At this the Kentuckian gave a loud and brutal laugh.

“Thanks, but I ain’t in that ere business.”

“All right, then; get aboard of your own boat and we will go on,” continued Baxter.

“What’s doing up there, Pick?” called another man, from the launch.  “Remember, we haven’t got all night to waste here.”

“That other boat is coming!” cried a third man.  “Boys, we are trapped as sure as guns!”

“Not much we ain’t,” said the Kentuckian who had boarded the houseboat.  “Sculley!”

“What next, Pick?”

“You’ve got a new job.  This chap here wants somebody to tow him down the river.”

“Well?”

“You start to do the towing, and be quick about it.  Hamp, get on board at once!  Remember, Sculley, you ain’t seen or heard of us, understand?”

“All right, Pick.”

The gasolene launch came close once more, and the fellow called Hamp leaped on board.  He carried a rifle and was evidently a desperate character.

“See here, I don’t understand your game?” began Baxter.

“Didn’t you say you wanted somebody to tow you down the river?” asked the fellow addressed as Pick.

“I did, but—­”

“Well, Cap’n Sculley of the Firefly has taken the job.  He’ll take you wherever you please, and at your own price.  You can’t ask for more than that, can you?”

“No, but—­”

“I haven’t got time to talk, kid—­with’ that other launch coming after us.  I don’t know who you are and I reckon you don’t know me and my bosom pard here.  But let me tell you one thing.  It won’t be healthy for you to tell anybody that me and my pard are on board here, understand?”

“You are hiding away from somebody?” asked Baxter, quickly.

“I reckon that’s the plain United States of it.  If you say a word it will go mighty hard with you,” and the Kentuckian tapped his revolver.

“You can trust us,” replied Baxter, promptly.  “Tell me what you want done and I’ll agree to do it.”

“You will?” The Kentuckian eyed him more closely than ever.  “Say, you can’t play any game on me,—­I’m too old for it.”

“I shan’t play any game on you.  Just say what you want done and I’ll help you all I can—­providing that launch takes us down the river as quick as it can.”

“Ha!  Maybe you want to get away, too, eh?”

“I want to get down the river, yes.  Perhaps I’ll tell you more,—­after I am certain I can trust you,” added Baxter, significantly.

“Good enough, I’ll go you.  If that other launch comes up, tell ’em anything but that you have strangers on board, or that you have seen us.”

“I will.”

“If you play us foul—­”

“I shan’t play you foul, so don’t worry.”

By this time the second launch was coming up through the mist and the two men from Kentucky retired to the cabin of the houseboat.  In the meantime the first launch had tied fast to the Dora and was beginning to tow the houseboat down the stream.