hem a
decoy message, or something like that."

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

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

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

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

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

"Leave it all to me, Flapp."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And after that, what?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"All right, old man; keep still."

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

"You will, later on."

Dan Baxter had the straps of the old harness ready and with them he
fastened Captain Starr's hands behind