“To be sure.”

“Couldn’t it be possible that they got on the Dora too?”

“It’s possible.”  Sam mused for a moment.  “That sailboat story might have been a fake.”

He called Dick and Mr. Livingstone to him and repeated what Captain Starr had said.

“Such a thing is possible,” said Dick.  “But we have no proofs.”

“If we can catch those thieves as well as Baxter and Flapp it will be a good job done,” said the owner of the stock farm.  And from that moment he took a greater interest in the pursuit than ever.

Night came on and still they saw nothing of the houseboat.  They had gone down the river a distance of twenty miles and were now on their way back.

“We’ve missed them,” said Dick, soberly.

“It certainly looks like it,” returned Tom.  Every bit of fun had gone out of him.  “It’s rough, isn’t it?”

“I’m thinking of what to telegraph to Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning,” went on the eldest Rover.  “I hate to send bad news.”

“Tell them you are still following the houseboat and that you know Dora and Nellie are on board.  It’s the best we can do.”  And when they landed a message was sent to that effect.  Soon a message came back, which read as follows: 

“Bring them back safe and sound, no matter what the cost.”

“We will, if it can be done,” muttered Dick, and clenched his fists with a determination that meant a great deal.

The night was spent at a hotel in one of the small towns, and at daylight the search for the missing houseboat was renewed.  It had been decided to drop down the Ohio further than ever, and look into every smaller stream they came to by the way.

Thus several hours passed, when they found themselves on the south side of the river, not far from the entrance to a good-sized creek.

Down the stream came a worn and battered rowboat in which was seated an old man dressed in rags.  As he approached the steam tug he stopped rowing.

“Say,” he drawled.  “Kin you-uns tell me whar to find a party called the Rovers?”

“That’s our party right here,” replied Dick, and he added, excitedly:  “What do you want to know for?”

“So you-uns are really the Rovers?”

“Yes.”

“Searching fer somebody?”

“Yes,—­two young ladies.”

“Good ’nough.  Got a message for ye.”

And the old man rowed toward the steam launch once more.

CHAPTER XXIX

JAKE SHAGGAM, OF SHAGGAM CREEK

“They will watch us more closely than ever now,” said Dora, after she and her cousin were left to themselves in the stateroom on board of the houseboat.

“I presume that is true,” answered Nellie, gloomily.

“They expect to make money by carrying us off, Nellie.”

“I don’t see how they can do it.  Papa hasn’t much money to pay over to them, and won’t have, unless he sells the farm.”