam and Tom when Dan Baxter, looking back,
espied him.

"Hi, Flapp, we must leg it!" cried Baxter, in quick alarm.

"Eh?" queried Lew Flapp. "What's wrong now?"

"They are after us!"

"Who?"

"The three Rover Boys. Come on!"

The former bully of Putnam Hall glanced back and saw that Dan Baxter
(and he too had been a bully at the Hall) was right.

"Where shall we go to?" he asked in sudden fright.

"Follow me!" And away went Dan Baxter up the street with Flapp at his
heels. Dick, Tom, and Sam came after them, with a number of strangers
between.

"Do you think we can catch them?" asked Tom.

"We've got to catch them," answered Dick. "If you see a policeman tell
him to come along--that we are after a couple of criminals."

Having passed up one street for a block, Baxter and Flapp made a turn
and pursued their course down a thoroughfare running parallel to the
river.

Here were located a number of factories and mills, with several
tenement houses and low groggeries between.

"They are after us yet," panted Flapp, after running for several
minutes. "Say, I can't keep this up much longer."

"Come in here," was Dan Baxter's quick reply, and he shot into a small
lumber yard attached to a box factory. It was now after six o'clock and
the factory had shut down for the day.

Once in the lumber yard they hurried around several corners, and
presently came to a shed used for drying lumber. From this shed there
was a small door leading into the factory proper.

"I reckon we are safe enough here," said Dan Baxter, as they halted in
the shed and crouched down back of a pile of boards.

"Yes, but we can't stay here forever," replied Lew Flapp.

"We can stay as long as they hang around, Flapp."

In the meantime the Rover Boys reached the entrance to the yard, and
Dick, who had kept the lead, called a halt.

"I am pretty certain they ran in here," he declared.

"Then let us root them out," said Tom. "And the quicker the better."

The others were willing, and they entered the small lumber yard without
hesitation. As there were but three wagonways, each took one, and all
presently reached the entrance to the drying shed.

"See anybody?" questioned Dick.

"No," came from his brothers.

"Neither did I. I see there is a big brick wall around this yard. If
they came in here they must have gone into this shed or into the
factory itself."

"That's it, Dick," said Tom. He pushed open the door to the shed. "I'm
going to investigate."

"So am I," said both of the others.

In the shed all was dark and soon Sam stumbled over some blocks of wood
and fell headlong.

"Confound the darkness," he muttered. "We ought to have brought a
light."

"I've got one," answered Dick, and feeling in his pocket he produced
one of the new-style electric pocket lights. He pushed the button and
instantly the light flashed out, as from a bull's-eye lantern.

"Hurrah, that's a good thing!" cried Tom. "By the way, isn't it queer
there is no watchman here?"

"Maybe the night watchman hasn't got around yet," answered Dick, and
struck the truth.

They began to move around the shed, much to the alarm of both Dan
Baxter and Lew Flapp.

"I don't see any trace--" began Dick, when of a sudden the light landed
fairly and squarely on Baxter's face. Then it shifted to the face of
Lew Flapp.

"The old Harry take you, Dick Rover!" yelled Baxter, in a sudden rage,
and throwing his whole weight against the pile of boards on which the
eldest Rover was standing, he caused it to go over, hurling Dick flat
on his back on the floor.

"Dick, are you hurt?" called out Tom. The electric light had been
broken, and all was pitch-dark.

"I--I guess--not," answered Dick. "But it was a close shave."

"They are getting out!" came from Sam, as he heard a scuffling of feet.

"No--they are going into the factory," shouted Tom. "Stop, Baxter! Stop,
Flapp! If you don't--Oh!"

Tom's cry came to a sudden end, for without warning a billet of wood
struck him fairly on top of the head and he went down as if shot.

By this time Dick was on his feet.

"What's up, Tom?"

"I--I--oh, my head?"

"Did somebody hit you?"

"Yes."

Sam was running after Baxter and Flapp. But they reached the factory
first and banged the door full in the face of the youngest Rover.

"Open that door, Dan Baxter!" called out Sam.

"All right!" was the sudden reply, and open flew the door. Then down on
poor Sam's head came a heavy billet of wood and he pitched backward
unconscious. Then the door was closed once more and locked from the
inside.




CHAPTER XX

DAYS OF PLEASURE


"Sam! Sam! Speak to us!"

It was Dick who uttered the words, as he knelt beside his youngest
brother and caught his hands. Tom was just staggering up.

But Sam was past speaking, and made no reply.

"What's the matter, Dick?" asked Tom.

"Poor Sam is knocked out completely. I don't know but what they have
killed him."

"Oh, don't say that!"

"Have you got a match? I've lost that electric pocket light."

"Yes." Tom struck the match and lit a bit of pine wood that was handy,
and found the light. "Dick, don't tell me he is dead."

"Oh!" came in a deep gasp from poor Sam, and he gave a shiver from head
to feet.

