In order to ascertain just what did become of the houseboat, it will be necessary to go back to the time when the Dora was tied up near the village of Skemport.

Not far away from Skemport was a resort called the Stock Breeders’ Rest—­a cross-roads hotel where a great deal of both drinking and gambling was carried on.

During the past year Dan Baxter had become passionately fond of card playing for money and he induced Lew Flapp to accompany him to the Stock Breeders’ Rest.

“We can have a fine time there,” said Baxter.  “And as the Rovers’ houseboat will not be far off, we can keep our eyes on that crowd and watch our chance to deal them another blow.”

Lew Flapp was now reckless and ready for almost anything, and he consented.  They hired a room at the cross-roads hotel, and that night both went to the smoking room to look at what was going on.

A professional gambler from Kentucky soon discovered them, and he induced Dan Baxter to lay with him,—­after learning that Lew Flapp had no money to place on a game.  Baxter and the gambler played that night and also the next morning, and as a result Baxter lost about every dollar he had with him.

“You cheated me,” he cried passionately, when his last dollar was gone.  “You cheated me, and I’ll have the police arrest you!”

This accusation brought on a bitter quarrel, and fearful that they might be killed by the gambler and his many friends who frequented the resort, Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp fled for their lives.  They were followed by two thugs, and to escape molestation took refuge in a stable on the outskirts of Skemport and only a short distance from where the Dora lay.

“How much money did you lose, Baxter?” asked Flapp, after they had made certain that they were safe for the time being.

“Two hundred and sixty-five dollars—­every dollar I had with me,” was the gloomy response.

“Is it possible!” gasped Lew Flapp.  He wondered what they were going to do without money.

“What have you got left of the money I loaned you?” went on Baxter.

“Just two dollars and twenty cents.”

“Humph!  That’s a long way from being a fortune,” grumbled the discomfited leader of the evil-doers.

“You are right.  I think you were foolish to gamble.”

“Oh, don’t preach!”

“I’m not preaching.  What shall we do next?”

“I don’t know.  If I was near some big city I might draw some money from a bank.”

“You might go to Louisville.”

“No, I’d be sure to have trouble if I went to that place—­I had trouble there before.”

They looked around them, and were surprised to see the houseboat in plain view.  This interested them, and they watched the Dora with curiosity.

“If we had a houseboat we could travel in fine style,” was Lew Flapp’s comment.

“Just the thing, Flapp!” cried Dan Baxter.