Part 10 (1/2)

”Maybe you'll find a lion if you don't keep quiet,” answered Sam, with a snicker.

After that but little was said. Gradually they drew so close that they could see from one end of the _Dora_ to the other. Not a person was in sight.

”Really does look as if the craft was deserted,” was Harold Bird's comment. ”Perhaps they got scared when they saw what a crowd was following them.”

”I move two of us go on board and the rest stay here,” said Tom.

”Then, if there is trouble, the crowd to stay behind can come to the rescue.”

”That's a good scheme,” answered his elder brother. ”Supposing Sam and I go? You can lead the rescuing party, if it becomes necessary.”

This was also agreed to, and a minute later d.i.c.k and Sam, with their pistols in hand, crawled from the bushes and made for the side of the houseboat. A gangplank was out and they saw the footprints of several men and also two horses.

”I don't like those much,” said d.i.c.k, pointing to the hoofprints. ”A horse here means that he was used for carrying some stuff away.”

As n.o.body came to stop them, they walked on board of the _Dora_ and looked into the gallery, that being the nearest apartment. The cook stove was still there, just as Aleck Pop had left it, but the pots and kettles were scattered in all directions and some of the best of the utensils were missing.

”This looks as if the houseboat had been looted!” cried d.i.c.k, and ran from the galley to the dining room and then to the living room, while Sam made his way to several of the staterooms.

n.o.body but themselves was on board the houseboat and they soon announced that fact to the others in the bushes, and they came forward on a run.

”Did they steal anything?” demanded Tom.

”Steal anything?” repeated Sam. ”They have taken about everything they could lay their hands on!”

”Everything is gone but the stove, piano, and bedding,” said d.i.c.k.

”And just to show their meanness they hacked the top of the piano with a hatchet!”

What d.i.c.k said was almost wholly true. The rascals had stolen everything of value that they could possibly carry, leaving behind little outside of the things already mentioned. Not only was the piano mutilated, but also the chairs, the dining-room table, and the berths in the stateroom. All of the lanterns but one were missing, and the small rowboat resting on the rear deck of the houseboat had its side stove in from an ax-blow.

”The fiends!” muttered d.i.c.k, as he gazed at the wreckage. ”What they couldn't carry they tried to ruin!”

”What could you expect from fellows who would shoot my pet dog?”

returned Harold Bird.

”I tell you, d.i.c.k Rover, those men ought to be landed in jail!”

”Well, we'll land them there!” cried d.i.c.k, earnestly.

”Do you mean that?”

”I certainly do.”

”I will aid you all I can,” answered the young Southerner heartily.

After that all made a thorough examination of the houseboat, to learn if they could find out anything concerning the thieves. Muddy footprints were visible in every apartment, but they told little.

”I think we are simply wasting time here,” said Tom, presently. ”The best we can do is to follow up those footprints outside and see where they lead to.”

”Dot's so,” said Hans. ”Dis muss is so bad like it vill pe Lund vill get no petter py looking at him, ain't dot so?”