"Ought to be along soon," said Tom, after a quarter of an hour had
passed. "It took us quite some time to get down here, you know."

"Maybe they didn't come down the river," suggested the officer.

"Didn't come down?" cried Sam. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe they thought you would come down here and wait for them and so
changed their plans and went up the river instead."

"That's so!" exclaimed Tom. "They might do that."

"Well, if they went up the river, we ought to be able to catch them
sooner or later," put in Dick.

"Let us hope so," returned the officer.

Soon they had passed up the river to a point opposite the Twenty-third
Street ferries. Here a number of boats were moving up and down the
stream, and from the Hoboken shore a big trans-Atlantic steamer was
coming out, to start on its trip across the ocean.

"That looks like her!" cried Sam, pointing to a craft behind the
trans-Atlantic steamer.

"So it does!" returned Tom.

They made a semi-circle, other boats giving way to the police tug. But
when they got closer to the schooner in question, all the Rover boys
uttered a cry of dismay. It was a craft similar to the Ellen Rodney,
but that was all.

"Either we missed her or else the schooner went up the river," said
Dick, at last.

"Looks that way," returned Tom, with a sigh.

They continued to move up the stream, scanning each shore closely.
They passed numerous boats, but not one that looked like the craft
they were after.

"Well, here we are, at the spot where Crabtree and Pelter got aboard,"
said Dick, a while later. "So, either we have missed them, or else the
Ellen Rodney went up the river instead of down."

The boys were much disheartened, for they had thought that the police
tug would surely locate the craft and that they would thus be able to
come to their father's rescue. They scarcely knew what to do next.

"I'll go up the river a bit further, if you say so," said the police
officer in charge of the tug.

"Perhaps we had better run down first and make another search on our
second trip," suggested Dick. "I shouldn't like them to get out into
the Bay and give us the slip."

The tug was turned back, and a little later they reached the vicinity
of the Battery once more. Then began another search up the river, from
shore to shore, as before. But not a trace of the schooner could be
found.

"Must have gone up the river," said the police official. "We'll try it
for a way and see."

This they did, the police tug moving from side to side as before.

"This is the end of it, so far as we are concerned," said the officer
in charge of the tug, at last. "We don't go up the river any further
than this."

"All right then," answered Dick, much disheartened. "I guess the only
thing for you to do is to put us ashore."

"Sorry we couldn't find that schooner. Of course, if you'll make a
regular charge against these men we'll send word up the river to be on
the lookout for them."

"We'll make the charge," answered Dick.

The steam tug turned in on the New York City side and the Rover boys
went ashore.

"I'll make the regular charge a little later," said Dick. "It may be
that I'll have some men in the city arrested first." And then he and
his brothers moved off, after receiving instructions from the police
official as to what might be best to do.

"Are you going to have Japson arrested?" asked Sam.

"If I can find him. But I guess he'll keep out of sight for the
present, Sam. You must remember one thing-- these rascals only want to
keep dad a prisoner for three days. After that they will let him go--
and then it will be too late to save that property."

"Would that be so if we could prove that dad had been kept a
prisoner?" asked Tom, with much anxiety.

"I don't know. Another thing, they may make dad sign certain papers.
Don't you remember Pelter said over the telephone that he would 'make
him do it'? They'll force father into something-- if they can."

"Well, what's our next move?" asked Sam, impatiently.

"As it is after noon, we had better visit a quick lunch room and get a
bit to eat. Then I think we had better hire some private tug to take
us up the river. I am almost certain now that the Ellen Rodney went
that way."

"If she went up the river she might go all the way to Albany," said
Tom.

"Possibly, but I think those rascals would be too afraid to do that.
They'll leave the schooner at the first chance they get, and take
father with them."

The boys did not have to walk far before they came to a small shedlike
building displaying the sign, "Quick Lunch." They entered and ordered
some sandwiches, pie, and coffee. While they were eating they
questioned the proprietor about some craft to take them up the river.

"We are hunting for a schooner," explained Dick. "We don't know just
where she is. We'll pay somebody well for finding her for us."

"I know a young fellow who owns a motor-boat," said the quick lunch
man. "He could take you anywhere you'd want to go."

"Just the thing!" cried Dick, quickly. "Where is that fellow?"

"He ought to be here now-- he generally comes in about noon for
sandwiches and coffee."

"I wish he would come now," murmured Sam.

After that they did not hurry their lunch, hoping the owner of the
motor-boat would appear. He came in ten minutes later-- a bright,
cheery individual, not much older than Dick.

"Sure I can take you anywhere along the river, if you are willing to
pay for it," said he, in answer to a question from the oldest Rover
boy. "Just give me time to get a mouthful and I will be with you."

"Let us take some lunch along," suggested Tom. "There is no telling
how long this search will last."

"We might take a little," answered Dick. "But I don't think we'll be
on the river long."

Ten minutes later the crowd was on the way to the river, to a dock
where lay the motor-boat. It was not a very elegant craft, but it had
a good engine and could travel well-- and that, just then, meant
everything to the Rover boys. A bargain was struck for the run, and
the boys and the owner got aboard. And then the search for the
schooner was begun anew.

  CHAPTER XX

 A MINUTE TOO LATE

"Well, this looks like a wild goose chase, Dick."

It was Sam who spoke, from the bow of the motor-boat. For over two
hours they had been moving up the Hudson River, slowly, scanning one
shore and the other with care. They had noted many boats, but nothing
that looked like the schooner for which they were so eagerly
searching.

"They had a pretty good start of you," said John Slater, the owner of
the motor-boat. "Maybe they are up to Nyack or Haverstraw by this
time."

