here they found Dan Bailey's craft tied to a stake. But there
were no oars, and they gazed at one another in dismay.

"We might have known it," said Dick, in disgust. "He always takes the
oars up to the barn with him."

The barn was a good distance off and none of the boys relished running
that far for oars. More than this, they felt that by the time the oars
were brought the other craft would be out of sight and hearing, and
thus the trail of the midnight prowlers would be lost.

"Here is a bit of board," said Sam, searching around. "Let us use that
for a paddle. The current will carry us almost as swiftly as if we were
rowing. The main thing will be to keep out of the way of the rocks."

"I wish those chaps would run on the rocks and smash their boat to
bits," grumbled Tom, who had gotten a stone in his loose shoe and was
consequently limping.

The boys shoved the rowboat from the creek to the river and leaped in.
Dick, being the largest and strongest, took the board and using it as a
sweep, sent the craft well out where the current could catch it. Down
the stream went the boat, with Sam in the middle and Tom in the stern.
There was no rudder, so they had to depend entirely upon Dick, who
stood up near the bow, peering ahead for rocks, of which the river
boasted a great number.

"Those fellows must know this river," remarked Sam, as he started to
lace his shoes, there being nothing else just then to do.

"They ought to--if they are the fellows who visited our henhouse
before," answered Tom. "Dick, can you see them?"

"No, but I know they must be ahead."

"Perhaps they went ashore--just to fool us."

"They couldn't get ashore here very well--it is too rocky, you know
that as well as I do. Listen!"

They listened, but the only sound that broke the stillness was the
distant roar of Humpback Falls, where Sam had once had such a thrilling
adventure, as related in "The Rover Boys at School." Even now, so long
afterward, it made the youngest Rover shiver to think of that
happening.

A minute later the boat came clear of the tree shadows and the boys saw
a long stretch ahead of them, shimmering like silver in the moonbeams.
Sam, looking in the direction of the opposite shore, made out a rowboat
moving thither.

"There they are!" he cried.

At once Dick essayed to turn their own craft in that direction. But
with only a bit of a board for a paddle, and with the current tearing
along wildly, this was not easy.