"He isn't dead, but they must have hit him a terrible blow. Let us
carry him out into the open air."

This they did, and laid the youngest Rover on some boards. Here he
presently opened his eyes and stared about him.

"Don't--don't hit me again!" he pleaded, vacantly.

"They shan't hit you again, Sam," answered Dick, tenderly. He felt of
his brother's head. On top was a lump, from which the blood was
flowing.

"This is the worst yet," said Tom. "What had we best do next?"

"Call a policeman, if you can find any."

"That's rather a hard thing to do around here."

However, Tom ran off, and while he was gone Dick did what little he
could to make Sam comfortable. At last the youngest Rover opened his
eyes again and struggled to sit up.

"Where--where are they, Dick?"

"Gone into the factory."

"Oh, my head!"

"It was a wicked blow, Sam. But keep still if your head hurts."

When Tom came back he was accompanied by a watchman from a neighboring
yard and presently they were joined by the watchman of the box factory,
who had been to a corner groggery, getting a drink.

"What's the row?" questioned the first watchman, and when told, emitted
a low whistle.

"I think those fellows are in the factory yet," continued Dick.

As soon as the second watchman came up both went into the box factory
and were gone fully ten minutes. Then Dick followed them, since Sam was
rapidly recovering.

"Can't find them," said one of the watchmen. "But yonder window is
open. They must have dropped into that yard and run away."

"Is the window generally closed?"

"Yes."

"Then you must be right."

"Why don't you call up the police? You can do it on the telephone."

"Have you a telephone here?"

"Of course."

Dick went to the telephone and told the officer in charge at the
station what had occurred.

"I'll send two men at once," said the officer over the wire; and in
five minutes the policemen appeared.

Again there was a search, not only of the box factory, but also of the
whole neighborhood, but no trace of Dan Baxter or Lew Flapp could be
found.

Having bathed their hurts, both Sam and Tom felt better, and all three
of the Rovers walked to the police station with the policemen, and
there told the full particulars of their story.

"You were certainly in hard luck," said the police captain, who
happened to be in charge. "I'll do what I can to round these rascals
up." But nothing came of this, for both Baxter and Flapp left Penwick
that very night.

When the Rover boys returned to the houseboat, it was long after
midnight, but none on board had gone to bed. The Stanhopes and Lanings
had come back, bringing their friends with them, and all had been
surprised to find the Rovers absent. After remaining on the houseboat
a couple of hours the friends had gone home again.

"Something is wrong; I can see it in your looks, Dick," said Dora, as
she came to him.

"Sam, where did you get that hurt on your head?" questioned Grace, in
alarm.

"Oh, we had a little trouble, but it didn't amount to much," answered
the youngest Rover as bravely as he could.

"Yes, but your head is in a dreadful condition."

"And Tom has a cut over the left eye," burst in Nellie. "Oh, you have
had a fight of some kind, and I know it!"

"A fight!" cried Mrs. Stanhope. "Is it possible that you have been
fighting?"

"We had a brush with a couple of rascals in Penwick," said Dick. "We
tried to catch them, but they got away from us. That is all there is to
it. I'd rather not talk about it," he went on, seeing that Mrs. Laning
also wanted to ask questions.

"Well, you must really be more careful in the future," said Mrs.
Stanhope. "I suppose they wanted to rob you."

"They didn't get the chance to rob us," put in Tom, and then the Rovers
managed to change the subject. The Stanhopes and the Lanings did not
dream that Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp had caused the trouble. Perhaps, in
the light of later events, it would have been better had they been told
the truth.

Dick gave orders that the _Dora_ should be moved down the river early the
next day, and before the majority of the party were up, Pleasant Hills
was left behind.

"I sincerely trust we have seen the last of Baxter and Flapp," said
Sam.

"So do I, Sam," answered Dick.

"I'd like to meet them and punch their heads good for them," came from
Tom.

After that a week slipped by with very little out of the ordinary
happening. Day after day the houseboat moved down the river, stopping
at one place or another, according to the desires of those on board.
The weather continued fine, and the boys and girls enjoyed themselves
immensely in a hundred different ways. All had brought along bathing
suits and took a dip every day. They also fished, and tramped through
the woods at certain points along the stream. One night they went
ashore in a field and camped out, with a big roaring fire to keep them
company.

"This is the way it was when the cadets went into camp," said Dick. "I
can tell you, we had lots of sport."

"It must have been very nice, Dick," answered Dora. "Sometimes I wish I
was a boy and could go to Putnam Hall."

"Not much! I'd rather have you a girl!" declared Dick, and in the dark
he gave her hand a tight squeeze.

During those days Dick noticed that Captain Starr acted more peculiar
than ever. At times he would talk pleasantly enough, but generally he
was so close-mouthed that one could scarcely get a word out of him.

"I believe he is just a wee bit off in his upper story," said the
oldest Rover. "But I don't imagine it is enough to count."

