“They can raise it—­if they get the Rovers to aid them.”

The prospects looked bright to the two horse thieves, and as soon as Loring returned to the houseboat he and Hamp Gouch applied themselves arduously to the liquor taken from Captain Starr’s private locker.

“Those fellows mean to get drunk,” whispered Lew FIapp, in alarm.

“I’m afraid so,” answered Baxter.  “But it can’t be helped.”

Late in the evening, much to their surprise, an old man in a dilapidated rowboat came up to the houseboat.  It was Jake Shaggam, the hermit, who had been out fishing.

“How are ye, Shaggam!” shouted Pick Loring, who, on account of the liquor taken, felt extra sociable.  “Come on board, old feller!”

Against the wishes of Baxter and Flapp, Jake Shaggam was allowed on board the houseboat and taken to the living room.  Here he was given something to eat and drink and some tobacco.

“You’re a good fellow, Jake,” said Hamp Gouch.  “Mighty good fellow.  Show you something,” and he took the old man to where the girls were locked in.

“Better stop this,” said Flapp, in increased alarm.

“Oh, it’s all right, you can trust Jake Shaggam,” replied Gouch, with a swagger.  Liquor had deprived him of all his natural shrewdness.

He insisted upon talking about the girls and tried to open the door.  Failing in this he took the hermit around to the window.

“Nice old chap this is, gals,” he said.  “Finest old chap in old Kentucky.  Think a sight o’ him, I do.  Shake hands with him.”

“What are these yere gals doin’ here?” asked Shaggam, with interest.

“Got ’em prisoners.  Tell ye all ’bout it ter-morrow,” answered Gouch, thickly.  “Big deal on—­better’n stealin’ hosses.’’

“They seem to be very nice girls,” answered Jake Shaggam.  He was a harmless kind of an individual with a face that was far from repugnant.

Watching her chance Dora drew close to the old man.

“Take this, please do!” she whispered, and gave him one of the notes, folded in a dollar bill.

“Thank you,” answered Jake Shaggam.

“Say nothing,—­look at it as soon as you get away,” added Dora.

The old hermit nodded, and in a few minutes more he followed Gouch to another part of the boat.

“Do you think he will deliver that message?” asked Nellie.

“Let us pray Heaven that he does,” answered her cousin.

CHAPTER XXX

THE RESCUE—­CONCLUSION

The Rovers and the others on the steam tug could scarcely wait for the old man in the dilapidated rowboat to come up alongside.

“You have a message for us?” said Dick.  “Hand it over, quick.”

“The message says as how you-uns will pay me twenty-five dollars fer delivering of it in twenty-four hours,” said the old man, cautiously.

“Who is it from?”