"Is this Mrs. Stanhope's place?"  he questioned, as Dora
appeared.

"Yes."

"Here's a letter for Miss Dora Stanhope," and he held out the
missive.

"Whom is it from?"

"I don't know.  A boy down by the lake gave it to me," was the
answer, and without further words the lad hurried off, having
received instructions that he must not tarry around the place
after the delivery of the communication.

Tearing open the letter Dora read it with deep interest.

"What can Dick have to tell me?" she mused.  "Can it be something
about Mr. Crabtree?  It must be."

Dropping her work, she ran upstairs, changed her dress, put on
her hat, and started for the boathouse.

It took her but a short while to reach the place, but to her
surprise nobody was in sight.

"Can I have made some mistake?" she murmured; when the _Falcon_
hove into view from around a bend in the shore line.

"Is that Miss Stanhope?" shouted a strange man, who seemed to be
the sole occupant of the craft.

"Yes, I am Dora Stanhope," answered the girl.

"Dick Rover sent me over from the other side of the lake.  He
told me if I saw you to take you over to Nelson Point."

Nelson Point was a grove situated directly opposite Cedarville.
It was a place much used by excursionists and picnic parties.

"Thank you," said Dora, never suspecting that anything was wrong.
"If you'll come in a little closer I will go with you."

The _Falcon_ was brought in, and Dora leaped on board of the yacht.

She had scarcely done so when Mumps and Dan Baxter stepped from
the cabin.

"Oh, dear!" she gasped.  "Where--where did you come from?"

"Didn't quite expect to see us here, did you?" grinned the former
bully of Putnam Hall.

"I did not," answered Dora coldly.  "What--where is Dick
Rover?"

"Over to Nelson Point."

"Did he send you over here for me?"

"Of course he did," said Mumps.

"I do not believe it.  This is some trick!" burst out the girl.
"I want you to put me on shore again."

"You can't go ashore now," answered Baxter.

"Ease her off, Goss."

"Right you are," answered Bill Goss.  "What's the course now?"

"Straight down the lake."

"All right."

"You are not going to take me down the lake!" cried Dora in
increased alarm.

"Yes, we are."

"I--I won't go!"

"I don't see how you are to help yourself," responded Baxter
roughly.

"Dan Baxter, you are a brute!"

"If you can't say anything better than that, you had better say
nothing!" muttered Baxter.

"I will say what I please.  You have no right to carry me off in
this fashion!"

"Well, I took the right."

"You shall be locked up for it."

"You'll have to place me in the law's hands first."

"I don't believe Dick Rover sent that letter at all!"

"You can believe what you please."

"You forged his name to it."

"Let us talk about something else."

"You are as bad as your father, and that is saying a good deal,"
went on the poor girl bitterly.

"See here, don't you dare to speak of my father!" roared the
bully in high anger.  "My father is as good as anybody.  This is
only a plot against him--gotten up by the Rovers and his other
enemies."

Dan Baxter's manner was so terrible that Dora sank back on a camp
stool nearly overcome.  Then, seeing some men at a distance, on
the shore, she set up a scream for help.

"Here, none of that!" ejaculated Mumps, and clapped his hand over
her mouth.

"Let me go!" she screamed. "Help!  Help!"

"We'll put her in the cabin," ordered Dan Baxter, and also caught
hold of Dora.  She struggled with all the strength at her
command, but was as a baby in their grasp, and soon found herself
in the cabin with the door closed and locked behind her.

It was then that her nerves gave way, and, throwing herself on a
couch, she burst into tears.

"What will they do with me?" she moaned.  "Oh, that I was home
again!"

It was a long while before she could compose herself sufficiently
to sit up.  In the meantime the _Falcon_ was sailing down the lake
toward Cayuga with all speed.

"This must be some plan of Josiah Crabtree to get me away from
home," she thought.  "Poor mother!  I wonder what will happen to
her while I am away?  If that man gets her to marry him what will
I do?  I can never live with them--never!"  And she heaved a
deep sigh.

Presently she arose and walked to the single window of which the
cabin boasted.  It was open, but several little iron bars had
been screwed fast on the outside.

"They have me like a bird in a cage," she thought.  "Where will
this dreadful adventure end?"

Hour after hour went by and she was not molested.  Then came a
knock on the cabin door.

"Dora!  Dora Stanhope!" came in Dan Baxter's voice.

"Well?"

"Will you behave yourself if I unlock the door?"

"It is you who ought to behave yourself," she retorted.

"Never mind about that.  I have something for you to eat."

"I don't want a mouthful."  And Dora spoke the truth, for the
food would have choked her.

"You had better have a sandwich and a glass of milk."

"If you want to do something, give me a glass of water," she said
finally, for she wished a drink badly, the cabin was so hot and
stuffy.

Baxter went away, and presently unlocked the door and handed her
the water, of which she drank eagerly.

"Where are you going to take me?" she questioned, as she passed
back the glass.

"You'll learn that all in good time, Dora.  Come, why not take
the whole matter easy?" went on the bully, as he dropped into a
seat near her.

"How can I take it easy?"

"We won't hurt you--I'll give you my word on that."

She was about to say that his word was not worth giving, but
restrained herself.  If she angered Baxter, there was no telling
what the fellow might do.

"Is this a plot of Josiah Crabtree's?" she asked sharply.

Baxter started.  "How did you--" he began, and stopped short.
"You had better not ask any questions."

"Which means that you will not answer any?"

"You can take it that way if you want to, Dora."

"It was a mean trick you played on me."

"Let's talk of something else. We are going to leave the _Falcon_
soon, and I want to know if you are going with us quietly?"

"Leave the _Falcon_?"

"Yes, at Cayuga."

"Are we there already?" gasped Dora in dismay.

"We soon will be."

"I don't wish to go with you."

"But we want you to go. If you go quietly all will be well--and I'll
promise to see you safe home in less than twenty-four hours."

