She'll be gone inside of the next five
minutes. We can't save the boat or anything on board. I'm thankful the
girls were all on shore. That villain must have watched them go, and
then swam out here. If he'd paddled out in his canoe this morning we'd
have seen him. Don't go too near her, fellows. She's likely to collapse
any minute."

"Look out! She's going!" exclaimed Larry Goheen. A moment later the
whole top of the unwieldy boat fell in, while the flames attacked the
hull with renewed fury.

* * * * *

When the Meadow-Brook Girls returned to the shore of the lake, that
afternoon, well laden with the fruits of their shopping, they were met
by the members of the Tramp Club, who looked unduly solemn. One glance
at their grave faces and Harriet cried out apprehensively, "What on
earth has happened to you, boys?"

"We're all right," stammered George, "but the 'Red Rover'--well, it
is--"

The Meadow-Brook Girls all looked involuntarily in the direction of
where the "Red Rover" had lain that morning.

"Why--why--where is our boat?" faltered Miss Elting.

Then George poured forth the story of the morning's disaster, while the
girls listened in consternation to the recital of the way in which the
houseboat had been set fire to and sunk.

"Of course that half-breed did it," concluded George, "and now that
we've told you all about it, we are going to start out after him. I'll
wager he's somewhere around this lake yet."

"I shall go back to the village at once and put the matter in the hands
of the constable," declared Miss Elting. "I shall also see Dee
Dickinson. I hold him indirectly responsible for all the disagreeable
things that have happened to us, and for this, too."

"Wait until to-night before you do anything about it," begged George.
"Give the Tramp Club a chance to distinguish themselves. If we don't get
our man by six o'clock to-night, then put the matter in the hands of the
authorities. In the meantime, won't you accept our hospitality for the
day? We offer you the use of our camp while we go out on a man hunt."

After some further conversation Miss Elting reluctantly agreed to the
boys' plan, and after considerable mourning over the lost "Red Rover,"
the girls settled themselves in the camp of the tramps to await the
return of the boys.

"It looks as though we would have to go back to Meadow-Brook a little
sooner than we expected, girls," declared Miss Elting.

"I'd ra