"Well, all we can do is to keep on and watch out," said Tom, with a
sigh. His disposition, for fun seemed to have entirely left him.

Another half hour went by, and they came in sight of a number of
lumber barges, all heavily loaded. The barges were being towed by a
big tug.

"I know the captain of that tug," said John Slater. "We might ask him
about the schooner."

"A good idea," answered Dick.

They were soon close to the steam tug and the motor-boat owner waved
his hand to the captain of the larger craft, who waved in return.

"I want to find a schooner named the Ellen Rodney!" shouted John
Slater. "Did you pass her, Captain Voss?"

"I did," was the answer. "She was opposite Nyack, heading in to
shore."

"Opposite Nyack!" exclaimed Dick, "How far is that from here?"

"Not more than two miles," answered John Slater, as he turned his
motor-boat up the river again.

"We ought to be able to catch them now!" cried Sam, his face
brightening a bit.

"Wish we had the police along," remarked Tom. "Bringing those rascals
to terms may not be as easy as you imagine."

"I've got a gun on board," said John Slater. "A double-barreled
shotgun I keep on hand to guard against river thieves. I use it to go
gunning with, too."

"Good! Better bring it out and let us look at it," returned Dick.

The weapon was produced and found to be in good condition and loaded.
It was placed on one of the seats, an oilskin raincoat being thrown
over it to hide it from view.

"We won't use force unless it is necessary," said Dick, grimly.

They soon came in sight of Nyack, but nothing that looked like the
schooner came into view.

"Maybe they went further," suggested Sam. "Their turning in might have
been a bluff-- to throw us off the trail."

"Or they may have sent a message ashore-- maybe a message to Japson!"
cried Dick.

"Of course they would want to put him on guard-- and put those at the
offices on guard, too," murmured Tom.

They continued on up the river, with their eyes ever on the alert. It
was now growing late in the afternoon and the sky was clouded, as if a
storm was coming.

"Look!" cried Dick, suddenly, and he pointed ahead and to the right.

"The schooner, sure enough!" said Tom. "And see, a rowboat is
alongside!"

"Maybe we are just in time," added Sam. "I hope so."

Without delay, the motor-boat was headed in the direction of the Ellen
Rodney. As they drew closer they saw but one man on the deck of the
schooner,-- a burly fellow who looked like a sailor.

"Schooner ahoy!" shouted Dick, as they ran alongside.

"Ahoy, the motor-boat!" cried the burly man, coming towards them.

"Are you the captain?"

"No, the captain is ashore," was the short answer.

"I'll come aboard," said Dick, and without waiting for another word
from the man he made his way to the deck, followed by Tom. He had
already directed Sam to remain in the motor-boat with John Slater, to
summon assistance if necessary.

"What do you want here?" demanded the burly man, surlily.

"I guess you know well enough," answered Dick, shortly. "Where is that
man who is a prisoner?"

"You mean the crazy man?"

"He isn't crazy, and you know it."

"Those men who had him in charge said he was crazy," grumbled the
burly individual.

"Where is he?"

"What is that to you?"

"Everything. That man is my father, and they have kidnapped him. Maybe
you know that kidnapping is a State's prison offense," added the
oldest Rover boy, sharply.

"Humph! I ain't had nothing to do with any kidnapping, young fellow,"
growled the man. "I'm the mate o' this schooner, that's all. If
anything is wrong, you'll have to see the captain about it."

"You say he went ashore?"

"Yes."

"Did those men and my father go with him?"

"All of 'em went, yes."

"Who was left here besides you?"

"Those two dago sailors, that's all," and the mate pointed to two men
who lay on the forward deck, asleep.

"Are you willing to have me take a look around?" went on Dick, after a
pause.

"You'll have to wait till the captain gets back," answered the man,
doggedly. "If there is anything wrong I don't want to be mixed up in
it."

"If you want to keep out of trouble you'll help us all you can," put
in Tom. "This is a serious business."

"I don't know a thing about it," and the man shrugged his shoulders.

Without another word Dick walked across the deck and descended into
the cabin. The burly man's face clouded and he made a move as if to
follow him.

"You stay here," said Tom, and put his hand in his hip pocket, as if
about to draw some weapon.

The man changed color and shifted uneasily.

"All right, have your own way," he said. He was a coward at heart, and
as he had not been in the plot against Anderson Rover he did not wish
to get any deeper into the trouble.

It did not take Dick long to convince himself that his father was not
on board the schooner. He called his parent's name, and then passed
swiftly through the cabin and several staterooms and also a cook's
galley. He saw where somebody had been locked in one of the
staterooms, for the compartment was in disorder and the door was
marred and cracked.

"Dad must have struggled to get away," he murmured. "I hope they
didn't hurt him."

When Dick came on deck he found Tom guarding the burly man. The two
sailors were still asleep-- or pretended to be.

"Nothing doing below," he announced. "I guess they took him ashore."

"We might as well go ashore, too, then," said his brother. "We are
wasting valuable time here." He turned to the mate. "Will you tell us
where they went? It will be to your interest to open your mouth."

"They mentioned the old Blue Horseshoe Tavern," growled the burly
mate. "But I don't know if they went there."

Dick said no more, but hurried over the side, followed by Tom. As he
left the schooner the fun-loving Rover could not help but bring from
his hip pocket an extra handkerchief and flourish it at the mate.

"There's my gun, how do you like it?" he cried, with a grin.

"Go to grass!" grunted the burly fellow, and scowled deeply.

