Part 9 (2/2)
”Yes, but a pretty muddy one,” laughed d.i.c.k. ”But never mind now, come on. You can clean up when we get back.”
The party soon reached a spot where the bushes grew in water several inches deep. Here, to avoid sinking in the mud, they had to make a wide detour.
”Listen!” cried Sam, presently, and held up his hand.
”What did you hear?” asked Harold Bird.
”I heard something as if somebody was walking through the brush yonder!”
”Maybe it was the men we are after!” cried d.i.c.k. ”Come on!”
They continued to move forward until some fallen trees all but barred their further progress. Then they came to a small rise of ground--a veritable island in this swamp,--and reaching the highest point, gazed around them.
”What is that?” asked Sam, pointing with his hand to a round, black object showing above some bushes at a distance.
”Why, that looks like the smokestack of the houseboat!” cried Tom.
He meant the stack to the chimney, for several rooms of the houseboat were furnished with stoves, to be used when the weather was chilly.
”We'll soon make certain,” said d.i.c.k. ”Forward, everybody!”
”Be careful!” cautioned Harold Bird. ”Remember, you have desperate characters with whom to deal.”
”Isn't everybody armed?” asked Sam. ”I brought my pistol.”
All were armed, and each took out his weapon and carried it in his hand. They wanted no shooting, but, after the killing of the dog, decided to take no chances.
It was no light task to reach the spot where the smokestack had been seen. They had another creek to cross and then had to crawl through some extra-thick bushes. But beyond was a stretch of clear water, and there they saw, safely tied to two trees, the object of their search, the missing houseboat.
CHAPTER VIII
IN THE SWAMP
”There she is!”
”She seems to be all right!”
”Shall we go on board?”
Such were the cries from the Rovers and their friends as they came in sight of the _Dora_. The view of the houseboat filled them all with pleasure.
”Wait!” said Harold Bird. ”Don't show yourselves!”
d.i.c.k at least understood and held the others back.
”Keep out of sight--we want to investigate first,” he said, in a low tone. ”There is no use in our running our heads into the lion's mouth.”
”Mine cracious, vos der a lion aroundt here?” demanded Hans, turning pale.
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