Part 3 (1/2)
”Boat stolen! Is it possible!” burst out that official. ”Never heard of such a thing befo', sah, never! I am sorry, sah, exceedingly sorry, sah! Have you any idea who is guilty, sah?”
”I have,” answered d.i.c.k, and told what he knew.
”A bad man, sah, that Gasper Pold--ought to have been arrested long ago, sah, yes, sah. But n.o.body would make a complaint--all afraid of a shooting--very quick man to draw a pistol, yes, sah.”
”That's interesting,” said Tom. ”He'll be a fine man to confront, if we catch up to him.”
The chief of police said he would do anything he could, but in the end refused to leave Shapette, and so did nothing. The Rovers soon learned that all he was good for was to talk, and they left him in disgust.
”We must take this trail up ourselves,” said Sam. ”And the quicker the better.”
They walked down to the river front, and after a number of inquiries found out that to charter a tug or small steamboat was just then out of the question, for no craft of that sort was near. But they learned that a young man of the vicinity named Harold Bird, who was the owner of several valuable plantations in that district, owned a new gasoline launch of good size which was housed at a place a mile away.
”I am going to see Harold Bird,” said d.i.c.k. ”Perhaps he'll lend us his launch.”
They found out where the young man lived and visited the plantation in a carriage. It was a beautiful place, with an old family mansion surrounded by grounds laid out with exquisite taste.
”Evidently these folks have money,” observed Tom.
”Oh, some of these planters are immensely wealthy,” answered Sam.
As they drove into the grounds they saw a young man playing with a bird dog on the lawn. He smiled at them pleasantly.
”Is this Mr. Harold Bird?” asked d.i.c.k.
”Yes,” was the reply. ”What can I do for you?”
”Let me introduce myself, Mr. Bird. I am d.i.c.k Rover, and these are my brothers. Sam and Tom. These are my friends, Fred Garrison and John Powell.”
”Is it possible!” exclaimed Harold Bird. ”Why, I was reading about you only yesterday, in the newspaper. You are the young fellows who helped to round up that gang of counterfeiters at Red Rock ranch. It was certainly a stirring piece of work. You deserve a great deal of credit.” And then the young Southerner shook hands all around.
”Mr. Bird, we are in trouble,” went on d.i.c.k, ”and we thought that perhaps you would be able to help us out.”
”I will certainly do anything that I possibly can for you. Come, sit down and tell me what is wrong.”
The young Southerner led the way to the broad veranda, and all took seats. Then d.i.c.k and the others told about the missing houseboat and of how they had wanted to charter a tug or a steamboat to go in pursuit.
”I could not find a vessel of any kind,” said d.i.c.k. ”But some folks told me that you had a big gasoline launch, and I thought perhaps you would let us have that. Of course we'll pay you for--”
”Never mind about pay, Mr. Rover. I shall be glad to be of service to you. I will let you have my launch on one condition.”
”And that is--”
”That you will take me with you. I love excitement, and this pursuit of those rascals is just to my taste. We can take one of my best dogs along, so, if we find they have landed anywhere, we can readily trace them.”
”But the danger?” said Sam.
”Why should I be afraid if you are not? Of course you will go well armed.”