In a few words the pair told Sam what they had learned. The motor-boat
was headed for a nearby dock, and a few minutes later the Rovers
leaped ashore.

"I don't know if I will need you again or not," said Dick to John
Slater.

"If it wasn't for watching my boat I'd go along," said the motor-boat
youth. "I am interested in this case."

"Here is your money. But I wish you would hang around a while," went
on Dick, paying him.

"I sure will hang around, and I'll watch that schooner."

"Good! Our address in New York is the Outlook Hotel," said Dick.

The boys saw nobody around the dock, which was in the rear of a small
lumber yard. They walked through the yard to an office in front. A
road ran out of the side of the yard and the boys wondered if the men
they were after had taken that.

Nobody but a boy of fifteen was in the office, clicking out a letter
on an old typewriter.

"The boss ain't around-- he had to go to New York on business," he
announced, as soon as the boys appeared. "Want to leave an order for
anything?"

"We are looking for some men who came ashore a while ago," said Dick.
"Did you see 'em?"

The boy shook his head.

"Ain't nobody been here all afternoon," he said.

"Do you know anything of a place called the Blue Horseshoe Tavern?"

"Sure I do. It's up on the post road-- the place where all the auto
parties stop," was the knowing reply.

"How far from here?"

"Not over a quarter of a mile."

"Which way?"

"I'll show you," and the boy reached for his cap. Going outside, he
led them from the yard to a road running up a hill.

"Keep right on that till you get to the Blue Horseshoe," he said. "You
can't miss it, because it's the only place around here."

They thanked the lad and hurried on. By this time it was quite dark
and a few drops of rain had begun to fall.

"The Blue Horseshoe Tavern must be one of the old-time roadhouses that
has had a revival of business since auto parties became popular," said
Dick, as he and his brothers trudged along. "I wonder what those
rascals will tell the proprietor?"

"Most likely the same old story-- that dad is crazy," answered Tom.
"That's Crabtree's favorite game."

They had just turned a curve in the road and come in sight of a low,
rambling tavern, when they saw a big touring car of the enclosed
pattern coming towards them. To avoid the machine, which was being
driven rapidly, they leaped to the side of the road.

As the touring car came closer, they saw that two men sat on the front
seat,-- the driver and a man who had his hat pulled far down over his
face and his coat collar turned up.

"Look!" yelled Tom, pointing to the man beside the driver.

"Look into the car!" yelled Sam.

The automobile rolled on, lost to sight in less than a minute, around
the bend of the road. It was headed in the direction of New York City.

"The man on the front seat with the driver was Pelter!" exclaimed Tom.

"And dad was inside the car!" gasped Sam.

"You are right," returned Dick. "And Crabtree and another man was with
him. Dad looked as if he had his hands bound behind him."

"What shall we do now?"

"How can we follow that car?"

"How did they get that auto so quick?"

"I think I know how they got the auto," said the oldest Rover boy,
after a pause. "There must be a garage at the tavern. Come on and see.
Maybe we can get another auto and follow that car!"

  CHAPTER XXI

 CAPTAIN RODNEY'S TESTIMONY

It was raining steadily when the three Rover boys reached the Blue
Horseshoe Tavern, an ancient hostelry standing at the junction of two
main roads. In the rear was a barn, and a big carriage shed which had
been converted into a garage. The youths headed for the latter place
and entered quickly, to get out of the downpour.

A colored man came forward to see what they wanted.

"Can we hire a car here, and at once?" questioned Dick.

"Sorry, boss, but we ain't got no car in jest now," answered the
colored man. "I expect one back in about an hour."

"The car that just went out?" demanded Tom.

"Yes, sah."

"Can't you get us any sort of a car?" pleaded Sam.

"Ain't got nuffin' in 'ceptin' a roadster, an' that won't run--
sumthin' the matter with the carburetor."

"Are you sure that other car will be back in an hour?" demanded Dick.

"I think so. The gents as took it said they didn't want to go more
than ten miles."

"All right, we'll wait till the car gets back," answered Dick, struck
with a sudden idea.

"But, Dick, we'll lose valuable time," whispered Sam.

"Perhaps not, Sam. If we got a car now we wouldn't know where to go.
If that driver comes back and takes us----"

"Oh, I see."

"Fine!" murmured Tom.

"You call us as soon as that car shows itself," said Dick, to the
colored man. "We'll be in the tavern."

"Yes, sah," was the reply, and the man readily pocketed the quarter
that the oldest Rover tossed to him.

The boys ran to the tavern by a side entrance which was not far from
the shed. They walked along a porch until they came to some windows
opening from a dining room.

"Look in there!" cried Tom, coming to a halt.

The others did as directed and saw, at one of the tables, the man they
had seen on the deck of the Ellen Rodney. "It's Captain Rodney," went
on Tom, who had learned the name from the schooner's mate.

"And he is alone, which proves that the others were in that auto with
dad," returned Sam.

"I'm going to interview him!" cried Dick. "And maybe I'll have him
arrested."

All three boys walked into the dining room of the tavern and took
seats at the same table with the master of the schooner. He started,
and was about to spring to his feet, when Dick stopped him.

"Sit where you are," said the oldest Rover boy, sternly. "If you
attempt to leave I'll call the police."

"What do you-- er-- mean?" stammered the man, and he looked decidedly
uncomfortable.

"I reckon you know who we are, Captain Rodney," said Tom.

"I don't."

"We are Anderson Rover's sons," said Sam.

"Never heard of that man," faltered the captain.

"You had him a prisoner only a short while ago."

"Oh, you mean that crazy man who was aboard my schooner? I thought his
name was Brown."