"You wish to keep me away from home that length of time?"

"If you must know, yes."

"And why?  So Josiah Crabtree can--can--"  She did not finish.

"So that Mr. Crabtree can interview your mother--yes," put in
Mumps, who had just appeared.  "Baxter, there's no use in beating
around the bush.  Crabtree is bound to marry Mrs. Stanhope, and
Dora may as well know it now as later."




CHAPTER XVIII

STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY


"That man will never marry my mother with my consent!" burst out
the unhappy girl.

"She probably won't ask your consent," sneered Mumps.

"She would not marry him if I was with her.  He only has an
influence over her when I am away."

"Exactly--and he knows that," put in Baxter.

"Do you mean to say Josiah Crabtree is going to marry her now?"
demanded Dora, springing to her feet.

"More than likely."

"Then he--he hired you to carry me off?"

"We'll talk about something else," said the bully.  "Will you
leave the _Falcon_ quietly?"

"Where do you want me to go?"

"To the home of an old lady who will treat you as nicely as she
possibly can."

Dora shook her head.  "I don't wish to go anywhere excepting
home, and I won't submit a bit longer than I have to."

"Don't be foolish!" exclaimed Mumps.  "We might treat you a good
deal worse if we were of a mind to do so.  Crabtree told us to
bind and gag you."

"He did?"

"Yes.  He says you are a perfect minx."

A few words more followed, and then both of the boys left the
cabin.

"She won't submit," whispered Mumps.

"What had we best do?"

"Use the drug Crabtree gave us," answered Baxter.  "It's a lucky
thing I brought that vial."

"Yes--if we don't have any trip-up in the matter," answered the
toady, with a doubtful shake of his head.  Mumps had gone into
the whole scheme rather unwillingly, but now saw no way of
backing out.

A little later the _Falcon_ ran into the harbor of Cayuga and came
to anchor close to one of the docks.  Then Baxter appeared with
some sandwiches and a glass of milk.

"You might as well eat; it's foolish not to," he said, and set
the food on a little stand.

By this time Dora was very hungry, and as soon as the bully had
left she applied herself to what had been brought.  Poor
creature, she did not know that both sandwiches and milk had been
doctored with a drug calculated to make her dull and sleepy!

She had hardly finished the scant meal when her eyes began to
grow heavy.  Then her brain seemed to become clouded and she
could scarcely remember where she was.

"Here's news!" cried Baxter, coming in an hour later.  "We are to
join your mother and Mr. Crabtree at Albany."

"At Albany?" she repeated slowly.  "Have--have they gone
there?"

"Yes; they are going on a honeymoon on the yacht _Flyaway_.  Your
mother wants you to join her and forgive her."

Dora heaved a long sigh.  "I cannot! I cannot!" she sobbed, and
burst again into tears.

Nevertheless, she allowed herself to be led off the _Falcon_ and to
the depot.  "Your face is full of tears," said Baxter.  "Here,
put this veil over it," and she was glad enough to do as bidden,
that folks might not stare at her.

What happened afterward was very much like a dream to her.  She
remembered entering the cars and crouching down in a seat, with
Baxter beside her.  A long ride in the night followed, and she
slept part of the way, although troubled with a horrible
nightmare.  She wanted to flee, but seemed to lack both the
physical and mental strength to do so.

The ride at an end, Baxter and Mumps almost carried her to the
river.  Here the _Flyaway_ was in waiting.  Bill Goss had gone on
ahead and notified his wife that she was wanted.  It may as well
be added here that Mrs. Goss was as coarse and unprincipled as
her husband.

When Dora's mind was once more clear she found herself in a much
larger cabin than that she had formerly occupied.  She lay on a
couch, and Mrs. Goss, a fat, ugly-looking creature, sat beside
her.

"Are you awake, dear?" asked the woman as smoothly as she could.

"Who--who are you?" asked Dora feebly.

"I am Mrs. Goss."

"I don't know you. Where--where is my mother--and Mr. Crabtree?"

"You'll have to ask Mr. Baxter or Mr. Fenwick about that."

"Do you belong on this boat?"

"I do, when I go out with my husband."

"Was he the man who was with those boys?"

"Yes."

"Where are we now?"

"On the Hudson River, just below Albany."

"Where are they going to take me next?"

"You had better ask Mr. Baxter.  I was only brought on board to
wait on you."

"Then that means that they wish to take me quite a distance!"
cried Dora, and ran on deck.

Mumps and Baxter were talking earnestly together near the bow.
At once she ran to them.

"Where is my mother?"

"You'll see her soon," answered the former bully of Putnam Hall.

"It was another trick of yours!" burst out Dora.  "And I think
you gave me something last night to make me sleepy."

"What if we did?" came from Mumps.

"You are all right now."

"I do not want to go another step with you."  Dora looked around
and saw a strange boat passing.  "Help! help!" she screamed.

At once there was another row, in which not only the boys, but
also Bill Goss and his wife, took a hand.  In the end poor Dora
was marched to the cabin and put under lock and key.

If the girl had been disheartened before, she was now absolutely
downcast.

"They have me utterly in their power!" she moaned over and over
again.  "Heaven alone knows where they will take me!"  And then
she sank down on her knees and prayed that God might see her
safely through her perils.

Her prayer seemed to calm her, and she felt that there was at
least one Power that would never desert her.

"Poor, poor mamma, how I wish I knew what was happening to her!"
she murmured.

Slowly the hours went by.  Mrs. Goss came and went, and Dora was
even allowed to go on deck whenever no other boat was close at
hand.  Thus Martin Harris saw her; but, as we know, that meeting
amounted to nothing.

It was Mrs. Goss who served the meals, and as Dora could not
starve, she was compelled to eat what was set before her, the
fare being anything but elaborate.

"Sorry, but we haven't got a hotel chef on board," observed Dan
Baxter, as he came in during the supper hour.  "But I'll try to
get something better on board at New York."

