LITMIR.BIZ

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in with Gasper Pold," said the youngest Rover.

      "They've cleared out together with our property."

      "Hum! Might be so, lad. Have much on board the craft?"

      "Yes, a great many things – furniture, a piano, books, and all of our clothing."

      "Hum! Quite a haul – if they can get away with it. Maybe you had better notify the authorities."

      "We certainly will – if we can't find the houseboat," said Sam, and then, after a few words more with the ladies and the girls, he started off to rejoin Tom and Dick, and Songbird Powell went with him.

      CHAPTER III

      A FRIEND IN NEED

      It was ten o'clock in the morning when the discovery was made that the houseboat was missing, and by the middle of the afternoon the Rover boys and their chums were certain that the craft had been stolen by Gasper Pold and Solly Jackson.

      A negro boy who went by the name of Wash – evidently short for Washington – gave them more information than anybody else. This boy, who had been fishing near the woods below Shapette, stated that he had seen the two men go aboard the houseboat early in the morning, accompanied by a young man who was a stranger. The three had cast off the ropes, poled the houseboat far out into the stream, and then drifted out of sight down the mighty Mississippi.

      "I thought dat it was werry funny da should be gwine away," said the young darkey. "But I didn't dare to go show myself, fo' I know dat Gasper Pold is a bad aig when he's riled up, yes, sah!"

      "You didn't know the young man who went along?" asked Dick.

      "No, sah – neber see him afoah, sah."

      "How did he look?"

      "He looked putty much lak a tramp, yes, sah! He was putty dirty too, he was!"

      "Some tramp they got to help them," was Tom's comment. "The question is, Where will they go with the houseboat?"

      "I don't think they'll dare to go to any of the big towns," said Dick. "They'll be afraid we'll telegraph ahead to catch them. More than likely they'll land at some out-of-the-way spot and cart our valuables off in a wagon. Then possibly they'll cast the houseboat adrift, or set fire to her."

      "If that's the case, what's to do?" questioned Fred Garrison. "I hate to sit still and do nothing."

      "Yah! let us go after dem fellers mit pitchforks alretty!" added Hans, vehemently. "Such robbers ought to peen electrocutioned mit a rope, ain't dot so?"

      "You mean hung, Hans," said Sam. "They certainly ought to be punished.

      "Well swing them high, I do declare,

      And let them dance on naught but air!

      And When they've danced and hour so slick,

      We'll cut them down and bury them quick,"

      came softly from Songbird, who could not resist the temptation to burst into verse.

      "Great shoestrings, Songbird! To think you'd make up poetry on such a subject," cried Fred.

      "Couldn't help it – I haven't composed anything to-day," was the calm answer.

      "Maype Songpird been komposing boultry ven he been in his coffin," remarked Hans.

      "All of which doesn't answer the question, What are we going to do?" said Sam.

      "I wonder if I can charter a small tug or steamboat to go down the river after the houseboat," came from Dick.

      "There isn't much to be had in the town," answered Fred Garrison.

      "Still, we can try."

      The Rovers with their friends returned to Shapette. Here they ran into the chief of police, who also acted as a sort of detective.

      "Boat stolen! Is it possible!" burst out that official. "Never heard of such a thing befo', sah, never! I am sorry, sah, exceedingly sorry, sah! Have you any idea who is guilty, sah?"

      "I have," answered Dick, and told what he knew.

      "A bad man, sah, that Gasper Pold – ought to have been arrested long ago, sah, yes, sah. But nobody would make a complaint – all afraid of a shooting – very quick man to draw a pistol, yes, sah."

      "That's interesting," said Tom. "He'll be a fine man to confront, if we catch up to him."

      The chief of police said he would do anything he could, but in the end refused to leave Shapette, and so did nothing. The Rovers soon learned that all he was good for was to talk, and they left him in disgust.

      "We must take this trail up ourselves," said Sam. "And the quicker the better."

      They walked down to the river front, and after a number of inquiries found out that to charter a tug or small steamboat was just then out of the question, for no craft of that sort was near. But they learned that a young man of the vicinity named Harold Bird, who was the owner of several valuable plantations in that district, owned a new gasoline launch of good size which was housed at a place a mile away.

      "I am going to see Harold Bird," said Dick. "Perhaps he'll lend us his launch."

      They found out where the young man lived and visited the plantation in a carriage. It was a beautiful place, with an old family mansion surrounded by grounds laid out with exquisite taste.

      "Evidently these folks have money," observed Tom.

      "Oh, some of these planters are immensely wealthy," answered Sam.

      As they drove into the grounds they saw a young man playing with a bird dog on the lawn. He smiled at them pleasantly.

      "Is this Mr. Harold Bird?" asked Dick.

      "Yes," was the reply. "What can I do for you?"

      "Let me introduce myself, Mr. Bird. I am Dick Rover, and these are my brothers. Sam and Tom. These are my friends, Fred Garrison and John Powell."

      "Is it possible!" exclaimed Harold Bird. "Why, I was reading about you only yesterday, in the newspaper. You are the young fellows who helped to round up that gang of counterfeiters at Red Rock ranch. It was certainly a stirring piece of work. You deserve a great deal of credit." And then the young Southerner shook hands all around.

      "Mr. Bird, we are in trouble," went on Dick, "and we thought that perhaps you would be able to help us out."

      "I will certainly do anything that I possibly can for you. Come, sit down and tell me what is wrong."

      The young Southerner led the way to the broad veranda, and all took seats. Then Dick and the others told about the missing houseboat and of how they had wanted to charter a tug or a steamboat to go in pursuit.

      "I could not find a vessel of any kind," said Dick. "But some folks told me that you had a big gasoline launch, and I thought perhaps you would let us have that. Of course we'll pay you for – "

      "Never mind about pay, Mr. Rover. I shall be glad to be of service to you. I will let you have my launch on one condition."

      "And that is – "

      "That you will take me with you. I love excitement, and this pursuit of those rascals is just to my taste. We can take one of my best dogs along, so, if we find they have landed anywhere, we can readily trace them."

      "But the danger?" said Sam.

      "Why should I be afraid if you are not? Of course you will go well armed."

      "Indeed we will," said Tom. "More than likely they'll be well armed, too."

      After that a long talk ensued, and Harold Bird had the servants treat the boys to light refreshments. He was a capital fellow, with a winning, though rather sad smile, and all liked him from the start.

      "I've seen a bit of adventure myself, – visiting Mexico and Europe, and climbing high mountains," he said. "But I haven't had such stirring times as you. It is very quiet here, and I shall enjoy the change."

      "Are you alone here, may I ask?" said Fred, curiously.

      "Yes, excepting for my overseer and the servants.

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