"See here, Captain Rodney, you can't fool us, so you had better not
try," said Dick, sternly. "You know the game those men are trying to
play. They are going to prison for it,-- and you'll go, too, if you
are not careful."

"What! you threaten me!" roared the man, growing red in the face.

"I do."

"I can have the law on you for it."

"Go ahead, the sooner the better," responded Dick, coolly. "Those men
are rascals and you know it. Now, I am going to give you one chance--
just one," went on Dick, looking the master of the Ellen Rodney
squarely in the eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"As I said before, those men are rascals. They abducted my father, and
you aided them. I can prove it. As soon as we rescue my father we are
going to prosecute those rascals. If you want to save your own skin
you had better help us all you can."

At these plain words the face of Captain Rodney became a study.

"They told me he was a crazy man-- a brother to one of the others--
and they wanted to get him to some sanitarium."

"If that was so, why did they run away?"

"I didn't know they ran away-- until just now."

"You started to go down the river," said Tom.

"Why did you change your mind and come here?"

"They chartered the schooner for a week-- I was under their orders."

"Where were they going at first?"

"Down the Jersey coast and back. They said they thought a little ocean
air would do the crazy man good before they put him in the sanitarium.
I own up that I was suspicious, but they claimed everything was
straight."

"They were going to take my father down the coast for several days so
that he could not sign important papers," returned Dick. "It is a
well-laid plot to do our family out of a great deal of money and
dishonor my father."

"Well, I ain't in it, I give you my word. I chartered my vessel to
'em, that's all."

"We will take you at your word, then. But you must tell all you know
about them and their plans," said Dick, after a pause.

"And if I do that, will you-- er-- drop the charge against me?"
questioned the master of the Ellen Rodney, eagerly.

"If you don't, we are going to have you

placed under arrest as soon as we can get an officer."

"Don't do that! I never had any trouble before and I don't want it
now. I'll help you all I can-- if what you say its true, and that man
is your father."

After that the captain was quite willing to talk, and he told how
Crabtree and Japson had come to him and questioned him about the
schooner, and finally chartered the craft for a week. They had at
first wanted to pay him at the end of the time, but he had insisted
upon receiving his money in advance and it was then paid over. He had
been told that the strange man was Crabtree's brother, who had gone
crazy because of the loss of his money in a Western irrigation scheme.

"They said they would take him down the coast for three or four days,
to brace him up a bit. Then we were to run in at Absecon, near
Atlantic City, and land all hands. They said they would go from
Atlantic City to Lakewood, where the sanitarium was located."

"Probably they intended to let him go at Absecon and then deny that
they had ever touched him," said Dick.

"Maybe-- I don't know anything about that," replied the captain.

"But how did you come to change your plans?" asked Tom.

"When you came out in that rowboat and the crazy man-- excuse me, I
mean your father-- cut up so, they hustled him back to one of the
state-rooms," went on Captain Rodney. "Then they had a long talk. I
think they were afraid you would go down the river by train and try to
head them off "Which we did," murmured Sam.

"After a while Pelter and Japson came to me and said they must come up
the river-- that a sister of the crazy man lived up here, and they
must visit her before they went down the coast. I was suspicious, but
what could I do? I had chartered my vessel and I had my money, so I
obeyed orders. Then we came up here as fast as we could. The steam tug
was dismissed, and we came ashore to this place. Then they hired an
auto and went off-- and that's all I know about it."

"You don't know where they went?" cried Dick.

"No more than what they said-- that they were going to the crazy man's
sister."

"Which was false," muttered Tom.

"What were you to do?" asked Dick.

"They told me I might sail up the river to Newburgh and wait there for
a telegram."

After that the captain talked freely. But what he had to say shed but
little more light on the subject. The boys came to the conclusion that
he had been dragged into the plot without knowing what it was, but
that he had been willing to lend his help, provided he was well paid
for it.

"When the proper time comes I shall want your testimony," said Dick,
at the conclusion of the interview. "In the meantime I advise you to
have no more to do with those fellows."

"They shan't come near the schooner, even if they did charter her,"
growled Captain Rodney.

  CHAPTER XXII

 HOT ON THE TRAIL

The boys had no appetite, but as they were in the dining room they
ordered a light lunch and paid for it. Then they saw an automobile
come splashing through the mud of the road.

"There is that car!" cried Sam, as be recognized the driver.

The boys ran out and made their way through the rain to the garage.
The enclosed touring car had just entered and the driver had shut off
the power. The wind shield had been up, but the man had gotten quite
wet and stood shaking the water from his coat.

"Here's the car!" cried the colored man, coming forward.

"So I see," returned Dick. He turned to the driver. "Pretty bad
traveling, I imagine."

"You bet! The road is a mass of slippery mud. I came near skidding
half a dozen times."

"Where did you go?" and Dick stepped closer to the chauffeur.

The man started and looked at the oldest Rover boy sharply.

"What's that to you?" he asked, shortly.

"Everything. We want to go to the same place."

"And as quickly as you can get us there," added Tom.

The chauffeur surveyed the three Rovers in amazement. Then he took off
his coat and shook it briskly.

"Sorry, but I can't take you," he said, slowly. "I've got another job
in-- er-- in half an hour."

"You are going to take us," said Dick, firmly. "And right away. What
did those men pay you?"

"What is that----"

"How much-- out with it? I haven't any time to spare."

"Ten dollars."

"All right. You'd like another ten, wouldn't you?"

"Sure. But----"

"Ten dollars to get us to the same place inside of twenty minutes,"
went on Dick, and showed a roll of bankbills.

