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

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

"Certainly."

"How far are you going to take us?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We can stand it," answered both.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Let us hope so."

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

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

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

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

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

"Not yet, Flapp; we ought to place as much distance as possible between
the boat and Skemport. Remember, those Rove