ther go home than thtay around where there are crathy Indianth,"
retorted Tommy. "Thuppothe we had been on that boat when it thank."

"We wouldn't have been so foolish as to stay on it if it had been
sinking," laughed Harriet. "Besides all of us can swim. Our enemy took
good care to set fire to the boat when we weren't on it."

"I wonder what his object is in persecuting us so," mused Hazel. "None
of us have ever harmed him."

"Ask Dee Dickinson," advised Jane dryly.

"We certainly shall do so, this very night," returned Miss Elting, with
compressed lips.

Meanwhile the Tramp Club had pursued what bade fair to be a fruitless
quest. Search as they might they could find no trace of their quarry.
Late in the afternoon the launch reached the entrance to the hidden
creek where the "Red Rover" had recently lain snug and secure.

"This is certainly an ideal hiding place," declared George, as he
scanned the bank on both sides. "I don't wonder--"

He was interrupted by an excited shout from Larry, who had also been
keeping a sharp lookout. "There he goes!" he yelled.

A long dark green canoe had shot out from under an overhanging ledge of
rock. The sole occupant was paddling with swift, noiseless strokes
toward the mouth of the creek, intent on reaching the lake and making
his escape.

"It's the half-breed!" yelled Larry excitedly.

"He's been hiding up here waiting for night to come. He thought that we
didn't know about this place. Now that we've hunted him down, he's
trying to make a quick get-away. Once out of the creek he can give us
the slip. Fellows, we've got to get him!"

Billy, who was at the wheel, began backing the launch toward the mouth
of the creek. Not for an instant did the boys lose sight of their man,
and the moment the boat reached open water it was sent ahead at full
speed. Soon they began to gain on the fugitive, who was paddling with a
speed little short of marvelous.

"Hold on there!" shouted George. "We've got you anyway. You might as
well surrender!"

The man in the canoe refused to halt at command, but continued to paddle
desperately, until Billy deliberately ran him down. An instant later
George was holding on to their captive with an iron grip.

"Shut down. I've got him!" he yelled. Billy obeyed, and the half-breed
was hauled into the launch, kicking and struggling furiously.

"Get a rope," commanded George. "There's a coil of it in the bow of the
launch."

Five minutes later the I