"Can't do it-- in this slippery weather," answered the man, his eyes
glistening at the sight of the money. "Make it in half an hour."

"All tight then."

"I'll put on the chains," cried the chauffeur, and brought out the
anti-skidding chains for the rear wheels. The boys got the colored man
to assist him, and the chains were soon adjusted. Then the car was
backed out of the garage and the three Rovers leaped inside.

"Now, don't lose a minute," said Dick.

"I won't. But we are taking chances on this road, sir, I can tell you
that."

It was still raining steadily, and the highway was a mass of oily
mud,-- a splendid compound upon which to skid. On and on rushed the
touring car at a rate of speed varying from twenty to thirty-five
miles an hour.

"I could eat this road up if it was dry," shouted the chauffeur. "The
machine is good for fifty miles an hour."

"Well, don't climb a tree, or a stone wall," cautioned Dick, grimly.

Ordinarily the Rover boys might have been anxious because of such wild
riding, but now every thought was centered on their father. How he was
faring, and would they be able to rescue him?

Twice the touring car made dangerous lurches to one side, once fairly
brushing some trees which lined the roadway. But the driver stuck to
his post, and gained the middle of the roadway again, and rushed on as
rapidly as ever.

"I'll wager he doesn't own the machine," muttered Sam. "If he did,
he'd be more careful of it."

"Well, he owns his own neck," returned Tom, grimly. "So maybe he'll be
careful of that."

They passed through several small villages, the inhabitants gazing out
curiously at the rushing and swaying car. Then they took to a side
road, where the traveling was worse than ever.

Suddenly the car made a turn. They had struck a rut in the road and
even the chains did not save them. Around swung the automobile. There
was a grinding of the brakes and the power was shut off. Then came a
jar that sent the Rover boys in a heap.

"Something has happened sure!" cried Tom, who was the first to get up.

They looked out of the door of the enclosed car. They had come up to a
mass of bushes beside the road, and the left front wheel had struck a
rock and was twisted around. The mud guard on that side had crumpled
up.

"I guess the journey is over-- so far as this car is concerned,"
muttered Dick, as he leaped out, followed by his brothers.

The chauffeur was trying his steering wheel. The right wheel
responded, but that which had hit the rock did not.

"Out of commission!" he said, with a frown. "I was afraid something
would happen."

"If it's only the steering gear it won't cost much," said Dick. "How
much further to that place?"

"Not over half a mile."

"Then we'll walk it!" cried Tom.

"Of course," added Sam.

"Ain't you going to pay me!" exclaimed the chauffeur, in dismay. "I
did my best."

"Yes, I'll pay you," responded Dick. "And give you an extra five for
the repairs. Now tell us just where that place is, and what sort."

"It's a country home,-- a white place, set in a lot of trees,-- with a
wind mill back of the barn. Got a green hedge in front-- the right
side of the road-- you can't miss it."

"Did you hear the name of the owner?"

"Belongs to one of the crowd-- man named Japson. It's an old country
home that was in his family for years. He don't live there, but it's
furnished, I understand."

The boys said no more, but as soon as the chauffeur was paid, they set
off through the rain. It was a disagreeable journey, and but little
was said. All wondered what would be best to do when they reached the
place for which they were bound.

"I wish we had the sheriff and his posse with us, as we had when we
rounded up those rascals at Plankville," said Tom.

"Or if we only had John Slater's shotgun," added Sam.

"Never mind. As I understand it, we are three to three," said Dick.
"And we can arm ourselves with heavy sticks," which they presently
proceeded to do, tearing up some bushes for that purpose.

It was not long before they came in sight of a long, high hedge. Back
of it was a white house, surrounded by numerous old trees. Over the
trees showed the top of an old wind mill, used for pumping water from
a driven well.

"Think we had better go right up to the door and knock?" asked Sam, as
they halted at the edge of the hedge.

"No, I think we had better spy around a little at first," answered his
big brother.

All crawled through a gap in the hedge and, skulking from tree to
tree, gradually neared the house. Near one of the windows grew some
bushes, and they crept along to these. Then Dick looked through the
window.

He saw Pelter and Japson seated at a table, going over some legal
papers. Nobody else was visible.

"Perhaps Crabtree took father to some other place, after the chauffeur
left!" thought the youth, in dismay.

The window was closed, so the boys could not hear what was being said.
They consulted among themselves, and walked around the house, being
careful to keep well under the windows, which were rather high.

"Here is a cellar door, let us try that," said Tom, and he raised it
up, and almost before they knew it, they were in the cellar under the
building.

Above them they could hear footsteps and a murmur of voices. Evidently
Josiah Crabtree had joined the brokers.

"You stay here and I'll investigate further," said Dick, after a
pause, during which he had espied a stairs leading upward to the rear
of the house.

He mounted the stairs and came out into a wide kitchen. No one was
present, nor did any fire burn in the big stove. From the kitchen a
door led to a dining room, which, in turn, led to a sitting room. In
the last-named room were the three men.

"Do you think he'll raise a row?" Pelter was asking.

"He can't raise much of a row, with that towel bound over his mouth,"
replied Josiah Crabtree.

"It's lucky we had this place to come to," put in Japson. "I only hope
they don't get on our trail and follow us."

"I don't think they will follow us here," said Pelter. Then followed a
murmur, as he and the other broker went over the legal papers on the
table.

Dick wondered what he had best do next. He gazed around the kitchen
and saw a small side door, opening on an enclosed stairs leading to
the second floor. He went up the stairs noiselessly.

