them from behind the trees below the mouth of the friendly creek.

There were numerous boats upon the river, but although Jack used his
glasses to advantage he could pick up no clue to either the _Wireless_
or the _Comfort_.

The day was nice and clear after the fog and rain.

"Here's where we hit it up to make time, and pay for the slow traveling
yesterday," the pilot announced, when he coaxed the steady going little
motor to do its prettiest.

At noon they had reeled off something like sixty-odd miles, the current
having assisted very much in advancing the boat.

Keokuk had been passed, and they were now aiming to reach Quincy by the
middle of the afternoon. Just below this place the second station had
been marked; and if, as was to be expected, George and Buster had
arrived ahead of them, they might anticipate being signaled to draw in.

"It's right funny we don't say anything of the other byes at all,"
remarked Jimmie, while they were pushing steadily along, the engine
working with clock-like fidelity, and never missing a stroke.

"Oh! I don't look at it that way. Unless some accident happens to
George there's never the least chance that we can look in on him in
that racer. And the same applies to the _Comfort_--if we go on as we
have, they can never hope to catch up with us. And there you are," and
Jack laughed as he spoke.

"Ye mane that we're betwixt the divel and the dape say," observed
Jimmie, with one of his chuckles.

"Oh! now that's going it pretty steep," Jack protested. "The _Comfort_
might come under the head of deep sea, or anything else that's big and
slow and reliable; but it's pretty hard calling George's boat by that
other name. But there's another railroad bridge across the river far
below, unless the glass fools me. And if so, this must be Quincy just
beyond."

"Hurrah! thin, we've arrived at the ind of the sicond stage of the
journey, and right side up wid care. If ye choose to hand me the
glass, Jack, I'll be afther lookin' for signs of the sassy little
_Wireless_."

But it was some time after they had passed under the bridge spanning
the Mississippi that Jimmie was able to announce that he believed he
had discovered the object of his search.

"Let me have a look," remarked Jack; and a minute later he went on:
"There's a boat of some sort anchored close to the shore down there,
and the sun shines on her just as it does on the varnished deck of the
_Wireless_. Yes, I do be