"Do you mean to say you intend to take me away down to that
city?" queried Dora.

"Humph! we are going further than that."

"And to where?"

"Wait and see."

"Are you afraid to tell me?"

"I don't think it would be a wise thing to do."

"We are just going to take a short ocean trip--" began Mumps, when
Baxter stopped him.

"Don't talk so much--you'll spoil everything," remarked the
bully.

"An ocean trip!" burst out Dora.  "No!  No!  I do not wish to go
on the ocean."

"As I said before, I think you'll go where the yacht goes."

"Does my mother know anything of this?"

"She knows you are away," grinned Mumps.

"You need not tell me that!" exclaimed Dora.  "You are a mean,
mean boy, so there!"  And she turned on her heel and walked off.

She wished she had learned how to swim.  They were running quite
close to shore, and she felt that a good swimmer could gain land
without much effort.  Then a man came out from shore in a large
flatboat.

"Help!  Help!" she cried.  "Save me, and I will reward you well!
They are carrying me away from home!"

"What's that?" called out the man, and Dora repeated her words
before any of the others could stop her.

"All right, I'll do what I can for you," said the man, and
running up beside the yacht, which had become caught in a sudden
calm, he made fast with a boathook.




CHAPTER XIX

DORA TRIES TO ESCAPE


"Now we're in a pickle!" whispered Mumps.  "That man may cause us
a whole lot of trouble."

"You let me do the talking," answered Dan Baxter.  "Help Goss get
her back to the cabin."

"I won't go back!" screamed Dora.  "Let me be!"  And she ran for
the rail.

But Mumps caught hold of her and dragged her back.  Then Bill
Goss approached, followed by his wife.

"You must go below, miss," said the sailor.

"Come, Nancy, give us a lift."

Poor Dora found herself at once surrounded and shoved back.  She
tried to call out again, but Mumps checked her with that
ever-ready hand of his.

"Be careful!" shouted Baxter, for the benefit of the man on the
flatboat.  "Treat her with care, poor girl."

"All right," grinned Mumps.  "Come, down you go," he went on, to
Dora, and literally forced her down the companionway.

Once in the cabin she was left in Mrs. Goss' care.  The door was
locked, and Goss and Mumps went on deck to learn what Baxter was
doing.

"What does this mean?" asked the man in the flatboat.  He was a
farmer, who had just been taking a load of hay across the stream.

"Oh, it's all right," answered Baxter carelessly.  "That's my
sister."

"Your sister?"

"Yes."

"What's the row?"

"No row at all--excepting that I am trying to get her back to
the asylum."

"Is she crazy?"

"A little bit; but not near as bad as she used to be.  She got
out of the asylum in Brooklyn yesterday, and I've had my hands
full trying to get her back.  She imagines she is a sea captain
and always runs off with my uncle's yacht."

"I see.  That's putty bad for your family."

"Oh, yes; but we are getting used to it.  Take care, we are going
to swing around."

Never suspecting that he had been regaled with a string of
falsehoods, the farmer let go with his boathook, and yacht and
flatboat speedily drifted apart.

It was with a big sigh of relief that Dan Baxter saw the flatboat
recede in the distance.

"That was a narrow shave," he muttered.  "If that fellow had
insisted on talking to Dora there would have been a whole lot of
trouble."

In vain Dora waited for the man to come on board.  He had said
that he would do what he could for her.  Surely he would not
desert her!

But as the time slipped by her heart failed her and she gave
herself up to another crying spell.  This caused Mumps and Goss
to withdraw, and she was left alone again with Mrs. Goss.

"Where are we now?" she asked at length.

"We are approaching New York," was the answer.

"And that man, what of him?"

"Oh, he didn't come an board."

It was night when the _Flyaway_ came to a landing near the upper
portion of the metropolis.  The boys and Bill Goss went ashore,
leaving Dora in Mrs. Goss' care.

"Be careful and don't let her escape," cautioned Dan Baxter.  "We
won't be gone very long."

Baxter had left for a telegraph office, expecting to receive a
message from Josiah Crabtree.

For half an hour Mrs. Goss sat in the cabin watching Dora, who
was pacing the floor impatiently.

"Make yourself comfortable, miss," said the woman.  "It won't do
you any good to get all worked up over the matter."

"You do not understand my situation, Mrs. Goss," faltered Dora.
"If you did understand, I am sure you wouldn't keep me a prisoner
in this fashion."

"I am only obeying orders, miss.  If I didn't my Bill would
almost kill me."

"Is he so harsh to you?"

"He is now.  But he didn't used to be--when he didn't drink."

"Then he drinks now?"

"Yes; twice over what is good for him."

"Where have they gone?"

"To a telegraph office."

"Didn't they say they would be back soon?"

"Yes."

Dora said no more, but sank down on the couch.  Then an idea came
to her mind, and lying back she closed her eyes and pretended to
go to sleep.

The woman watched her closely for a while; then, satisfied that
the girl had really dropped off, gave a long sigh of relief.

"I guess I can get a little sleep myself," she muttered.  "I
think I deserve it."

She locked the cabin door carefully and placed the key in her
pocket.   Then she stretched out in an easy chair with her feet
on a low stool.

Dora watched her out of the corner of her eye as a cat watches a
mouse.

Was the woman really sleeping?

Soon Mrs. Goss' breathing became loud and irregular.

"She must be asleep," thought Dora, and stirred slightly.

Mrs. Goss took no notice of this, and with her heart in her
throat the girl slipped noiselessly from her resting place and
stood up.

Still the woman took no notice, and now Dora found herself
confronted by a most difficult task.

Without the key to the cabin door she could do nothing, and how
to obtain the much coveted article was a problem.

With trembling hands she sought the pocket of Mrs. Goss' dress
only to find that the woman was sitting on the key!

"Oh, dear, this is the worst yet!" she murmured.