"If he had any ambition in him he wouldn't be satisfied to run a
houseboat," said Tom. "It's about the laziest job I know of."

The Monday after this talk found the _Dora_ down the Ohio as far as
Louisville. To avoid the falls in the stream, the houseboat had been
taken through the canal, and during the middle of the afternoon was
taken down the stream a distance of perhaps eighteen miles, to
Skemport,--so named after Samuel Skem, a dealer in Kentucky
thoroughbreds.

Fred Garrison had a friend who came from Skemport and wanted to visit
him. The others were willing, and Fred went off with Tom and Sam as
soon as the boat was tied up. When they came back, late in the evening,
the others were told that the friend had invited all hands to visit a
large stock farm in that vicinity the next afternoon to look at the
horses there.

"That will be nice!" cried Dora. "I love a good horse."

Two large carriages were hired for the purpose, and Aleck was allowed
to drive one, a man from the local livery stable driving the other.

"How soon will you be back?" sang out Captain Starr after them.

"Can't say exactly," replied Dick.

The distance to the stock farm was three miles, but it was quickly
covered, and once there the Rovers and their friends were made to feel
perfectly at home.

"I'd like to go horseback riding on one of those horses," said Dora,
after inspecting a number of truly beautiful steeds.

"You shall," said the owner of the stock farm; and a little later Dora,
Nellie, Dick, and Tom were in the saddle and off for a gallop of
several miles, never once speculating on how that ride was to end.




CHAPTER XXI

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE HOUSEBOAT


Never was a girl more light-hearted than was Dora when in the saddle on
the Kentucky thoroughbred. And her cousin was scarcely less elated.

"Let us have a little race, Nellie," cried Dora. "It will be lots of
fun."

"Oh, we don't want the horses to run away," answered Nellie.

"I don't think they will run away."

The race was started, and to give the girls a chance, Dick and Tom
dropped to the rear. Soon a turn of the road hid the two girls from
view.

"Wait a minute--there is something wrong with my saddle," said Tom, a
moment later, and he came to a halt and slipped to the ground.

Dick would have preferred going on, but did not wish to leave his
brother alone, so he also halted. A buckle had broken and it took some
time to repair the damage, so Tom could continue his ride.

"The girls have disappeared," said Dick, on making the turn ahead in the
road.

They came to a spot where the road divided into three forks and halted
in perplexity.

"Well, this is a nuisance," declared Tom, after scratching his head. "I
suppose they thought we were watching them."

"More than likely."

"Which road shall we take?"

"Bless me if I know."

"Well, we can't take all three."

They stared at the hoofprints in the road, but there were too many of
them to make anything of the marks.

"Stumped!" remarked Tom, laconically.

"Let us wait a while. Perhaps, when the girls see we are not following,
they will turn back."

"All right; but we've made a fine pair of escorts, haven't we, Dick?"

"We are not responsible for that buckle breaking."

"That's so, too."

They waited for several minutes, but the girls did not appear.

"Supposing I take to one road and you to the other?" said Dick. "If you
see them, whistle."

"What about the third road?" And Tom grinned.

"We'll leave that for the present."

Off they set, and as ill-luck would have it took the two roads the
girls had not traveled. Each went fully a mile before he thought of
coming back.

"Well, what luck?" asked Dick, as he rode up.

"Nothing doing, Dick."

"Ditto."

"Then they must have taken to the third road."

"That's it,--unless they rode faster than we did."

"Shall I try that other road?"

"You can if you wish. I'll stay here. If they come back, we can wait
for you," added the oldest Rover.

Once more Tom set off. But he had pushed his horse so fast before the
animal was now tired and had to take his time in traveling.

The third road led down to the river front, and before a great while
the water's edge was reached. Here there were numerous bushes and trees
and the road turned and ran some distance along the bank.

"Well, I'm stumped and no mistake," murmured the fun-loving Rover, "I
felt sure--"

He broke off short, for a distance scream had reached his ears.

"Was that Nellie's voice?" he asked himself, and then strained his
ears, for two more screams had reached him. "Nellie, and Dora too, as
sure as fate!" he ejaculated. "Something has happened to them! Perhaps
those horses are running away!"

He hardly knew how to turn, for the trees and bushes cut off his view
upon every side. He galloped along the road, which followed the
windings of the Ohio. But try his best he could locate neither girls
nor horses.

It was maddening, and the cold sweat stood out upon Tom's forehead.
Something was very much wrong, but what was it?

"Nellie! Dora! Where are you?" he called out. "_Where are you?_"

Only the faint breeze in the trees answered him.

"I've got to find them!" he groaned. "I've got to! That is all there is
to it." He repeated the words over and over again. "What will Mrs.
Laning and Mrs. Stanhope say, and Grace?"

Again he went on, but this time slower than before, looking to the
right and the left and ahead. Not a soul was in sight. The road was so
cut up he could make nothing of the hoofmarks which presented
themselves.

