“Keep off!  Keep off, there!” put in Dan Baxter.

If those in the other craft heard, they paid no attention.  The light came closer and closer and of a sudden a fair-sized gasolene launch came into view.  She was headed directly for the Dora, and a moment later hit the houseboat a telling blow in the side, causing her to careen several feet.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE HORSE THIEVES

For the moment it looked as if the houseboat might be sent to the bottom of the Ohio River, and from the stateroom in which the two girls were confined came a loud cry of fright.  Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp were also scared, and rushed toward the gasolene launch, not knowing what to do.

“Keep off!”

“Don’t sink us!”

Loud cries also came from the launch, and those on the deck of the Dora could see several men, wearing raincoats, moving about.  The bow of the launch was badly splintered, but otherwise the craft remained undamaged.

“What do you mean by running into us in this fashion?” cried Baxter, seeing that the Dora was in no danger of going down.

“Running into you?” came in a rough voice from the launch.  “You ran into us!

“Not much we didn’t.”

“What boat is that?” came in another voice from the launch.

“A private houseboat.  What craft is that?”

“None of your business.”

“Thank you.”  Baxter put on a bold front.  “I’m going to report you for running into us, just the same.”

“Not much, you won’t!” came from the launch.  There were a few hurried words spoken in a whisper, and then a boat-hook was thrown on the Dora and a man leaped aboard and tied fast.

“Who is in command here?” he demanded, confronting Baxter and Flapp.

“I am,” answered Baxter.

“Is she your houseboat?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you bound?”

“Down to the Mississippi.  But what is that to you?”

“How many of you on board of this craft?” went on the man, ignoring altogether the last question.

“That is my business.”

“Well, and I’m going to make it mine,” cried the man, and pulled out a revolver.  “Answer up, kid; it will be best for you.”

He was a burly Kentuckian, all of six feet tall and with a bushy black beard and a breath which smelt strongly of whiskey.

“Don’t—­don’t shoot us!” cried Lew Flapp, in terror.  “Don’t shoot!”

“I won’t—­if you’ll treat me proper-like,” answered the Kentuckian.  “How many on board?”

“Four—­two young ladies and ourselves,” answered Dan Baxter.  He was doing some rapid thinking.  “Say, perhaps we can strike up a. bargain with you,” he went on.

“A bargain?  What kind of a bargain?” And the Kentuckian eyed him narrowly.

“We are looking for somebody to tow this houseboat down the river.”