As she stood in the middle of the cabin in perplexity, her captor
gave a long sigh and turned partly over in her chair.

The pocket was now free and within easy reach, and with deft
fingers Dora drew the key forth and tiptoed her way to the cabin
door.

She was so agitated that she could hardly place the key in the
keyhole.

The lock had been used but seldom, and the action of the salt air
had rusted it greatly.

As the key turned there was a grating sound, which caused Mrs.
Goss to awaken with a start.

"What's the matter?  Who is there?" she cried, and turned around
to face the cabin door.

"Come back here!  Come back!"

She started after Dora, who now had the cabin door wide open.
Away went girl and woman up the low stairs.  But Dora was the
more agile of the two, and terror lent speed to her limbs.

On the deck, however, she came to a pause.  The _Flyaway_ was a
good six feet from the dock, and between lay a stretch of dark,
murky water the sight of which made her shiver.  What if she
should fall in?  She felt that she would surely be drowned.

But as Mrs. Goss came closer her terror increased.  She felt that
if she was caught she would be treated more harshly than ever for
having attempted to run away.

"I'll take the chances!" she though, and leaped as best she
could.  Her feet struck the very edge of the string piece beyond
and for an instant it looked as if she must go over.  But she
clutched at a handy rail and quickly drew herself to  a place of
safety.

And yet safety was but temporary, for Mrs. Goss followed her in
her leap and struck the dock directly behind her.

"Come back, you minx!" she cried, and caught Dora by the skirt.

"I won't come back!  Let me be!" screamed the girl, and tore
herself loose, ripping her garment at the same time.  Then she
started up the dock as swiftly as her trembling limbs would carry
her.

But fate was against her, for as she gained the very head of the
dock, Bill Goss appeared, followed by Baxter and Mumps.

"Hullo, who's this?" cried the sailor.  "The gal, sure as you are
born!"

"She is running away!" called out Mrs. Goss.  "Stop her!"

"Here, this will never do," roared Dan Baxter.  "Come here, Dora
Stanhope!" and he made a clutch at her.

Soon the two boys were in pursuit, with the sailor close behind.
Fortunately for the evildoers the spot was practically deserted,
so that Dora could summon no assistance, even though she began to
call for help at the top of her lungs.

The girl had covered less than a half-block when Baxter ranged up
alongside of her.

"This won't work!" he said roughly.  "Come back," and he held her
tight.

"Let me go!" she screamed.  "Help!  Help!"

"Close her mouth!" put in Mumps.  "If this keeps on we'll have
the police down on us in no time!"

Again his hand was placed over Dora's mouth, while Baxter caught
her from behind.  Then Goss came up.

"We'll have to carry her," said the former bully of Putnam Hall.
"Take her by the feet."

"Wot's the meanin' o' this?" cried a voice out of the darkness,
and the crowd found themselves confronted by a dirty-looking
tramp who had been sleeping behind a pile of empty hogsheads.

"Help me!" cried Dora.  "Bring the police!  Tell them I am Dora
Stanhope of Cedarville, and that I--"

She could get no further, for Mumps cut her short.

"Dora Stanhope," repeated the tramp.

"If you forget this, my man," said Baxter, "here's half a dollar
for you.  This lady is my cousin who is crazy.  She just escaped
from an asylum."

"T'anks!" came from the tramp, and he pocketed the money in a
hurry.  Then he ran off in the darkness.

"He's going to tell the police anyway!" cried Goss.  "You had
better get away from here."

"You are right," responded Mumps.  "Hurry up; I don't want to be
arrested."

As quickly as it could be done they carried Dora aboard of the
yacht and bundled her into the cabin.

"Now keep her there!" cried Baxter to Mrs. Goss.  "After we are
off you can explain how she got away."

"She hit me with a stick and knocked me down," said the woman
glibly.  "She shan't get away a second time."

Once again poor Dora found herself a prisoner on board of the
_Flyaway_.  Then the lines were cast off, the sails set, and they
stood off in the darkness, down New York Bay and straight for the
ocean beyond.




CHAPTER XX

A LONG CHASE BEGUN


As they journeyed down the Hudson the boys and Martin Harris
scanned the river eagerly for some sign of the _Flyaway_.

"It's ten to one she put down a pretty good distance," remarked
Dick.  "They wouldn't bring Dora over here unless they were bound
for New York or some other place as far or further."

"I believe you," said Tom.  "But she may be delayed, and if what
Harris says is true the _Searchlight_ ought to make better time
than Baxter's craft."

Several miles were covered, when, Sam, who had just come up from
the cabin, called attention to a farmer who was ferrying a load
of hay across the river.

"If he's been at that sort of work all day he may know something
of the _Flyaway_," he suggested.

"We'll hail him, anyway," said Tom.  "It won't do any harm,
providing we don't lose any time."

So the farmer was hailed and asked if he had seen anything of the
craft.

"Waal now, I jest guess I did," he replied.  "They war havin'
great times on board of her--a takin' care of that crazy gal."

"A crazy girl!" cried Dick.  "Who said she was crazy?"

"One of the young men.  He said she was his sister and had
escaped from some asylum.  She called to me to help her.  But I
don't want nuthin' to do with crazy gals.  My wife's cousin was
out of his head and he cut up high jinks around the house,
a-threatenin' folks with a butcher knife."

"That girl was not crazy, though, as it happens," said Dick
coldly.  "That villain was carrying her away from home against
her will.  She was no relation to him."

"By gosh!"  The farmer's face fell and he stared at the youth
blankly.  "You are certain of this?"

"Yes.  We are after the crowd now.  If we catch them we'll put
them in prison, just as sure as you are the greatest greeny we
ever met," continued Dick, and motioned to Harris to continue the
journey.

The farmer wanted to "talk back," as the saying is, but could
find no words.  "Well, maybe I deserved it," he muttered to
himself.  "I was tuk in, no doubt on't."  And he continued to
ferry his hay load along.

