LITMIR.BIZ

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my mother, who died three years ago."

      "It must be rather lonely," murmured Songbird.

      "It is exceedingly lonely at times, and that is why I travel a great deal – that and for another reason." And the face of the young man clouded for the time. Evidently he had something on his mind, but what it was he did not just then mention.

      He told them how he had come to buy the gasoline launch and said it was big enough to take on board a party of twelve or fifteen with comfort. It was decided to take some provisions along, for there was no telling how long the chase would last.

      It was evening before all arrangements were completed and the whole party went to town. There they met the ladies and the girls, and Harold Bird was introduced.

      "I should consider it an honor to have you remain at my plantation while we are off on this search for the houseboat," said the young Southerner. "You can stay there as long as you please and make yourselves thoroughly at home."

      As there was no good hotel in the town, this invitation relieved Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning a great deal, and they said they would accept the offer, and thanked the young man very much. Carriages were obtained, and inside of two hours the ladies and the girls were at Lee Hall, as Harold Bird called his place. There were rooms in plenty for all, and each was made to feel perfectly at home. It was decided that Aleck Pop should also remain at the plantation for the time being.

      "The hospitality in the South is certainly marvelous," said Dora to Dick. "When I left home I never thought I should be treated so well."

      "You are right, Dora. The whole world over, you will find no greater gentleman than one from our South."

      "And what a beautiful plantation!" cried Nellie. "What grand walks, and trees and flowers!"

      "And what a fine lot of colored servants," came from Grace. "Really they won't let me do a thing for myself!"

      "I should think Mr. Bird would be very happy," said Mrs. Laning, for at that moment the owner of the estate was not present.

      "You'd think so," answered Dick. "But do you know, notwithstanding his smiling face he appears at times to be very sad."

      "I thought so," said Mrs. Stanhope. "He acts as if he had something on his mind."

      "Yes, and something that worried him a great deal," added Tom.

      They were right, Harold Bird had a great deal to worry him, and what it was we shall learn as our tale proceeds.

      CHAPTER IV

      HAROLD BIRD'S STRANGE TALE

      Early in the morning the Rovers and their friends were ready to take their departure. Dick came down in the garden at sunrise, and was soon joined by Dora, and they took a short walk together.

      "Oh, Dick, you must keep out of danger," said Dora. "Promise me you will be careful!"

      "I will be careful, Dora," he answered, as he looked down into the depths of her clear eyes. "I will be careful – for your sake," he added, in almost a whisper.

      "If something sh – should happen to you!" she faltered.

      "I'll take care of myself, don't fear, Dora," he made reply, and then, as they were all alone he drew her up to him. "Dora, may I?" he asked, softly and tenderly.

      She did not answer, but looked up at him, innocently and confidingly.

      He bent over and kissed her, and gave her hand a little squeeze.

      "We understand each other, don't we, Dora?" he whispered.

      "Of course we do," she whispered in return.

      "And some day you'll be Mrs. Dick Rover?"

      "Oh, Dick!"

      "But you will be, won't you?"

      "I – I – suppose – Oh!" And then Dora broke from Dick's hold, as Fred Garrison and Hans Mueller appeared, around a bend of the pathway.

      "Breakfast is waiting!" sang out Fred. "Hurry up, if we are to start that search."

      "All right," answered Dick. – "We'll be in right away."

      "See, I vos bick me a peautiful roses," put in Hans Mueller, coming closer. "Dick, of you ton't peen – vot you call him? – jealousness, yah, I gif him to Dora," and he passed over the flower.

      "Oh, thank you, Hans," replied Dora, and she placed the flower in her hair. Then she gave Dick a look that meant a good deal, and they understood each other perfectly, and both went in to breakfast feeling very happy.

      In the meantime Sam and Tom had been out on a side veranda with Grace and Nellie. Tom was as full of fun as ever and kept the two girls in a roar of laughter. Yet both girls grew serious when the time for parting came.

      "You look out for yourself," said Grace. "Remember, those men are bad characters to meet."

      "Yes, I shouldn't want you to get hurt for the world," added Nellie, and when she shook hands with Tom there was something like a tear in her eye.

      Then came good-byes all around, and the carriage that was to take Dick and the others to the town drove around to the door. The party climbed in and in a moment more were off, the girls and ladies waving their handkerchiefs and the boys swinging their caps and hats.

      "Yo' boys dun take good care ob yo'selves," said Aleck, who stood by, with a look of concern on his ebony face. "If yo' come back killed dis coon will neber fo'give himself!"

      "Come back as soon as you can!" called out Dora.

      "Don't worry – we may be back in a day or two," answered Dick. But it was destined to be many a long day ere the two parties should meet again.

      Down at the riverside they found the launch in charge of a negro and all ready for the start. The provisions were stored in two lockers on board, and another locker held their firearms and some raincoats.

      "Hurrah! Here is news," cried Dick, after perusing a telegram that had been handed to him. "You'll remember I telegraphed to Benton, the town below here. Well, here is word that the houseboat was seen passing Benton yesterday at about five o'clock, and headed towards the west shore. That ought to give us something to work on.

      "It will," answered Harold Bird. "Come, the sooner we get started the better."

      All stepped aboard of the Venus, as the launch was named, and soon the gasoline motor was buzzing away at a good rate of speed. Then the power was turned on the screw, Harold Bird took his station at the wheel, and away they sped from the landing and out onto the broad Mississippi.

      "Hurrah for a life on der oceans vafe und a ship on der rollings deeps!" sang out Hans, who sat near the bow.

      "Gosh, Hans is getting poetic!" said Tom. "That's right, Hansy, my boy, keep it up and you'll soon put Songbird out of business."

      "What I want to know is," came from Fred, "if we strike a sunken snag is this launch safe?"

      "As safe as any craft of her size," answered Harold Bird. "But I shan't strike a snag if I can help it. I am not running at full speed, and if you'll notice I am keeping where the water is fairly clear."

      "Which isn't saying a great deal," came from Sam. "I never saw a river as muddy as the Mississippi."

      "I know one other stream that is worse, and that's the Missouri," said Harold Bird. "And as that flows into the Mississippi it makes the latter almost as bad."

      As soon as they were well on their way Dick brought out the firearms which had been brought along, and examined them with care.

      "You certainly have some fine weapons," said he, referring to the pistols brought by Harold Bird. "Do you do much shooting – I mean with a gun?"

      "I never go shooting at all," was the young Southerner's reply, and once again the boys saw that strange look of sadness come over his face.

      "Funny, you wouldn't care to go out," said Songbird, carelessly.

      "Must be quite some game around here."

      "There is plenty of game, but – " Harold Bird heaved a deep sigh.

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