"This is enough to drive one insane," he reasoned. "Where in the world
did they go to? I'd give a thousand dollars to know."

At last he reached a point where the road ran close to the water's
edge. He looked out on the river. Only a distant steamboat and a small
sailboat were in view.

"Wonder if they rode down to where we left the houseboat?" he asked
himself. "She must be somewhere in this vicinity. Maybe they have only
been fooling us."

Although Tom told himself this, there was no comfort in the surmise. He
moved on once more. It was now growing dark and there were signs of a
coming storm in the air.

At last he reached a spot which looked somewhat familiar to him. He
came down to the water's edge once more.

"Why--er--I thought the houseboat was here," he said, half aloud. "This
looks like the very spot."

But no houseboat was there, and scratching his head once more, Tom
concluded that he had made a mistake.

"I'm upset if ever a fellow was," he thought. "Well, no wonder. Such
happenings as these are enough to upset anybody."

Tom knew of nothing more to do than to return to where he had left
Dick, and this he did as quickly as the tired horse would carry him.

"No success, eh?" said the oldest Rover. "What do you make of it, Tom?"

When he had heard his brother's tale he grew unusually grave.

"You are sure you heard them scream?" he questioned, anxiously.

"I'm sure of nothing--now. I thought I was sure about the houseboat, but
I wasn't," answered Tom, bluntly. "I'm all mixed up."

"I'll go down there with you," was the only answer Dick made.

It did not take long to reach the spot. It was now dark and a mist was
rising from the river.

"This is certainly the spot where we tied up," declared the oldest
Rover. "Why, I helped to drive that stake myself."

"Then the houseboat is gone!"

"That's the size of it."

"And the girls are gone too," went on Tom. "Yes, but the two happenings
may have no connection, Tom."

"Don't be so sure of that!"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm thinking about Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp. They wouldn't be above
stealing the houseboat."

"I believe you there."

"And if those girls happened to go on board--Look there!"

Tom pointed out in the darkness on the road. Two horses were coming
toward them, each wearing a lady's saddle and each riderless.

"There are the horses," said Dick. "But the girls? You think--"

"The girls came down here on their horses and dismounted, to go on
board of the houseboat."

"Well, where is the houseboat?"

It was a question neither of them could answer. They looked out on the
river, but the mist hung over everything like a pall.

"Dick, I am afraid something serious has happened," came from Tom,
ominously. "Those screams weren't uttered for nothing."

"Let us make a closer examination of the shore," answered the oldest
Rover, and they did so. They found several hoofprints of horses, but
that was all.

"I can't see any signs of a struggle," said Tom.

"Nor I. And yet, if those rascals ran off with the houseboat and with
the girls on board, how would they square matters with Captain Starr?"

"And with Captain Carson? The tug is gone, too."

"Yes, but the tug went away when we did, and wasn't to come back until
to-morrow morning. Captain Carson said he would have to coal up, over
to one of the coal docks."

"Then some other tug must have towed the houseboat away."

"Either that or they are letting the _Dora_ drift with the current."

"That would be rather dangerous around here,--and in the mist. A
steamer might run the houseboat down."

The brothers knew not what to do. To go back to the stock farm with the
news that both the girls and the houseboat were missing was extremely
distasteful to them.

"This news will almost kill Mrs. Stanhope," said Dick.

"Well, it will be just as bad for Mrs. Laning, Dick."

"Not exactly,--she has Grace left, while Dora. is Mrs. Stanhope's only
child."

Once again the two boys rode up and down the' Ohio for a distance of
nearly a mile. At none of' the docks or farms could they catch the
least sign of the houseboat.

"She may be miles from here by this time," said Dick, with almost a
groan. "There is no help for it, Tom, we've got to go back and break
the news as best we can."

"Very well," answered Tom, soberly. Every bit of fun was knocked out of
him, and his face was as long as if he was going to a funeral.

Dick felt equally bad. Never until that moment had he realized how dear
Dora Stanhope was to him. He would have given all he possessed to be
able to go to her assistance.

The mist kept growing thicker, and by the time the stock farm was
reached it was raining in torrents. But the boys did not mind this
discomfort as they rode along, leading the two riderless saddle horses.
They had other things more weighty to think about.




CHAPTER XXII

DAN BAXTER'S LITTLE GAME


In order to ascertain just what did become of the houseboat, it will be
necessary to go back to the time when the _Dora_ was tied up near the
village of Skemport.

Not far away from Skemport was a resort called the Stock Breeders'
Rest--a cross-roads hotel where a great deal of both drinking and
gambling was carried on.

During the past year Dan Baxter had become passionately fond of card
playing for money and he induced Lew Flapp to accompany him to the
Stock Breeders' Rest.

"We can have a fine time there," said Baxter. "And as the Rovers'
houseboat will not be far off, we can keep our eyes on that crowd and
watch our chance to deal them another blow."

