ther, smiling. "They wired me
that perhaps if I hurried down I might be able to recognize the
valuable bonds that were stolen from our bank, in case they turned up.
We were told that a boat answering the description of the mysterious
one in which the robbers took flight had been sighted on the river; and
for two days now we've been watching. But it must have been your
little boat they meant."

"Perhaps not, sir," said Jack, quietly. "There was another just like
mine, and we have run across it several times. In fact, the two
fellows who operated it are lying here right now; and that satchel
contains all the stuff they stole from your bank, Mr. Gregory."

CHAPTER XIII.

THE "WIRELESS" IN TOW.

"What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Gregory, hardly able to grasp the
astounding news that Jack Stormways so modestly launched at him.

"Why, you see, we camped in a little cove last night," continued the
boy; "and as luck would have it, these fellows had entered another one
close by. Seems that an accident had happened to their boat, so that,
with a hole stove in her bow, they could not go any farther. So they
figured on stealing our dandy little _Tramp_, you know, and leaving us
to hold the bag."

The police officers looked at each other and nodded their heads, as if
to say they knew a smart young fellow when they saw one.

"Yes, and naturally you objected to such a bold procedure, Jack, and
determined to turn the tables on them; was that it?" asked the bank
president, smiling broadly, as though he might be the happiest man in
the country just then.

"Yes, sir," Jack made answer. "We set a little trap, and they tumbled
into it. So we tied them up, as you see, though we tried not to treat
the poor chaps too roughly while doing it, and have fed them as well as
we could. I found that bag, and we expected to go ashore at Covington
to turn the men and the property over to the right authorities. And
seeing that it's yours, sir, will you please take it off my hands? I
hope it's all there."

While the boats drifted down-stream Mr. Gregory, with trembling hands,
opened the bag, and proceeded to hastily look over the papers. There
were some thousands of dollars in bank notes tied up in packages; but
he hardly gave these any attention, for the bonds represented the
solvency of his bank.

"Good!" he presently cried, aloud; "I believe they're here, every one.
I'm the happiest man going right now. And, Jack, shake hands