CHAPTER III
A FRIEND IN NEED
It was ten o'clock in the morning when the discovery was made thatthe houseboat was missing, and by the middle of the afternoon theRover boys and their chums were certain that the craft had been stolenby Gasper Pold and Solly Jackson.
A negro boy who went by the name of Wash--evidently short forWashington--gave them more information than anybody else. This boy,who had been fishing near the woods below Shapette, stated that hehad seen the two men go aboard the houseboat early in the morning,accompanied by a young man who was a stranger. The three had castoff the ropes, poled the houseboat far out into the stream, and thendrifted out of sight down the mighty Mississippi.
"I thought dat it was werry funny da should be gwine away," said theyoung darkey. "But I didn't dare to go show myself, fo' I know datGasper Pold is a bad aig when he's riled up, yes, sah!"
"You didn't know the young man who went along?" asked Dick.
"No, sah--neber see him afoah, sah."
"How did he look?"
"He looked putty much lak a tramp, yes, sah! He was putty dirty too,he was!"
"Some tramp they got to help them," was Tom's comment. "The questionis, Where will they go with the houseboat?"
"I don't think they'll dare to go to any of the big towns," saidDick. "They'll be afraid we'll telegraph ahead to catch them. Morethan likely they'll land at some out-of-the-way spot and cart ourvaluables off in a wagon. Then possibly they'll cast the houseboatadrift, or set fire to her."
"If that's the case, what's to do?" questioned Fred Garrison. "I hateto sit still and do nothing."
"Yah! let us go after dem fellers mit pitchforks alretty!" addedHans, vehemently. "Such robbers ought to peen electrocutioned mit arope, ain't dot so?"
"You mean hung, Hans," said Sam. "They certainly ought to be punished.
"Well swing them high, I do declare, And let them dance on naught but air! And When they've danced and hour so slick, We'll cut them down and bury them quick,"
came softly from Songbird, who could not resist the temptation toburst into verse.
"Great shoestrings, Songbird! To think you'd make up poetry on sucha subject," cried Fred.
"Couldn't help it--I haven't composed anything to-day," was the calmanswer.
"Maype Songpird been komposing boultry ven he been in his coffin,"remarked Hans.
"All of which doesn't answer the question, What are we going to do?"said Sam.
"I wonder if I can charter a small tug or steamboat to go down theriver after the houseboat," came from Dick.
"There isn't much to be had in the town," answered Fred Garrison."Still, we can try."
The Rovers with their friends returned to Shapette. Here they raninto the chief of police, who also acted as a sort of detective.
"Boat stolen! Is it possible!" burst out that official. "Never heardof such a thing befo', sah, never! I am sorry, sah, exceedingly sorry,sah! Have you any idea who is guilty, sah?"
"I have," answered Dick, and told what he knew.
"A bad man, sah, that Gasper Pold--ought to have been arrested longago, sah, yes, sah. But nobody would make a complaint--all afraid ofa shooting--very quick man to draw a pistol, yes, sah."
"That's interesting," said Tom. "He'll be a fine man to confront, ifwe catch up to him."
The chief of police said he would do anything he could, but in theend refused to leave Shapette, and so did nothing. The Rovers soonlearned that all he was good for was to talk, and they left him indisgust.
"We must take this trail up ourselves," said Sam. "And the quickerthe better."
They walked down to the river front, and after a number of inquiriesfound out that to charter a tug or small steamboat was just then outof the question, for no craft of that sort was near. But they learnedthat a young man of the vicinity named Harold Bird, who was the ownerof several valuable plantations in that district, owned a new gasolinelaunch of good size which was housed at a place a mile away.
"I am going to see Harold Bird," said Dick. "Perhaps he'll lend ushis launch."
They found out where the young man lived and visited the plantationin a carriage. It was a beautiful place, with an old family mansionsurrounded 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 abird dog on the lawn. He smiled at them pleasantly.
"Is this Mr. Harold Bird?" asked Dick.
"Yes," was the reply. "What can I do for you?"
"Let me introduce myself, Mr. Bird. I am Dick Rover, and these aremy brothers. Sam and Tom. These are my friends, Fred Garrison andJohn Powell."
"Is it possible!" exclaimed Harold Bird. "Why, I was reading aboutyou only yesterday, in the newspaper. You are the young fellows whohelped to round up that gang of counterfeiters at Red Rock ranch. Itwas certainly a stirring piece of work. You deserve a great deal ofcredit." And then the young Southerner shook hands all around.
"Mr. Bird, we are in trouble," went on Dick, "and we thought thatperhaps you would be able to help us out."
"I will certainly do anything that I possibly can for you. Come, sitdown and tell me what is wrong."
The young Southerner led the way to the broad veranda, and all tookseats. Then Dick and the others told about the missing houseboat andof 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 Dick. "But some folkstold me that you had a big gasoline launch, and I thought perhapsyou 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 serviceto 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 pursuitof those rascals is just to my taste. We can take one of my best dogsalong, so, if we find they have landed anywhere, we can readily tracethem."
"But the danger?" said Sam.
"Why should I be afraid if you are not? Of course you will go wellarmed."
"Indeed we will," said Tom. "More than likely they'll be well armed,too."
After that a long talk ensued, and Harold Bird had the servants treatthe boys to light refreshments. He was a capital fellow, with awinning, though rather sad smile, and all liked him from the start.
"I've seen a bit of adventure myself,--visiting Mexico and Europe,and climbing high mountains," he said. "But I haven't had such stirringtimes as you. It is very quiet here, and I shall enjoy the change."
"Are you alone here, may I ask?" said Fred, curiously.
"Yes, excepting for my overseer and the servants. The estate was leftto me by my mother, who died three years ago."
"It must be rather lonely," murmured Songbird.
"It is exceedingly lonely at times, and that is why I travel a greatdeal--that and for another reason." And the face of the young manclouded for the time. Evidently he had something on his mind, butwhat it was he did not just then mention.
He told them how he had come to buy the gasoline launch and said itwas big enough to take on board a party of twelve or fifteen withcomfort. It was decided to take some provisions along, for there wasno telling how long the chase would last.
It was evening before all arrangements were completed and the wholeparty went to town. There they met the ladies and the girls, andHarold Bird was introduced.
"I should consider it an honor to have you remain at my plantationwhile we are off on this search for the houseboat," said the youngSoutherner. "You can stay there as long as you please and makeyourselves thoroughly at home."
As there was no good hotel in the town, this invitation relieved Mrs.Stanhope and Mrs. Laning a great deal, and they said they would acceptthe offer, and thanked the young man very much. Carriages wereobtained, and inside of two hours the ladies and the girls were atLee Hall
, as Harold Bird called his place. There were rooms in plentyfor all, and each was made to feel perfectly at home. It was decidedthat Aleck Pop should also remain at the plantation for the time being.
"The hospitality in the South is certainly marvelous," said Dora toDick. "When I left home I never thought I should be treated so well."
"You are right, Dora. The whole world over, you will find no greatergentleman than one from our South."
"And what a beautiful plantation!" cried Nellie. "What grand walks,and trees and flowers!"
"And what a fine lot of colored servants," came from Grace. "Reallythey won't let me do a thing for myself!"
"I should think Mr. Bird would be very happy," said Mrs. Laning, forat that moment the owner of the estate was not present.
"You'd think so," answered Dick. "But do you know, notwithstandinghis smiling face he appears at times to be very sad."
"I thought so," said Mrs. Stanhope. "He acts as if he had somethingon his mind."
"Yes, and something that worried him a great deal," added Tom.
They were right, Harold Bird had a great deal to worry him, and whatit was we shall learn as our tale proceeds.