Lew Flapp was now reckless and ready for almost anything, and he
consented. They hired a room at the cross-roads hotel, and that night
both went to the smoking room to look at what was going on.

A professional gambler from Kentucky soon discovered them, and he
induced Dan Baxter to lay with him,--after learning that Lew Flapp had
no money to place on a game. Baxter and the gambler played that night
and also the next morning, and as a result Baxter lost about every
dollar he had with him.

"You cheated me," he cried passionately, when his last dollar was gone.
"You cheated me, and I'll have the police arrest you!"

This accusation brought on a bitter quarrel, and fearful that they
might be killed by the gambler and his many friends who frequented the
resort, Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp fled for their lives. They were
followed by two thugs, and to escape molestation took refuge in a
stable on the outskirts of Skemport and only a short distance from
where the _Dora_ lay.

"How much money did you lose, Baxter?" asked Flapp, after they had made
certain that they were safe for the time being.

"Two hundred and sixty-five dollars--every dollar I had with me," was
the gloomy response.

"Is it possible!" gasped Lew Flapp. He wondered what they were going to
do without money.

"What have you got left of the money I loaned you?" went on Baxter.

"Just two dollars and twenty cents."

"Humph! That's a long way from being a fortune," grumbled the
discomfited leader of the evil-doers.

"You are right. I think you were foolish to gamble."

"Oh, don't preach!"

"I'm not preaching. What shall we do next?"

"I don't know. If I was near some big city I might draw some money from
a bank."

"You might go to Louisville."

"No, I'd be sure to have trouble if I went to that place--I had trouble
there before."

They looked around them, and were surprised to see the houseboat in
plain view. This interested them, and they watched the _Dora_ with
curiosity.

"If we had a houseboat we could travel in fine style," was Lew Flapp's
comment.

"Just the thing, Flapp!" cried Dan Baxter.

"Perhaps; but you can't buy a houseboat for two dollars and twenty
cents, nor charter one either."

"We won't buy one or charter one," was Dan Baxter's crafty answer.

"Eh?"

"We'll borrow that one. She's a fairy and will just suit us, Flapp."

"I don't quite understand. You're not fool enough to think the Rovers
will let you have their houseboat."

"Of course not. But if I take possession while they are away--"

"How do you know they will be away--I mean all of them at one time?"

"I'll fix it so they are. We must watch our chance. I can send them a
decoy message, or something like that."

"You'll have to be pretty shrewd to get the best of the Rovers."

"Pooh! They are not so wise as you think. They put on a big front, but
that is all there is to it," went on Dan Baxter, loftily.

"Well, go ahead; I don't care what you do."

"You'll help me; won't you?"

"Certainly,--if the risk isn't too great. We don't want to get caught
and tried for stealing."

"Leave it all to me, Flapp."

As we know, fortune for once favored Dan Baxter. From the stable he and
Flapp saw the party depart for the stock farm, leaving nobody but
Captain Starr in charge. They also saw the steam tug move away, to get
a new supply of coal in her bunkers.

"Everything is coming our way," chuckled Dan Baxter, with a wicked grin
on his scarred face. "Flapp, the coast is almost clear."

"Almost, but not quite. That captain is still on board."

"Oh, that chap is a dough-head. We can easily make him do what we
want."

"Don't be too sure. He might watch 'his chance and knock us both
overboard."

"Well, I know how to fix him. I'll send him a message to come here--that
Dick Rover wants him. When he comes we can bind him fast with this old
harness and leave him here. Then we will have the houseboat all to
ourselves."

"And after that, what?"

"We'll drop down the river a way. Then we can paint a new name on the
boat, get a steam tug, and make off for the Mississippi,--and the Rovers
and their friends can go to grass."

This programme looked inviting to Flapp, and when Dan Baxter wrote a
note to the captain of the _Dora_ he volunteered to deliver it. He
found Captain Starr on the front deck of the houseboat smoking his
corncob as usual.

The captain had one of his peculiar moods on him, and it took a minute
or two for Flapp to make him understand about the note. But he fell
into the trap with ease and readily consented to follow the young
rascal to the stable.

As he entered the open doorway, Dan Baxter came at him from behind,
hitting him in the head with a stout stick. The captain went down half
stunned.

"See--see here," he gasped. "Wha--what does this--"

"Shut up!" cried Baxter. "We won't hurt you if you'll keep still. But
if you don't--"

"I--I haven't hurt anybody, sir."

"All right, old man; keep still."

"But I--I don't understand?"

"You will, later on."

Dan Baxter had the straps of the old harness ready and with them he
fastened Captain Starr's hands behind him and also tied his ankles
together. Then he backed the commander of the houseboat to a post and
secured him, hands and feet.

"Now then, don't you make any noise until to-morrow morning," was Dan
Baxter's warning. "If you do, you'll get into trouble. If you keep
quiet, we'll come back in the morning, release you, and give you a
hundred dollars."

"Give me a hundred dollars?" questioned the captain, simply.