  CHAPTER XXIII

 THE RESCUE

The oldest Rover boy had reached a rapid conclusion. This was that his
father was not on the first floor of the house, nor in the cellar.
Consequently, if he was in the building at all-- and Dick believed he
was-- he must be somewhere upstairs. While the three rascals were in
the sitting room he intended to make a quick investigation.

With his stick still in his hand, in case of attack, Dick reached the
second floor and entered a small bed chamber. Opening from this was a
second room, containing a cot. Beyond the rooms was a closet, and that
was all.

"Too bad! This stairs leads only to a kitchen addition!" murmured the
boy. "How can I get into the main house? Why didn't they cut a door
through?"

He looked out of a window and saw the roof of a porch. At the end of
the roof was another window, one of a room in the main building.
Without hesitation Dick raised the sash of the window at which he
stood and stepped out on the porch top. Soon he was at the other
window.

It was locked, but the catch was not a strong one, and with the blade
of his pocketknife he easily pushed it back. Then the sash came up and
he stepped into the bedroom beyond.

The room was empty and the bed showed that it had not been used for
some time. Dick crossed the apartment and opened a door leading to a
wide hallway. From downstairs came a murmur of voices. The rascals
were still in consultation.

Swiftly the oldest Rover boy passed from one room to another of the
big house. Each was empty, and in the last he came to a halt, somewhat
dismayed. Then he thought of an enclosed staircase he had noticed,
leading to the next floor, and he hurried to this.

The third floor of the building was but an open garret, piled high
with old furniture and discarded things generally. The two windows
were covered with dirt and cobwebs, and as it was dark outside,
because of the rain, Dick could see but little.

"Father!" he called softly. "Father, are you here?"

He listened and heard a tapping, coming from one end of the garret. He
moved over in the direction and struck a match. Then he gave a cry,
half of gladness and half of dismay.

His parent was there, bound to an upright of the garret floor. He had
his hands behind him, and a towel was tied over his mouth. With deft
fingers Dick unloosed the towel, and then he cut his father's bonds
with his pocketknife.

"Oh, Dick! How glad I am that you have come!" gasped Anderson Rover,
when he could speak. "That towel nearly smothered me!"

"Did they hurt you any, Dad?" asked the boy anxiously.

"Not so very much, Dick. We had several rough and tumble fights,--
when I tried to get away from them. But they were too many for me.
Have they gone?"

"No, they are in the sitting room below, talking matters over."

"And you came here all alone?" asked Mr. Rover, stretching his cramped
limbs.

"No, Tom and Sam are down in the cellar. I told them I would come
upstairs and investigate."

"Good! Then we are four to three. I am glad to know that. It will make
it easier to get away from them."

"Have you done anything for them-- I mean, signed any papers, or
anything like that?" asked the son, anxiously.

"No. They wanted to keep me from signing certain papers that must be
signed inside of two days, Dick."

"I know it."

"They also wanted me to sign other documents, and Crabtree said if I
didn't do it he would leave me here to starve!"

"The rascal!" muttered Dick. "We have got to get him back to jail,
that's sure! Are you sure you are well enough to go with me, Dad? "

"I-- I think so, Dick. But this has been an awful strain on me,"
sighed Anderson Rover.

He was very pale, and the hand he placed on Dick's shoulder trembled
greatly.

"After this you must let me attend to business for you," said the son.
"I am old enough to do it. You need a complete rest."

"Yes, Dick, but your college career----"

"We'll talk about those things later, Dad. First, I want to get you
away from here, and in a safe place. Then we'll attend to Crabtree,
Pelter and Japson," added Dick, grimly.

"The business matters have been too much for me-- I realize it now,"
sighed Anderson Rover. "I must take a rest-- a good, long rest. They
would not have gotten the best of me if I had been stronger."

"Come," said Dick. "Don't make any noise if you can help it," he
added, in a whisper.

He guided his parent, and both tiptoed their way to the second floor
of the dwelling. Then they entered the bed chamber opening on the top
of the porch, and so made their way down to the kitchen and then into
the cellar.

"Father!" cried Sam and Tom, simultaneously, and rushed to embrace
their parent.

"My boys!" murmured Anderson Rover, and the tears stood in his eyes.
Never before had he realized how much they were to him.

"Come on-- no time to talk now," said Dick, in a low voice. "We'll get
away from here first."

"But those rascals--" began Sam.

"We'll take care of them, Sam, never fear."

The boys led their father from the cellar and across the back yard to
the barn. From the barn a lane ran to the main road. The lane had a
hedge that practically hid it from the house.

"Wait here, in the barn," said Dick. "But keep out of sight."

"Where are you going?" asked Tom.

"To watch on the road for a wagon or an auto, to take us to the
nearest town or railroad station."

"Going to leave those men here, Dick?"

"Not much! I thought Sam might take dad back to New York, while you
and I had it out with Crabtree and the others."

"Good! I'm with you!" cried Tom.

Dick posted himself on the highway, and presently saw a covered wagon
approaching, drawn by a spirited team. The driver was a young man,
evidently from some nearby town.

"Going to town?" asked Dick, as he stopped the fellow.

"Yes, want a ride?" and the young man smiled.

"I don't, but another fellow, my brother, and my father, do," said
Dick. "If you'll take them, we'll pay you."

"All right," was the answer. "Come right along."

"How far is it to the railroad station?" went on Dick.

"About two miles."

"Will you take 'em over?"

"Sure-- I'm going there myself."

Dick hurried back to the barn, and soon Sam and Mr. Rover were in the
wagon. Before Sam left his big brother gave him some instructions in
private. Then the wagon went on through the rain.