"Well, we are on the right track, that's one satisfaction," said
Tom.  "That farmer couldn't have done much against a man and two
big boys."

"He could have gone ashore and got help," replied Dick.  "But he
was so green he took in all that was told to him for simple
truth.  How Dan Baxter must have laughed over the way his ruse
worked!"

"Yes, and Mumps too," added Sam.  "Say, we ought to punch their
heads well for them when we catch them."

"Let us get our eggs before we cook them," said Tom.  "By the
way, I'm getting hungry."

"Ditto," came from Harris.  "Will you boys see what you can
offer?  I don't like to leave the tiller, for I know just how to
get the best speed out of the _Searchlight_."

"I'll get up some kind of a meal," said Sam, who had played cook
on many previous occasions.

Inside of half an hour he had the table set and Harris was called
down, Dick taking his place.  By the time all hands had been
served they were in sight of upper New York City.

"Now we had better take in some sail," said the old sailor.  "The
yachts are pretty thick around here and we will miss the _Flyaway_
without half trying unless we are careful."

By the time it was dark they were pretty well down the water
front of the metropolis.  A consultation was held, and it was
decided to lower the mainsail and topsail and leave only the jib
flying.

"We can't go much further tonight, anyway," said Harris.  "I
don't know but what it may be as well to tie up somewhere."

"We'll have to do that unless we can catch some sort of clue,"
responded Dick gloomily.  "If they have taken her to some place
in New York we'll have a big job to find her."

A half-hour passed, and they were on the point of turning in at a
dock when Tom gave a cry.  "Look!  Look!"

"What's up, Tom!" came from Dick and Sam simultaneously.

"Is that the _Flyaway_?"

All gave a look and saw a large yacht moving away from a dock
just below where they had thought to stop.

"Call Harris!" cried Dick, and Sam ran to the cabin for the
sailor, who had just gone below.

"I reckon that's our boat," said Martin Harris, after a quick
look.

"Hark!" cried Dick, and held up his hand.  "That's Dan Baxter's
voice, just as sure as fate."

"I believe you," returned Sam.  "Come, we can run her down in no
time."

As quickly as it could be accomplished the course of the
_Searchlight_ was changed.  But the tall buildings of the city cut
off a good deal of wind, and it took several minutes before they
could get their sails filled.

"Boat ahoy!" shouted Tom, before Dick could stop him.  "Is that
the _Flyaway_?"

"That's Tom Rover!" came back, in Mumps' voice.  "They have
tracked us, after all!"

"Tom, what made you call?"  demanded Dick in disgust.   "We might
have sneaked upon them unawares."

"Never mind, I reckon we can catch them any how," returned Tom,
but he was crestfallen, nevertheless, as he realized the truth of
his elder brother's observation.  "Crowd on the sail, Harris."

"That's what I am a-doin'," came from the sailor.  "We'll catch
'em before they gain the Battery."

"Yes, but we must be careful," said Dick.  "We don't want to have
a collision with some other boat."

"No, indeed," put in Sam.  "Why, if one of those big ferryboats
ran into us there would be nothing left of the _Searchlight_."

"You jest trust me," came from Martin Harris, "I know my
business, and there won't be any accidents."

"The other yacht is making for the Jersey shore," cried Sam, a
little later.  "If we don't look out we'll lose her.  There she
goes behind a big ferryboat."

"She's going to try to bother us," grumbled Martin Harris, as he
received a warning whistle from the ferryboat and threw the yacht
over on the opposite tack.  "The fellow who is sailing that boat
knows his business."

"It's that Bill Goss, I suppose," said Tom.  "There they go behind
another ferryboat."

"It won't matter, so long as we keep her in sight," said Harris.
"We are bound to run her down sooner or later."

Inside of half an hour the two boats had passed the Statue of
Liberty.  The course of the _Flyaway_ was now straight down the
bay, and the Rover boys began to wonder where Dan Baxter and his
crowd might be bound.

"They must have Dora a close prisoner," mused Dick, with a sad
shake of his head.  "That is if they didn't leave her in New
York," he added suddenly.

"Do you suppose they did that?"  asked Sam.

"Perhaps--there is no guessing what they did."

"We missed it by not telegraphing back to the authorities at
Cedarville to arrest Josiah Crabtree," said Tom.  "I think we can
prove that he is in this game before the curtain falls on the
last act."

"We'll telegraph when we get back," answered Dick, never thinking
of all that was to happen ere they should see the metropolis
again.

Gradually the lights of the city faded from view and they found
themselves traveling down the bay at a rate of five to six knots
an hour.

"We don't seem to be gaining," remarked 'Tom, after a long
silence.  "I can just about make her out and that's all."

"But we are gaining, and you'll find it so pretty soon," answered
Martin Harris.  "They had the advantage in dodging among those
other boats, but now we've got a clear stretch before us."

On and on went the two yachts, until the _Flyaway_ was not over
five hundred feet ahead of the _Searchlight_.

"What did I tell you?" said Harris.  "We'll overtake her in less
than quarter of an hour."

"This is a regular yacht race," smiled Dick grimly.  "But it's
for more than the American Cup."

"Keep off!" came suddenly from ahead.  "Keep off, or it will be
the worse for you!"

It was Dan Baxter who was shouting at them.  The former bully of
Putnam Hall stood at the stern rail of the _Flyaway_ and was using
his hands like a trumpet.

"You had better give up the race, Baxter!" called Dick in return.
"You can't get away from us, no matter how hard you try."

"Keep off," repeated Baxter.  "We won't stand any nonsense."

"We are not here for nonsense," put in Tom.  "What have you done
with Dora Stanhope?"

"Don't know anything about Dora Stanhope," came back from Mumps.

"You have her on board of your boat."

"It's a falsehood."

"Then you left her somewhere in New York."

"We haven't seen her at all," put in Baxter.  "If you are looking
for her you are on the wrong trail.  She went away with Josiah
Crabtree."

