“So I heard.  Well, I hope you get them,” answered the owner of the stock farm.  “They took four of my horses once.”

“So I understand.  What are you doing out here this time of night?”

“We are looking for a houseboat that was stolen.  Seen anything of such a craft?”

“Certainly we did.”

“You did!” burst from Dick and several of the others.  “Where?”

“Down the river four or five miles.  The fellows on board told us that they had seen a sailboat with two men in it beating up the river, and from the description we took the men to be Loring and Gouch.”

“How did the houseboat look?” asked Tom.

One of the officers of the law gave a brief description of the Dora and told what he could of Baxter and Flapp.

“It’s our houseboat beyond a doubt,” said Sam.  “And those two fellows were Flapp and Baxter.”

“Did you see anybody else on the houseboat?” questioned Dick.

“Not a soul.  So the houseboat was stolen?” went on the police officer, curiously.

“Yes, and, worse than that, two girls have been abducted.”

“Creation!  That’s serious.”

“It will be serious for those rascals if we catch them!” muttered Tom.  “Where did the houseboat go to?”

“It was heading straight down the river when we saw it last.”

“Then come!” cried Dick.  “Let us go after the craft and lose no time.”

A moment later the steam tug parted company with the launch, and the chase after the Dora was resumed.

CHAPTER XXVII

CAUGHT ONCE MORE

The two girls hardly dared to breathe as they stood at the rear of the houseboat, trying to untie the small rowboat which lay on the deck.

“Oh, Dora, supposing they find us out?” gasped Nellie.

“I don’t think we’ll be any worse off than we were,” answered her cousin.

“Do you think we can launch the rowboat and get into it without upsetting?”

“We can try.”

The small craft was soon unfastened and they dragged it to the edge of the houseboat.  There was a small slide, on hinges, and they had seen the boys use this more than once, and knew how it worked.  Down went the rowboat with a slight splash, and they hauled the craft up close by aid of the rope attached to the bow.

“Now the oars!” whispered Dora.

They were at hand, in a rack at the back of the dining room, and soon she had secured two pairs.

“You drop in first, Nellie,” went on Dora.  “Be quick, but don’t fall overboard.”

Nellie obeyed, trembling in every limb.  She landed safely and in a few seconds Dora followed.  Just as this was done a man appeared on the deck of the houseboat, followed by another.

“Oh, Dora—­” began Nellie, when her cousin silenced her.  Then the rope was untied, and the rowboat was allowed to drift astern of the larger craft.