"Thank heaven! dad is safe!" murmured Tom, when the wagon had
disappeared. "I hope Sam doesn't let him out of his sight until those
business affairs are settled up."

"He is going to take him to the Outlook Hotel first," answered Dick.
"But he is going to do more than that, Tom-- if it is possible."

"What?"

"I told him to stop in that town and send some help here-- a police
official, or a constable, or some men. Crabtree has got to go back to
jail, and I think we ought to have Pelter and Japson locked up, too--
although that may depend upon what father may have to say."

"Then we can't do anything until somebody gets here from town," said
Tom, somewhat disappointedly.

"We can watch those rascals and listen to what they are talking
about," returned Dick.

Both boys returned to the barn, to get out of the rain. Then they
sneaked to the cellar of the house and up to the kitchen, and then to
a little storeroom next to the dining room. From the storeroom they
could catch much of the conversation coming from the three men in the
dining room.

There were some matters Dick and Tom did not understand. But from what
was said they learned that Japson was a distant relative of Josiah
Crabtree and the two had been in several shady transactions together.
Crabtree had agreed, if aided in his escape from the Plankville jail,
to assist the brokers in making Anderson Rover a prisoner and keeping
him such until he signed certain documents and until the time had
passed when he could no longer take up the options which were so
valuable to the Rovers and their friends.

"Well, I think these documents are all right," the boys heard Jesse
Pelter say, presently. "Now we can turn them over to Belright Fogg and
tell him to go ahead."

The boys looked at each other in amazement. Belright Fogg! The lawyer
who had tried to outwit them in their claim against the railroad
company because of the smashed Dartaway! Was that fellow mixed up in
this game also? It looked like it.

  CHAPTER XXIV

 FROM A GARRET WINDOW

"This is getting interesting!" whispered Tom.

"I should say so," murmured Dick.

"That must have been what was bringing Belright Fogg down to New York
City."

"It looks like it."

"Well, if he is mixed up in this he can get pinched with the rest of
the rascals."

"Right you are."

After that the boys listened to more of the talk between the brokers
and Josiah Crabtree. From what was said it was easy to guess that the
plotters expected to make quite a large sum of money out of their evil
doings.

"But you have got to get Rover's signatures to those papers," said
Jesse Pelter.

"We'll do it!" cried Josiah Crabtree. "Even if we have to starve him
into it."

"I hope those boys didn't come after the schooner," muttered Japson.

"I reckon Captain Rodney will know how to throw 'em off the scent,"
returned Crabtree.

"We were lucky to find that automobile at the tavern," went on Pelter.

Some more talk followed and then Japson exclaimed:

"Why can't we make Rover sign those papers now? Maybe we can scare him
into it."

"We might try," answered his partner, slowly.

The men arose and Japson lit a lantern, for he knew it was dark in the
garret. Then, one behind the other, they filed out into the hallway
and went upstairs.

"They are going to find out something pretty soon!" chuckled Tom.

"Come on, let us follow 'em, Tom," answered his brother. "I've got a
new idea."

"What is it?"

"Perhaps we can lock 'em in that garret until help arrives."

"Just the cheese, Dick! I remember there was a lock on the door,-- and
maybe we can fasten it in some other way, too-- so they can't break
out."

"They can't get out by the windows-- they are too high from the
ground."

By this time the three men were mounting the garret stairs. They had
to pass around a pile of furniture to get to where Anderson Rover had
been kept a prisoner.

"Quick now!" cried Dick, as the men disappeared from view. He closed
the garret door and turned the key in the lock. "Get a chair or two,
Tom, so we can wedge the door fast."

Tom understood, and ran into a nearby room, to bring out a square
table. The stairway to the garret ran from a right angle of the wall,
so that the table could be stood up against the door, with the bottom
of the four legs against the wall opposite. Some books chanced to be
handy, and the lads were able to place these against the wall under
the feet of the table legs, thus wedging the door fast.

"Now I reckon they'll have their own job getting out!" cried Tom,
grimly.

"Go to a front window and watch the road," ordered his big brother.
"If you see any help coming, call them."

Tom at once departed, to station himself at the window of one of the
front bed chambers. By this time a clattering of feet could be heard
on the garret stairs.

"He has locked the door on us!" came a cry in Jesse Pelter's voice.

"How did he get free?" asked Japson. "I thought we tied him good."

"He cut the ropes!" cried Josiah Crabtree. "But how he got hold of his
knife to do it, I can't guess."

Dick had to smile to himself. Evidently the rascals thought his father
had liberated himself and turned the tables on them.

"Hi, Rover! Are you out there?" called Jesse Pelter. "If you are you
had better unlock that door."

To this call Dick did not answer.

"He must have run away!" exclaimed Japson. "Break the door down! We
must catch him!"

"That's the talk!" added Josiah Crabtree, in great excitement.

"Touch the door at your peril!" cried Dick, sharply. "I am armed and I
will stand no nonsense!"

"Who is that?" asked Japson.

"That wasn't Rover's voice," added his partner.

"I think I know who that is," answered Josiah Crabtree, and his voice
commenced to tremble. "Dick Rover, is that you?" he called, faintly.

"Yes. Don't you dare to touch that door, Crabtree," replied Dick.

"Is it Dick Rover?" questioned Pelter.

"Yes."

"Anderson Rover's oldest son? The one who was in the rowboat with the
others?"

"Yes."

"Then we have been followed after all!" shouted Japson, hoarsely. "We
have been trapped!"

"You've hit the nail on the head," called out Dick. "Now, don't touch
that door, or it will be the worse for you."

"Is he alone?" whispered Pelter.