"Did he take her to Albany?"

"No.  They went West."

"We do not believe you, Baxter," said Dick warmly. "You are one of the
greatest rascals I ever met--not counting your father--and the best
thing you can do is to surrender. If you don't you'll have to take the
consequences."

"And we warn you to keep off.  If you don't we'll shoot at you,"
was the somewhat surprising response.

"No, no; please don't shoot at them!" came in Dora's voice.  "I
beg of you not to shoot!"

She had escaped from Mrs. Goss' custody and now ranged up
alongside of Dan Baxter and her other enemies who were handling
the _Flyaway_.  Her hair was flying wildly over her shoulders and
she trembled so she could scarcely stand.




CHAPTER XXI

THE MEETING IN THE BAY


"There is Dora now!" cried Dick, and his heart leaped into his
throat at the sight of his dearest friend.

"Dick Rover, are you there?" came from the girl in nervous tones.

"Yes, Dora, I am here, with my brothers and a sailor friend."

"Save me, please!"

"We will!" came from all of the Rover boys in concert.

"Take her below!" roared Baxter angrily, as he turned to Mrs.
Goss, who had followed Dora to the dock.  "Didn't I tell you to
keep a close eye on her?"

"She said she wished to speak to you," answered the woman.  "I
thought she wanted to make terms with you."

Mrs. Goss caught Dora by the wrist and, assisted by Mumps,
carried her below.  She struggled and tried to fight them off,
and her cries, reaching Dick, made the youth long to be at her
side.

"Let her alone, Baxter!" he cried hotly.  "If you harm her you
shall pay dearly for it, remember that!"

"Talk is cheap, Dick Rover," came back with a sneer.  "Now keep
off, or I'll do as I threatened."

"You won't dare to fire on us."

"Won't I?  Just come a little closer and you'll see."

By this time the two yachts were not over a hundred feet apart,
the _Searchlight_ to the starboard of her rival.  So, far the
countless stars had brightened up the bosom of the ocean, but now
Martin Harris noted a dark mass of clouds rolling up from the
westward.

"We'll have it pretty dark in a few minutes," he cautioned.  "If
you want to haul up close, better do it at once."

"All right, run them down," ordered Dick, half recklessly.  "I
don't care how much their boat is damaged, so long as I save the
girl.  Mumps ran me down, remember."

"I reckon I can sheer 'em all right enough," grinned Harris, who
by this time had entered fully into the spirit of the adventure.
"But will they shoot?"

"I don't believe they have any firearms," said Tom.  "And if they
have I don't think Baxter could hit the side of a house at fifty
yards."

"Are you going to keep off or not?" yelled Baxter.  "I'll give
you just ten seconds in which to make up your mind."

"By jinks!  He has got a gun!" whispered Sam, as he caught a
glint of the polished barrel.  "The villain!"

"Baxter, you are playing a foolish game," answered Dick.  "What
do you intend to do with Dora Stanhope?"

"That's my business.  I shan't harm her--if you'll promise to
leave me alone."

"Did you run off with her on Crabtree's account?"

"It's none of your business," put in Mumps, who had just returned
to the deck, after making sure that Dora should not get away from
Mrs. Goss again for the time being.

"It is my business."

"You're awfully sweet on her, ain't you?"

"Do you know it's a State's prison offense to abduct anybody?"

"I haven't abducted anybody.  She came of her own free will--at
first.  It's not my fault if she's sick of her bargain now."

"I don't believe a word you say."

"Do as you please.  But are you going to keep off or not?"

"We'll not keep off."

"Then I'll fire on you."

"If you do so, we'll fire in return," said Sam.  "Maybe we can
scare him too," he added, in a whisper.

"I don't believe you've got any weapon," came from Mumps, in a
voice that the toady tried in vain to steady.  If there was one
thing Mumps was afraid of it was a gun or a pistol.

"Try us and see," said Tom.  Then he raised his voice.  "Harris,
bring up that brace of pistols you said were in the locker."

"All right," answered the sailor, catching at the ruse at once;
and he hurried below, to return with two shining barrels, made of
the handles of a dipper and a tin pot.  He held one of the tin
barrels out at arm's length.  "Shall I fire on 'em now?" he
demanded at the top of his voice.

"Don't!" shrieked Mumps, and dropped out of sight behind the
mainmast of the _Flyaway_.

The toady had scarcely uttered the word when a loud report rang
out, and a pistol bullet cut its way through the mainsail of the
_Searchlight_.  Baxter had fired his gun, but had taken good care to
point the weapon over the Rover boys' heads.  The bully now ran
for the cabin, expecting to receive a shot in return, but of
course it did not come.

By this time the two yachts were almost side by side and running
along at a high rate of speed.   Harris got out his boathook to
catch fast to the _Flyaway_, when a cry from Tom made him pause.

"Help me!  Don't leave me behind!"

"Great Caesar!" gasped Sam.  "Tom's overboard!"

"Down with the mainsail!" roared Harris.

"How did he fall over the side?"

"He tried to jump to the other boat," said Dick, who had seen the
action.  "I was just thinking of doing it myself."

With all possible speed the big sheet of the _Searchlight_ was
lowered, and then they turned as fast as the wind would permit,
to the spot where unlucky Tom was bobbing up and down on the
swells like a peanut shell.

"Catch the line!" cried Dick, and let fly with a life preserver
attached to a fair-sized rope.  His aim was a good one, and soon
Tom was being hauled aboard again with all possible speed.

"Oh, what a mess I made of it!" he panted when he could catch his
breath.  "I'm not fit to hunt jack rabbits."

"It's lucky you weren't run down by the yacht and killed," said
Dick.  "I was going to jump, but when I saw you go down I thought
better of it."

Ten minutes of precious time had been lost, and now the _Flyaway_
was once more far in the distance.  She was heading for shore,
and soon the oncoming darkness hid her from view.

