LITMIR.BIZ

      CHAPTER XX

       A LONG CHASE BEGUN

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      As they journeyed down the Hudson the boys and Martin Harris scanned the river eagerly for some sign of the Flyaway.

      "It's ten to one she put down a pretty good distance," remarked Dick. "They wouldn't bring Dora over here unless they were bound for New York or some other place as far or further."

      "I believe you," said Tom. "But she may be delayed, and if what Harris says is true the Searchlight ought to make better time than Baxter's craft."

      Several miles were covered, when Sam, who had just come up from the cabin, called attention to a farmer who was ferrying a load of hay across the river.

      "If he's been at that sort of work all day he may know something of the Flyaway," he suggested.

      "We'll hail him, anyway," said Tom. "It won't do any harm, providing we don't lose any time."

      So the farmer was hailed and asked if he had seen anything of the craft.

      "Waal now, I jest guess I did," he replied. "They war havin' great times on board of her — a-takin' care of that crazy gal."

      "A crazy girl!" cried Dick. "Who said she was crazy?"

      "One of the young men. He said she was his sister and had escaped from some asylum. She called to me to help her. But I don't want nuthin' to do with crazy gals. My wife's cousin was out of his head and he cut up high jinks around the house, a-threatenin' folks with a butcher knife."

      "That girl was not crazy, though, as it happens," said Dick coldly. "That villain was carrying her away from home against her will. She was no relation to him."

      "By gosh!" The farmer's face fell and he stared at the youth blankly. "You are certain of this?"

      "Yes. We are after the crowd now. If we catch them we'll put them in prison, just as sure as you are the greatest greeny we ever met," continued Dick, and motioned to Harris to continue the journey.

      The farmer wanted to "talk back," as the saying is, but could find no words. "Well, maybe I deserved it," he muttered to himself. "I was tuk in, no doubt on't." And he continued to ferry his hay load along.

      "Well, we are on the right track, that's one satisfaction," said Tom. "That farmer couldn't have done much against a man and two big boys."

      "He could have gone ashore and got help," replied Dick. "But he was so green he took in all that was told to him for simple truth. How Dan Baxter must have laughed over the way his ruse worked!"

      "Yes, and Mumps too," added Sam. "Say, we ought to punch their heads well for them when we catch them."

      "Let us get our eggs before we cook them," said Tom. "By the way, I'm getting hungry."

      "Ditto," came from Harris. "Will you boys see what you can offer? I don't like to leave the tiller, for I know just how to get the best speed out of the Searchlight."

      "I'll get up some kind of a meal," said Sam, who had played cook on many previous occasions.

      Inside of half an hour he had the table set and Harris was called down, Dick taking his place. By the time all hands had been served they were in sight of upper New York City.

      "Now we had better take in some sail," said the old sailor. "The yachts are pretty thick around here and we will miss the Flyaway without half trying unless we are careful."

      By the time it was dark they were pretty well down the water front of the metropolis. A consultation was held, and it was decided to lower the mainsail and topsail and leave only the jib flying.

      "We can't go much further to-night, anyway," said Harris. "I don't know but what it may be as well to tie up somewhere."

      "We'll have to do that unless we can catch some sort of clew," responded Dick gloomily. "If they have taken her to some place in New York we'll have a big job to find her."

      A half-hour passed, and they were on the point of turning in at a dock when Tom gave a cry.

      "Look! look!"

      "What's up, Tom!" came from Dick and Sam simultaneously.

      "Is that the Flyaway?"

      All gave a look and saw a large yacht moving away from a dock just below where they had thought to stop.

      "Call Harris!" cried Dick, and Sam ran to the cabin for the sailor, who had just gone below.

      "I reckon that's our boat," said Martin Harris, after a quick look.

      "Hark!" cried Dick, and held up his hand.

      "That's Dan Baxter's voice, just as sure as fate."

      "I believe you," returned Sam. "Come, we can run her down in no time."

      As quickly as it could be accomplished the course of the Searchlight was changed.

      But the tall buildings of the city cut off a good deal of wind, and it took several minutes before they could get their sails filled.

      "Boat ahoy!" shouted Tom, before Dick could stop him. "Is that the Flyaway?"

      "That's Tom Rover!" came back, in Mumps' voice. "They have tracked us, after all!"

      "Tom, what made you call?" demanded Dick in disgust. "We might have sneaked upon them unawares."

      "Never mind, I reckon we can catch them anyhow," returned Tom, but he was crestfallen, nevertheless, as he realized the truth of his elder brother's observation. "Crowd on the sail, Harris."

      "That's what I am

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