rifle. Returning, I
could row you to the other shore, you to carry the other rifle."

"That would be a bold and open move," agreed Mr. Seaton, gasping at
first, then looking thoughtful. "But look at that shore, Halstead. See
the thick trees on either bank of the river. Hepton and I couldn't
watch a lot of stretch on both banks."

"With our help from the boat you could, sir."

"Again, how?"

"Why, it's shallow enough to drop anchor right here, Mr. Seaton. Then,
as soon as it grows the least bit dark, we boys could keep our
searchlight turned on the drab boat so that you and Hepton could see
every movement on her decks. From a quarter of a mile off you could
see anyone swimming ashore and run to stop him. There's no difficulty
about it, sir, except the risk."

"Hepton, I must talk that over with you," cried Powell Seaton. "I
don't feel that I have any right to run you into too certain
danger."

But Hepton smiled again in a way to show his white teeth.

"Don't worry 'bout me, Mr. Seaton. I feel big 'nough to take care of
myself, and I enlisted for the whole game, anyway."

"You could keep watch right from this deck," Halstead added. "But
then, if anyone slipped ashore from the Drab, you couldn't get on
shore fast enough to follow through the woods. You'd lose the trail
right after the start."

"Even if I were on shore, and Dalton walked right by me, what could I
do?" pondered Powell Seaton. "Of course, I know the sheriff of the
county would take him, for going aboard this boat and breaking it
loose from the dock the other night. A United States marshal might
arrest Dalton, on my request, for piracy in sailing away with the
boat. But would I have a right to seize Dalton and hold him--even if
able?"

"You can follow him until you _do_ run Dalton into one of the law's
officers," proposed Halstead.

"I believe I'm going ashore, anyway, to see what happens," announced
Mr. Seaton, after giving the matter a little more thought.

"But let me go ashore, first, on the other bank," begged Hepton. "Then
you can take second chance, sir."

"Very good, then," agreed the charter-man.

With the aid of his mates, Captain Tom had the anchor overboard, and
the small tender alongside in a jiffy. Hepton stepped down into the
smaller craft, carrying his rifle so that it could be seen. Tom
himself took the oars to row.

"I'd better put you in on the bank to the left," whispered Halstead,
and Hepton nodded.

They passed wit