"Now what's to be done?" questioned Sam.

"She'll slip us sure."

"She can't go very far," answered Harris.  "The water-line around
here is rather dangerous in the dark."

"Is that a storm coming up?" asked Dick.

"I wouldn't be surprised."

With care they continued on their way, taking the course they
surmised their enemies had pursued.

"There is some kind of land!" cried Sam, who was on the watch.
"What place is that, Harris?"

"Becker's Cove, so they call it," answered the old tar.   "It's
not far from Staten Island."

"Do you think they came in here?"

"If they did I reckon they calculate to stay over night."

"Why?"

"Because they'll want a pilot otherwise.  It's rather dangerous
sailing about here--especially in the dark."

Five minutes later found them close to shore, and the sails were
lowered and the anchor cast out.

"I'm going to land," said Dick, and, after a consultation, it was
decided that he should take Sam with him, leaving Tom and Martin
Harris to keep watch from the yacht.  If either party discovered
anything, a double whistle twice repeated was to notify the
others.

Now that Dan Baxter had actually opened fire on them, Dick wished
he had a firearm of some sort.  But none was at hand, nor did he
know where to obtain such a thing in that vicinity, and the best
he and Sam could do was to cut themselves clubs out of some brush
growing not far from the shore line.

The spot at which they had landed was by no means an inviting
one.  It looked like a bit of dumping and meadow ground, and not
far away rested the remains of half a dozen partly decayed canal
boats which the tide had washed up high in the bogs years before.

"If they landed around here I'd like to know where they went to,"
grumbled Sam, after he and his big brother had trudged around for
half an hour without gaining any clue worth following.   "It
begins to look as if we had missed it, doesn't it?"

"Never give up, Sam.  We have got to find them, you know."

"Yes, if we don't break our necks before that time comes, Dick,"
and as Sam spoke he went down into a meadow hole up to his knees.
Dick helped him out, and as he did so the sound of two voices
broke upon their ears.

"You needn't come if you don't want to, Mumps," came out of the
darkness, in Dan Baxter's voice.  "I only thought you would be
glad of the chance."

"There they are," whispered Dick.  "Lie down, and we'll see where
they are bound, and if Dora is with them."

He threw himself to earth, and Sam followed.  In another moment
Baxter and his toady came into plain view, although still some
distance away.

"I'll come," came from Mumps.   "But I didn't expect to meet your
father here."

"I did.  He's been here for several days.  That's the reason why
I had Goss bring the _Flyaway_ over.  I'm going to kill two birds
with one stone."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to carry Dora Stanhope off, just as old Crabtree
wanted, and I'm going to give my father a lift."

"You mean that you are going to help him to escape from the
authorities?"

"I didn't put it that way.  He wants to keep out of sight."

"It amounts to the same thing, Dan."

"As you will.  Will you come, or do you want to go back to the
yacht?"

"I--er--I guess I'll come," faltered the toady.  "But we must
be careful."

"To be sure.  I reckon I have as much at stake as you."

The two passed out of hearing, and Dick touched his brother on
the arm.

"Did you hear that, Sam?" he asked excitedly.

"I did.  What can it mean?"

"Mean?  It means that Dan Baxter's father is in the neighborhood
and Dan is going to call on his parent."

"I know that, but--"

"You are surprised that father and son are equally bad?  I'm not;
I thought it all along."

"What will you do?"

"Follow them."

"Will you whistle for Tom and Martin Harris?"

"No; that might arouse suspicion.  Let us follow them alone.
When they return to their yacht we can tell the others,"
concluded Dick.




CHAPTER XXII

THE BAXTERS MAKE A NEW MOVE


As silently as possible Dick and Sam came after Baxter and his
toady John Fenwick.  The pair of evildoers left the stretch of
meadow as fast as they could, and hurried up a narrow path
leading to a half-tumbled-down brick factory.

At the corner of the dilapidated building they paused, and Dan
Baxter emitted a long, low whistle.  A silence of several seconds
followed, and then a man appeared out of the darkness.

"Who's dat?" came the question.

"It's me, Girk--Dan Baxter," replied the former bully of Putnam
Hall with small regard for the grammar that had been taught to
him.

"Who's dat with you?"

"Mumps.  He's all right."

"I don't know about dat.  Yer father t'ought yer would come
alone," growled the tramp thief.

"I've got a new movement on, Buddy.  Take us to my father without
delay."

"Is dat fellow to be trusted?"

"Yes, you can trust me," replied Mumps with considerable
nervousness.  His steps in the direction of wrong were beginning
to frighten him.

At the start he had thought of nothing but to aid Josiah Crabtree
in his suit with Mrs. Stanhope, and had calculated that after the
marriage the running off with Dora would be overlooked.  But
here he was taking the girl miles from her home and associated
with two men who had robbed a firm of bankers of many thousands
of dollars.  The outlook, consequently, worried him very
much.

"All right, den," muttered Buddy Girk.  "Follow me."

He disappeared within the ruined factory, and Baxter and Mumps
went after him.  Listening intently at a broken-out window, Dick
and Sam heard them ascend to an upper floor.

"I guess we have tracked Arnold Baxter,"  whispered Dick.  "I
wonder if he and Girk have that stolen money and the securities
here?"

"More than likely, Dick.  Thieves don't generally leave their
booty far out of their sight, so I've been told."

"I would like to make sure.  I wonder if we can't go inside and
hear some more of their talk?"

"We would be running a big risk.  If Arnold Baxter caught us he
would--would--Well, he wouldn't be very friendly, that's
all," and Sam gave a shiver.

"I'm going in.  You can remain outside, on watch.  If you want
me, whistle as we agreed."

"But be careful, Dick!" pleaded the younger brother.

"I will be."

"And don't stay too long," added Sam, who did not relish being
left alone in such a forlorn looking spot, and in the intense
darkness which had now settled down over them.

