Part 15 (1/2)

”Yes, let us follow them until they stop somewhere,” came from Songbird, who had no desire to fight out there on the bosom of the swiftly-flowing Mississippi.

This decided on, they did not attempt to catch up to the launch, but, getting near enough to keep the craft in plain view, held back just a trifle.

”Do you suppose they see us?” asked Fred.

”They may see the houseboat, but they don't know what craft it is, or who is on board,” answered d.i.c.k.

Presently the launch stopped running and merely drifted with the current. Those in the houseboat saw the gas lamp turned toward the sh.o.r.e.

”I think they are making preparations to land,” said Harold Bird.

A moment later the acetylene lamp was turned back and the sharp rays fell full upon the _Dora_ and those on the forward deck.

”Hi! There is the houseboat!” cried Dan Baxter, who was following the rays of light with his eyes.

”That's so!” returned Gasper Pold. ”They must be following us!”

”How did they do it so quickly?” questioned Solly Jackson.

”That's a puzzle, but it certainly is the houseboat, and there are three or four of the crowd on board,” said Sack Todd.

Those on the launch were amazed to think they had been followed so quickly and for the moment knew not what to do. Then Sack Todd drew his pistol.

”Hi, there!” he yelled. ”Keep your distance, if you know when you are well off!”

”They know us right enough,” murmured Tom. ”And they mean to fight!”

”Go ahead,--we can't afford to land around here!” said Gasper Pold, to Baxter, who had been running the motor of the launch. And soon the power was turned on and the launch started down the river faster than ever.

”They are running away from us!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed d.i.c.k. ”Oh, what luck!”

”Stop!” yelled Sam. ”Stop, or we'll fire at you!”

”That's the talk,” said Harold Bird.

”If you do any firing, so will we!” came back from one of the persons on the _Venus_.

Then of a sudden the acetylene gas lamp was either turned off or its rays were hidden, for the launch was almost lost in the darkness of the night.

”They were trying to hide,” said Fred. ”And it looks as if they would succeed,” he added, as the launch seemed to fade utterly from view.

”If we only had that gas lamp,--to keep them in view!” sighed Sam.

”Are you certain there is nothing of the kind on board?” questioned Songbird. ”Didn't you buy some rockets when we stopped at--”

”Sure I did!” shouted d.i.c.k. ”Just the thing--if they are still on board. And they may be--for I put them in a closet we don't often use.”

d.i.c.k started on a hunt and soon put in an appearance with several rockets, such as are generally used on a s.h.i.+p as a signal of distress.

”They'll be good in more ways than one,” said Tom. ”They will keep those rascals in sight and also let folks know that we need help.”