“Then go ahead.”

“As I said before, the best thing you can do is to stay away from home until this unpleasantness blows over.  Write to your father and tell him it is all a mistake, and that you are not guilty but that you can’t prove it.  Ask him to square the thing with Aaron Fairchild and the others, and tell him you are going on an ocean trip and won’t be back until you know you are safe.  Then you come with me, and we’ll have a jolly good time, besides squaring up matters with the Rovers.”

“Where are you going and how are you going to square matters with them?

“I’ve learned a thing or two since I came here.  At first I was going to try to fix them while they were at home, but now I’ve learned that they are going away on a houseboat trip on the Ohio and the Mississippi.  I propose to follow them and give them more than they want the first opportunity that presents itself.”

“You are certain about this houseboat trip?”

“I am.”

“And who is going?”

“The three Rover boys and some of their school chums.”

“Humph!  I’d like to get square with the whole crowd!” muttered Lew Flapp.  “I’d like to sink them in the middle of the Ohio River!”

“We’ll square up, don’t you worry,” answered Dan Baxter.  “I’m not forgetting all they’ve done against me in the past.  If I had the chance I’d wring the neck of every one of them,” he added, fiercely.

“I don’t think it is safe to stay around here any longer,” said Lew Flapp, after a pause.  “Somebody may spot us both.”

“I’m not going to stay any longer.  We can get out on the night train.  By the way, supposing Sam Rover doesn’t get out of the river.”

“What do you mean?” questioned Flapp, with a shiver, although he knew well enough.

“Maybe Sam Rover was drowned.”

“Oh, don’t say that!”

“Bah!  Don’t be chicken-hearted, Flapp.”

“I—­I—­didn’t mean to—­to—­kill him.”

“I know you didn’t.  Just the same that is a dangerous river.  The current is swift and it’s full of rocks.”

“You’re making me feel very uncomfortable.”

“Oh, don’t worry.  Those Rover boys are like cats—­each has nine lives.  Sam Rover will be hot-footed after you before you know it.”

“Have you got that money with you, Baxter?”

“To be sure I have.  I never travel without a wad.”

“Then let me have some.”

“You won’t need it, if we are to travel together.”

“We may become separated,” urged Lew Flapp.  He did not altogether trust his companion.

“Well, I reckon that’s so, too.  I’ll let you have twenty-five dollars.  When that’s gone you can come to me for more.  But remember one thing:  you’ve got to help me to down the Rovers.”

“I’ll help you to do that.  But—­but—­”

“But what?”

“We mustn’t go too far.”

“Oh, you leave that to me.  You’ve heard how they treated my father, haven’t you?”