"That is what I said."

"Then I had better keep quiet. But the houseboat--"

"The houseboat will be left just where it is."

"Oh, all right, sir," and the captain breathed a sigh of relief. That
he was just a little simple-minded was beyond question.

Leaving the captain a prisoner, Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp made their way
with caution toward the houseboat. As they had surmised, the _Dora_ was
now totally deserted. They leaped on the deck and entered the sumptuous
living room.

"This is fine," murmured Lew Flapp. "They must be living like nabobs on
this craft."

"You're right. A piano and a guitar, too." Baxter passed into the
dining room. "Real silver on the table. Flapp, we've struck luck."

"Sure."

"That silver is worth just so much money,--when we need the funds."

"Would you sell it?"

"Why not? Didn't I tell you the Rovers robbed my father of a mine? This
isn't a fleabite to what they've got that belongs to us." From the
dining room the young rascals passed to the staterooms.

"Trunks full of stuff," observed Flapp. "We shan't fall short of
clothing."

"I hope there is money in some of them," answered Dan Baxter.

"Hadn't we better be putting off?" asked Flapp, nervously. "Some of
them may be coming back, you know."

"Yes, let us put off at once. This mist that is coming up will help us
to get away."

Leaving the stateroom they were in, they went out on deck and began to
untie the houseboat. While they were doing so they heard the sounds of
two horses approaching.

"Somebody is coming," said Flapp, and an instant later Dora and Nellie
came into view. Nellie had her skirt badly torn, and it was her
intention, if she could locate the houseboat, to don a new skirt before
she returned to where Tom and Dick had left them on the highway.

"It's a pity you fell and tore the skirt," Dora was saying. "But I
suppose you can be thankful that you did not hurt yourself."

"That is true. But the boys will think I can't ride, and--Oh!"

Nellie came to a sudden stop and pointed to the houseboat.

"Dan Baxter," burst from Dora's lips. "Oh, how did that fellow get
here?"

"Dora Stanhope!" muttered Baxter, and then he and Lew Flapp ran towards
the girls.




CHAPTER XXIII

A RUN IN THE DARK


Both girls were thoroughly alarmed by the unexpected appearance of Dan
Baxter and his companion and brought their horses to a standstill.

"How do you do, Miss Stanhope?" said Baxter, with a grin.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Dora, icily.

"Oh, nothing much."

"Do you know that that is the Rovers' houseboat?"

"Is it?" said Baxter, in pretended surprise.

"Yes."

"No, I didn't know it." Baxter turned to Nellie. "How are you, Miss
Laning? I suppose you are surprised to meet me out here."

"I am," was Nellie's short answer. Both girls wished themselves
somewhere else.

"My friend and I were walking down the river when we heard a man on
that houseboat calling for help," went on Dan Baxter, glibly. "We went
on board and found the captain had fallen down and hurt himself very
much. Do you know anything about him?"

"Why, yes!" said Dora, quickly. "It must be Captain Starr!" she added,
to Nellie.

"He's in a bad way. If you know him, you had better look after him,"
continued Dan Baxter.

"I will," and Dora leaped to the ground, followed by Nellie. Both ran
towards the houseboat, but at the gang plank they paused.

"I--I think I'll go back and get Dick Rover," said Dora. She did not
like the look in Dan Baxter's eyes.

"Yes, and Tom," put in Nellie.

"You shan't go back," roared Dan Baxter. "Go on and help the poor
captain."

His manner was so rude that Nellie gave a short, sharp scream--one which
reached Tom's ears, as already recorded.

"Don't--don't go on board just yet, Dora," she whispered.

"You shall go on board!" went on Dan Baxter. "Make her go, Flapp. I'll
attend to this one," and he caught hold of Dora's arm.

At this both girls screamed--another signal of distress which reached
Tom's ears but did no good.

"I don't see the reason--" began Lew Flapp.

"Just do as I say, Flapp. We can make money out of this," answered Dan
Baxter.

He caught Dora around the waist and lifted her into the air. She
struggled bravely but could do nothing, and in a moment more he had her
on the houseboat. Lew Flapp followed with Nellie, who pulled his hair
and scratched his face unavailingly.

"Where--where you going to put 'em?" queried Flapp.

"In here," answered Dan Baxter, leading the way to one of the
staterooms--that usually occupied by Mrs. Stanhope and Dora. "Now you
stay in there and keep quiet, or it will be the worse for you," Baxter
went on to the girls.

As Nellie was pushed into the stateroom she fainted and pitched
headlong on the floor. Thoroughly alarmed, Dora raised her cousin in
her arms. At the same time Baxter shut the door and locked it from the
outside.

"Now, don't make a bit of noise, or you'll be sorry for it," he fairly
hissed, and his manner was so hateful that Dora was thoroughly cowed.

"What's the next move?" asked Flapp, when he and Baxter were on the
outside deck. He was too weak-minded to take a stand and placed himself
entirely under the guidance of his companion.