"I won't be any longer than necessary, you can depend on that,"
replied the big brother.

As silently as a cat after a mouse, Dick entered the gloomy
building and felt his way over the half-rotted floor to where the
stairs were located.

Ascending these, he found himself in something of a hallway, the
upper floor of the building being divided into several apartments
by wooden partitions nine or ten feet in height.

From one of the apartments shone a faint light.  To this he made
his way, and, looking through a good-sized knot-hole in the
partition, he saw Arnold Baxter, Girk, and the two newcomers,
seated on several boxes and boards.  On one box stood a candle
thrust in the neck of a bottle, some liquor and glasses, and a
pasteboard box containing a cold lunch.

"So you're glad I've come, eh?" Dan Baxter was saying to his
father.

"Yes, I am glad," was the slow reply, "that is--I want to get
away from here as soon as possible."

"Why don't you go?"

"I'm afraid to go up into the town.  I would prefer to go away by
boat."

"To where?"

"To Searock, on the Jersey coast."

"Do you want us to take you there?"

"If you can do it, Dan.  I'll give Mumps and your sailor friend
a nice little sum for your trouble."

"And don't I get anything?" cried the son sharply.

"To be sure, Dan."

"How much?"

"I'll give you a hundred dollars."

"Pooh!  What's that?  I want more."

"We'll arrange that later."

"You and Girk are making a fortune out of this deal."

"Not as much as you think."

"I've read the newspapers and I know how much was in the haul.  I
want a thousand dollars."

"We'll arrange that afterward, Dan.  Remember, in the future what
is mine is yours."

"Now you're talking, dad," was the bully's quick reply.  "I like
the way you are doing things, and I'm going to stick to you as
soon as this little matter Mumps and I have on hand is settled."

"All right, you shall stay with me," responded the elder Baxter.
"Where is your boat?"

"Not over half a mile from here."

"All ready to sail?"

"Yes."

"Then let us make off at once."

"Dat's it," put in Buddy Girk.  "I'm afraid the police will let
down on us any minit."

"The trouble is, that other boat I mentioned is after us."

"How many are on board?"

"The three Rover boys and an old sailor."

"Four, and we'll be five, not counting the woman you mentioned.
I don't think I am afraid of the Rovers," returned Arnold Baxter.
"Besides, can't we get away from them in the dark without their
knowing what is up?"

"Perhaps we can," said the son slowly. "The trouble is--What's that?"

Dan Baxter stopped short, as a cracking sound broke upon their
ears.

Dick had stepped on a rotten board, and it went down.  His foot
was caught and held at the ankle, and before he could extricate
himself Arnold Baxter and Buddy Girk had him in their grasp.

"Dick Rover again!" ejaculated Arnold Baxter.  "Where did you
come from?"

"Your son can tell you that," answered Dick.  "Let go of me!"

"To be sure I will!" returned the elder Baxter sarcastically.
"Are you alone?"

"You can look for yourself."

"I don't see no buddy here," announced Girk, as he held up the
candle.  "Maybe somebody is downstairs."

"I'll go down and see," put in Dan Baxter.

Fearful that Sam might be caught, Dick did his best to break
away.  "Sam! Sam! look out for yourself!" he yelled.  "Don't let
them catch you!  Call Tom and Harris, and the police, quick!"

"Hang the luck!" muttered Arnold Baxter.  "We must cut for it,
and be lively about it, too."

"Take de swag," said Girk, referring to a tin box hidden under
the flooring of the factory.  In this was hidden the money and
securities stolen from Rush and Wilder.

He ran off to get  the box.  In the meantime Arnold Baxter stood
undecided as to what to do.  Then he raised his fist and struck
Dick with an unexpected blow to the temple.

"Take that, you imp!" he cried, and the youth went down at full
length more than half stunned.

In the meantime Sam heard the rapid footsteps and the cry of
alarm, and his heart leapt to throat.  Then, as Dan Baxter and
Mumps came towards him, he retreated in the direction of the
_Searchlight_, giving the danger signal as he ran.

"I've got de box!" shouted Buddy Girk to Arnold Baxter.  "Wot's
de next move?"

"Follow me," said Dan Baxter.  "And lose no time.  That other boy
will soon have the whole neighborhood aroused."

Away went the crowd out of the factory, the bully leading.  Once
down in the meadow, Dan Baxter hurried them off in the direction
of a tiny cove where the _Flyaway_ lay at anchor, with Bill Goss on
watch at the stern and Mrs. Goss in the cabin with Dora.

As quickly as they could do so, one after another tumbled on
board of the yacht.  They heard cries in the distance, as Tom and
Martin Harris leaped ashore to join Sam.

"Up the mainsail!" roared Dan Baxter, and Goss obeyed the order
with alacrity.  At the same time Dan Baxter and Mumps pulled up
the anchor; and in less than two minutes the _Flyaway_ was standing
out into the bay.




CHAPTER XXIII

DOWN THE STATEN ISLAND SHORE TO SANDY HOOK


"Dick!  Dick!  What ails you?"

"My head, Sam!  Arnold Baxter struck me down," came with a groan.

"Can you get up?  We want to follow them," cried Tom, as he
caught his brother by the arm.  He had just reached the factory
on a dead run, lantern in hand, to find Dick.

"I guess I can stand, Tom.  But I can't run yet."

"Here, take the lantern and I'll carry you," came quickly, and in
a moment more Tom Rover had Dick on his back and was running for
the _Searchlight_ as rapidly as the nature of the meadow land
permitted, Dick holding the light over his head so that both
might see.

The alarm had now become general, and by the time the yacht was
gained two police officers, who had been on the hunt for harbor
thieves, appeared.

"What's the row about?" demanded one of the officers of the law,
as he came into view.

"Is that an officer?" questioned Dick feebly,

"I am an officer--yes."

"We are after some thieves and some parties who have abducted a girl.
Will you help us?"