suit, but now
he began to show signs of interest.

"Let me lay my hands on the villains who tied me fast in that stable
and I shall teach them a lesson they will not forget in a hurry,"
said he, bitterly. "They made a fool of me."

"That's what they did, captain," said Sam. "Still, they might have
imposed upon anybody."

"I've been thinking of something. You'll remember about those two
horse thieves?" went on the captain of the houseboat.

"To be sure."

"Couldn't it be possible that they got on the _Dora_ too?"

"It's possible." Sam mused for a moment. "That sailboat story might
have been a fake."

He called Dick and Mr. Livingstone to him and repeated what Captain
Starr had said.

"Such a thing is possible," said Dick. "But we have no proofs."

"If we can catch those thieves as well as Baxter and Flapp it will
be a good job done," said the owner of the stock farm. And from that
moment he took a greater interest in the pursuit than ever.

Night came on and still they saw nothing of the houseboat. They had
gone down the river a distance of twenty miles and were now on their
way back.

"We've missed them," said Dick, soberly.

"It certainly looks like it," returned Tom. Every bit of fun had gone
out of him. "It's rough, isn't it?"

"I'm thinking of what to telegraph to Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning,"
went on the eldest Rover. "I hate to send bad news."

"Tell them you are still following the houseboat and that you know
Dora and Nellie are on board. It's the best we can do." And when they
landed a message was sent to that effect. Soon a message came back,
which read as follows:

"Bring them back safe and sound, no matter what the cost."

"We will, if it can be done," muttered Dick, and clenched his fists
with a determination that meant a great deal.

The night was spent at a hotel in one of the small towns, and at
daylight the search for the missing houseboat was renewed. It had
been decided to drop down the Ohio further than ever, and look into
every smaller stream they came to by the way.

Thus several hours passed, when they found themselves on the south
side of the river, not far from the entrance to a good-sized creek.

Down the stream came a worn and battered rowboat in which was seated
an old man dressed in rags. As he approached the steam tug he stopped
rowing.

"Say," he drawled. "Kin you-uns tell me whar to find a party called
the Rovers?"

"That's our party right here," replied Dick