hingly. "We are going to invite you over to dinner soon, then
we will have a happy good-bye party before we leave. By the way, boys,
we are going ashore in the morning on a shopping trip. As all of us wish
to go I am going to ask you if you will keep an eye on the 'Red Rover.'
There is very little possibility that our enemy will visit it in broad
daylight, still it is best to take proper precautions against further
attacks."

"We'll be very glad to look out for the 'Red Rover' while you're away,"
responded George heartily. "That is if you can assure us that you won't
try any new vanishing tricks."

"We give you our solemn promise," laughed Harriet. "The 'Red Rover' has
played her last trick."

Harriet's laughing assurance, however, was destined to prove truer than
she had dreamed. The next morning the girls rose early, and after a
hasty breakfast went ashore to do their shopping, secure in the thought
that the Tramp Club would keep an eye on the "Red Rover."

In the meantime the boys had posted a watch on the shore, in the person
of Billy Gordon, who seated comfortably on the ground, his back against
a big tree, glanced frequently out over the lake to where the "Red
Rover" lay at anchor, her red sides glistening in the sun.

It was well towards noon when Billy rose from the ground and strolled
lazily down to the beach. Suddenly his good-natured face took on a
startled look as he stared anxiously toward the houseboat. A moment
later he was running toward the tent at full speed.

"Fellows, come out here!" he shouted. "Hurry up!"

"What's the matter?" asked George Baker, hurrying out of the tent, the
other members of the Tramp Club at his heels.

"Look!" gasped Billy, pointing toward the "Red Rover." "What do you make
of that?"

"Why--why--" stammered George Baker. Then he uttered a sudden cry of
alarm. "By George, she's on fire. That scamp has sneaked in and set fire
to the boat under our very noses. I'm positive that he did it. Pile into
the launch with all the pails you can find and let's get out there. That
villain must have swum over, climbed aboard, and set fire to the side of
the boat away from the shore. That's why we didn't notice the smoke when
she first began to burn."

By the time they were on their way toward the doomed houseboat the fire
had made tremendous headway. Being an old boat, the "Red Rover" burned
like kindling. It seemed to be fairly wrapped in flames.

"It's no use," groaned George. "