on this very river men have been ruined
by gambling, and some have committed suicide and others have become
murderers, all because of cards--and drink. One is as bad as the
other, and both as bad as can be."

"Of course they don't gamble as they used to," came from Harold Bird.
"The times have changed a great deal for the better."

CHAPTER XIII

THE CAPTURE OF SOLLY JACKSON

The Rover boys and their friends from Putnam Hall had never been as
far south as New Orleans before, and they viewed the city and its
approaches with deep interest. The levees were piled high with cotton,
molasses, and other commodities, and more activity was shown than
they had witnessed since leaving the Ohio.

The small steamboat had a regular landing-place, but under orders
from Dick and Harold Bird the captain took her up and down the levees
and also to the other side of the stream. All on board kept their
eyes open for a possible view of the launch, but nothing was seen of
the _Venus_.

"It is possible that she has gone further," said Tom. "Wonder if we
can't find out from some of the rivermen?"

"We can try anyway," returned Sam. "It doesn't cost money to ask
questions."

They spent the remainder of that day in hunting for some trace of
the launch and then put up at one of the leading hotels over Sunday.
They rested soundly and after dinner felt, as Tom put it, "a hundred
per cent. better and some extra." Then they took another walk and
made more inquiries.

The captain of the small steamboat had no charter for the next few
days, so he was anxious to remain in their employ, and he took them
along the waterfront again early Monday morning. During this trip
they fell in with another captain who told them he had seen the
_Venus_ on Sunday afternoon, with four men on board, puffing down
the river.

"I was interested in the launch, so I noticed her particularly," said
he. "Two of the men had quite some liquor aboard and I was thinking
they might fall overboard, but they didn't." Then he described how
the party was dressed, and our friends came to the conclusion that
they must be Pold, Todd, Jackson, and Baxter.

"Where could they be going to next?" asked Fred.

"That remains for us to find out--if we can," answered Dick. "All I
can think of to do, is to follow them."

"Can't we telegraph ahead to stop the launch and arrest those on
board?" questioned Songbird.

"Yes, we can do that."

The authorities were consulted and th