"No, I am not alone!" answered Dick. "Hi, Tom, am I alone?" he called.

"Not much!" answered Tom. "We are all on deck here, and all armed. You
just sit still and suck your thumbs until the officers come," he
added, dryly.

"The officers!" shrieked Josiah Crabtree, and was so overcome that he
sank down on one of the steps of the stairs.

"See here, Dick Rover," said Jesse Pelter, after a pause. "Let us see
if we can't-- er-- patch this up somehow."

"You can do your patching-up after you are in jail, Mr. Pelter."

"If you have me arrested, boy, you will be sorry for it!" growled the
broker.

"We can ruin your family, and disgrace your father," added Japson.
"Better let us go and fix this up without the police."

"No, I am going to have you locked up," replied Dick, determinedly.
"As to what charge will be brought against you, I'll have to consult
my father about that first."

"You lock us up and you'll get nothing out of us!" growled Japson. "We
can ruin your family, and we'll do it!"

"Can't we get out another way?" asked Josiah Crabtree, in a whisper.

"I don't think so," said the owner of the house. "We can go up and
look around."

All returned to the garret floor and walked to one window and the
other. The distance to the ground was all of twenty-five feet, too far
for any of them to risk a drop.

"We might make a rope of these old blankets," suggested Jesse Pelter.
"Talk to Rover at the door while I try it."

His partner went back to the door, while the others commenced to make
a rope by tearing a blanket into strips and tying the ends together.
The back window was raised and the rope lowered.

"Nobody in sight!" cried Crabtree, looking down. "Oh, I trust we can
get away from them!" He saw a term in prison staring him in the face.

"Don't lose any time!" cried Japson. "Here, tie the end fast to that
old bed. Now let me get out!"

"I'll go first!" cried Josiah Crabtree, and shoved the broker aside.
With trembling hands he grasped the improvised rope and slipped out of
the window.

In the meantime Dick commenced to suspect that all was not right and
called to Tom.

"Go below and outside and look at those windows," he said. "If they
try to drop, shy some stones at 'em!"

"I will!" answered Tom, and ran down the stairs three steps at a time.
He looked up at the front of the house but saw nothing unusual. Then
he dashed to the rear.

"Hi! stop!" he called out, as he saw Josiah Crabtree dangling just
under the garret window. "Get back there, or I'll fire at you!" And
looking around, Tom saw a sharp stone and picked it up.

As he did this there was a sudden tearing sound, and the blanket-rope
parted at the point where it passed over the window sill. Josiah
Crabtree uttered a wild yell of terror and clutched vainly at the sill
and the clapboards under it. Then he came tumbling to the ground,
doubling up in a heap as he did so. Tom expected him to arise and run,
but he lay still where he had fallen.

"He's hurt, seriously hurt!" muttered the youth. "Maybe he's killed!"

  CHAPTER XXV

 WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM

Tom glanced up, to see the white face of Jesse Pelter peering down
upon him.

"You had better let us out of this!" cried the broker, hoarsely.

"You stay where you are-- if you know, what is best for you!" returned
Tom.

"Is he dead?" went on the broker, referring to Crabtree.

"I don't know."

The youth ran up to the former school teacher and turned him over. As
he did this Josiah Crabtree gave a gasp and a groan and opened his
eyes.

"Oh! Oh! what a-- a fa-- fall!"

"If you hadn't tried to get away it wouldn't have happened," returned
Tom, briefly. He could have but little sympathy for such a hardened
rascal.

Josiah Crabtree sat up and then tried to get to his feet. There was a
cut on his forehead from which the blood was flowing.

"Oh! oh!" cried the man and put his hand to his left leg. It was
twisted under him in a peculiar fashion. To get up on it was
impossible, and Crabtree fell back with a cry of pain and fright.

"My leg! It is broken! Oh, what shall I do? Rover, please help me!"
And the former teacher turned a look of genuine misery on Tom.

"Let me examine it," said the boy, in a more kindly tone. He
approached the man and felt of the injured limb. By the way it was
doubled up Tom felt certain it must be broken, perhaps in two places.

"I don't know what I can do," said Tom. "I guess you need a doctor.
I'll carry you to the barn, if you say so-- or into the house."

"Can't you-- you----" began Josiah Crabtree, and then another look of
pain crossed his face and he fainted.

Alarmed, Tom picked up the tall, thin form and carried the man into
the house, for it was still raining, although not as hard as before.
He placed Crabtree on an old couch in the sitting room and, getting
some water, laid a wet cloth over his bruised and swelling forehead.
Knowing but little about broken limbs, he did not attempt to do
anything for the broken leg but placed that member out in a somewhat
straight position. He called up to Dick and told his brother of what
had happened.

"Keep the other fellows up there, Tom!" yelled back the big brother.
"Don't let 'em get away!"

At this Tom ran out of the house once more. With the fall of Crabtree
had come the greater portion of the blanket-rope. Pelter had
disappeared from the window, and evidently he and Japson were in
consultation.

"See here, Rover, we want to talk to you!" called out the broker,
reappearing at the window a minute later. "Call your brothers."

"What do you want?"

"We want to fix matters up with you."

"You can do that after you are in jail."

"You'll gain nothing by having us arrested."

"That remains to be seen."

"We have got the upper hand in those deals with your father and if you
have us locked up we won't let go-- no matter what happens," put in
Japson.

"We'll make you let go," returned Tom, with determination. "You
fellows have reached the end of your string, and the sooner you
realize it the better it will be for you."

"Bah! Do you think we'll give up the things we have fought so hard to
get? Not much!"