"Get the houseboat away from the shore and be quick about it," was the
reply. "Somebody else may be on the way here."

The order to push off was obeyed, and soon the _Dora_, caught by the
strong current of the river, was moving down the Ohio and away from the
vicinity of Skemport. The mist was now so thick that in a few minutes
the shore line was lost entirely to view.

"I must say, I don't like this drifting in the dark," said Flapp. "What
if we run into something!"

"We've got to take some risk. I'll light the lanterns as soon as we get
a little further away. You stand by with that long pole--in case the
houseboat drifts in toward shore again."

The _Dora_ had been provided with several long, patent sweeps, and for
a while both of the young rascals used these, in an endeavor to get the
houseboat out into the middle of the river. In the distance they saw
the lights of a steamboat and this was all they had to guide them.

"If we strike good and hard we'll go to the bottom," said Lew Flapp.

"Flapp, you are as nervous as a cat."

"Isn't it true?"

"I don't think so. Most of these boats are built in compartments. If
one compartment is smashed the others will keep her afloat."

"Oh, I see." And after that Lew Flapp felt somewhat relieved.

When the houseboat was well away from Skemport, Dan Baxter walked to
the door of the stateroom in which Dora and Nellie had been confined.

"Hullo, in there!" he called out.

"What do you want?" asked Dora, timidly.

"How is that other girl, all right?"

"Ye--yes," came from Nellie. "But, oh! Mr. Baxter, what does this mean?"

"Don't grow alarmed. I'm not going to hurt you in the least."

"Yes, but--but--we don't want to go with you."

"I'm sorry, but I can't help that. If we let you go ashore you'll tell
the Rovers that we took the houseboat."--"

"And is that why you took us along?" questioned Dora.

"Certainly."

"How far are you going to take us?"

"That depends upon circumstances. I don't know yet where or when we
will be able to make a landing."

"It is horrid of you to treat us so."

"Sorry you don't like it, but it can't be helped," answered Dan Baxter,
coolly. He paused a moment. "Say, if I unlock that door and let you out
will you promise to behave yourselves?"

"What do you mean by that?" questioned Dora.

"I mean will you promise not to scream for help or not to attack myself
or Lew Flapp?"

"I shan't promise anything," said Nellie, promptly.

"I don't think I'll promise anything either," joined in her cousin.

"Humph! You had better. It's rather stuffy in that little stateroom."

"We can stand it," answered both.

"All right, suit yourselves. But when you want to come out, let me
know."

With these words Dan Baxter walked away, leaving the girls once more to
themselves. Both sat down on the edge of a berth, and Nellie placed her
head upon Dora's shoulder.

"Oh, Dora, what will become of us?"

"I'm sure I don't know, Nellie."

"They may take us away down the river--miles and miles away!"

"I know that. We must watch our chances and see if we cannot escape."

"Do you think the Rover boys are following the houseboat?"

"Let us hope so."

Thoroughly miserable, the cousins became silent. They felt the
houseboat moving swiftly along with the current, but could see nothing
on account of the mist and the darkness. Soon they heard the rain
coming down.

"It is going to be an awful night," said Dora. "I don't see how anybody
could follow this houseboat in such a storm."

Both girls felt like crying, but did their best to hold back the tears.
Each was tired out by the doings of the day gone by, but neither
thought of going to sleep.

The lanterns had been lit, and both Baxter and Flapp stationed
themselves at the front of the houseboat, in an endeavor to pierce the
mist. Occasionally they made out some distant light, but could not tell
where it belonged.

"We ought to be getting to somewhere pretty soon," remarked Lew Flapp,
after a couple of hours had passed. "Don't you think we had better turn
her in toward shore?'"

"Not yet, Flapp; we ought to place as much distance as possible between
the boat and Skemport. Remember, those Rovers will be after us
hot-footed when once they learn the truth of the situation."

"Do you know anything about the river around here?"

"A little, but not much. Do you know anything?"

"No,--I never cared for geography," answered Flapp. "It's getting as
black as pitch, and the rain--Hullo, there's another light!"

Flapp pointed to the Kentucky side of the river. Through the mist
appeared a dim light, followed by another.

"Wonder if that is the shore or a boat?" mused Baxter.

"Better yell and see."

"Boat, ahoy!"

No answer came back, and for the moment the lights appeared to fade
from sight.

"Must have been on shore and we are passing them, Baxter."

"More than likely, and yet--There they are again!"

Dan Baxter was right; the lights had reappeared and now they seemed to
approach the houseboat with alarming rapidity.

"They'll run into us if they are not careful," said Flapp, in fresh
alarm. "Boat, ahoy!" he screamed. "Keep off!"

"Keep off! Keep off, there!" put in Dan Baxter.

If those in the other craft heard, they paid no attention. The light
came closer and closer and of a sudden a fair-sized gasolene launch
came into view. She was headed directly for the _Dora_, and a moment
later hit the houseboat a telling blow in the side, causing her to
careen several feet.




