rs were placed in charge of the Rovers and their friends,
and the whole party moved for town without delay, while the men of
the posse went back to continue the hunt for the counterfeiters. In
the end, every man but Sack Todd was captured. Dan Baxter was tracked
to the edge of the swamp, and there his horse was found, stuck in
the ooze, Nearby lay the hat of the bully.

"My opinion is that Baxter lost his life trying to get through the
swamp," said James Monday after the hunt had come to a finish.

"What a horrible end," said Sam, and shivered.

"Perhaps he did lose his life," was Dick's comment. "But I shan't
believe it until I have the direct evidence. I guess, though, I've
seen the last of my watch," he added.

A search was kept up for several days for Baxter, but it brought no
further traces of the misguided youth.

"He is gone, that's sure," said Tom. "I must say, I never thought
he'd have such an ending as this!"

James Monday was much chagrined to think that Sack Todd had slipped
him, but he was much elated when one of the posse found several
pack-ages among the rocks. These packages contained all of the printing
plates used in the manufacturing of the counterfeit bank notes.

"The plates are what the government wants, most of all," he told the
boys. "They were made by an old engraver who was once in the employ
of the government. The man is too old and shaky to make other plates,
and as Sack Todd isn't an engraver himself, it's not likely he will
attempt to go into the business again."

As soon as all the criminals were properly jailed and the boys had
given their testimony, they obtained a good night's rest and then
set off for Carson Denton's plantation. The remainder of the trip
proved uneventful, and when they reached their destination they felt
in the best of spirits once more. The news of what had occurred had
preceded them, and they were looked upon as heroes by the girls and
Mrs. Laning and Mrs. Stanhope.

"But you mustn't get into any such trouble again," said Dora to Dick.

"Think, if you had been burnt up at that fire!" cried Nellie.

"Or if those bad men had shot you," added Grace.

"Well, we came out of it with a whole skin," said Tom, "so we need
not complain."

"And I guess, with Baxter gone, our troubles are about over," said
Sam. But he was mistaken in his surmise, as we shall learn in the
next volume of this series, entitled "The Rover Boys in Southern
Waters; or, The Deserted St