CHAPTER XXIV

THE HORSE THIEVES


For the moment it looked as if the houseboat might be sent to the
bottom of the Ohio River, and from the stateroom in which the two girls
were confined came a loud cry of fright. Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp were
also scared, and rushed toward the gasolene launch, not knowing what to
do.

"Keep off!"

"Don't sink us!"

Loud cries also came from the launch, and those on the deck of the
_Dora_ could see several men, wearing raincoats, moving about. The bow
of the launch was badly splintered, but otherwise the craft remained
undamaged.

"What do you mean by running into us in this fashion?" cried Baxter,
seeing that the _Dora_ was in no danger of going down.

"Running into you?" came in a rough voice from the launch. "You ran
into us!

"Not much we didn't."

"What boat is that?" came in another voice from the launch.

"A private houseboat. What craft is that?"

"None of your business."

"Thank you." Baxter put on a bold front. "I'm going to report you for
running into us, just the same."

"Not much, you won't!" came from the launch. There were a few hurried
words spoken in a whisper, and then a boat-hook was thrown on the
_Dora_ and a man leaped aboard and tied fast.

"Who is in command here?" he demanded, confronting Baxter and Flapp.

"I am," answered Baxter.

"Is she your houseboat?"

"Yes."

"Where are you bound?"

"Down to the Mississippi. But what is that to you?"

"How many of you on board of this craft?" went on the man, ignoring
altogether the last question.

"That is my business."

"Well, and I'm going to make it mine," cried the man, and pulled out a
revolver. "Answer up, kid; it will be best for you."

He was a burly Kentuckian, all of six feet tall and with a bushy black
beard and a breath which smelt strongly of whiskey.

"Don't--don't shoot us!" cried Lew Flapp, in terror. "Don't shoot!"

"I won't--if you'll treat me proper-like," answered the Kentuckian. "How
many on board?"

"Four--two young ladies and ourselves," answered Dan Baxter. He was
doing some rapid thinking. "Say, perhaps we can strike up a. bargain
with you," he went on.

"A bargain? What kind of a bargain?" And the Kentuckian eyed him
narrowly.

"We are looking for somebody to tow this houseboat down the river."

At this the Kentuckian gave a loud and brutal laugh.

"Thanks, but I ain't in that ere business."

"All right, then; get aboard of your own boat and we will go on,"
continued Baxter.

"What's doing up there, Pick?" called another man, from the launch.
"Remember, we haven't got all night to waste here."

"That other boat is coming!" cried a third man. "Boys, we are trapped
as sure as guns!"

"Not much we ain't," said the Kentuckian who had boarded the houseboat.
"Sculley!"

"What next, Pick?"

"You've got a new job. This chap here wants somebody to tow him down
the river."

"Well?"

"You start to do the towing, and be quick about it. Hamp, get on board
at once! Remember, Sculley, you ain't seen or heard of us, understand?"

"All right, Pick."

The gasolene launch came close once more, and the fellow called Hamp
leaped on board. He carried a rifle and was evidently a desperate
character.

"See here, I don't understand your game?" began Baxter.

"Didn't you say you wanted somebody to tow you down the river?" asked
the fellow addressed as Pick.

"I did, but--"

"Well, Cap'n Sculley of the _Firefly_ has taken the job. He'll take you
wherever you please, and at your own price. You can't ask for more than
that, can you?"

"No, but--"

"I haven't got time to talk, kid--with' that other launch coming after
us. I don't know who you are and I reckon you don't know me and my
bosom pard here. But let me tell you one thing. It won't be healthy for
you to tell anybody that me and my pard are on board here, understand?"

"You are hiding away from somebody?" asked Baxter, quickly.

"I reckon that's the plain United States of it. If you say a word it
will go mighty hard with you," and the Kentuckian tapped his revolver.

"You can trust us," replied Baxter, promptly. "Tell me what you want
done and I'll agree to do it."

"You will?" The Kentuckian eyed him more closely than ever. "Say, you
can't play any game on me,--I'm too old for it."

"I shan't play any game on you. Just say what you want done and I'll
help you all I can--providing that launch takes us down the river as
quick as it can."

"Ha! Maybe you want to get away, too, eh?"

"I want to get down the river, yes. Perhaps I'll tell you more,--after I
am certain I can trust you," added Baxter, significantly.

"Good enough, I'll go you. If that other launch comes up, tell 'em
anything but that you have strangers on board, or that you have seen
us."

"I will."

"If you play us foul--"

"I shan't play you foul, so don't worry."

By this time the second launch was coming up through the mist and the
two men from Kentucky retired to the cabin of the houseboat. In the
meantime the first launch had tied fast to the _Dora_ and was beginning
to tow the houseboat down the stream.

"Boat, ahoy, there!" was the call.

"Ahoy!" answered the man on the first launch.