A FRIEND IN NEED
It was ten o'clock in the morning when the discovery was made that
the houseboat was missing, and by the middle of the afternoon the
Rover boys and their chums were certain that the craft had been stolen
by Gasper Pold and Solly Jackson.
A negro boy who went by the name of Wash--evidently short for
Washington--gave them more information than anybody else. This boy,
who had been fishing near the woods below Shapette, stated that he
had seen the two men go aboard the houseboat early in the morning,
accompanied by a young man who was a stranger. The three had cast
off the ropes, poled the houseboat far out into the stream, and then
drifted out of sight down the mighty Mississippi.
"I thought dat it was werry funny da should be gwine away," said the
young darkey. "But I didn't dare to go show myself, fo' I know dat
Gasper 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 question
is, Where will they go with the houseboat?"
"I don't think they'll dare to go to any of the big towns," said
Dick. "They'll be afraid we'll telegraph ahead to catch them. More
than likely they'll land at some out-of-the-way spot and cart our
valuables off in a wagon. Then possibly they'll cast the houseboat
adrift, or set fire to her."
"If that's the case, what's to do?" questioned Fred Garrison. "I hate
to sit still and do nothing."
"Yah! let us go after dem fellers mit pitchforks alretty!" added
Hans, vehemently. "Such robbers ought to peen electrocutioned mit a
rope, 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 to
burst into verse.
"Great shoestrings, Songbird! To think you'd make up poetry on such
a subject," cried Fred.
"Couldn't help it--I haven't composed anything to-day," was the calm
answer.
"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 the
river 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 ran
into the chief of police, who also acted as a sort of detective.
"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 Dick, and told what he knew.
"A bad man, sah, that Gasper Pold--ought to have been arrested long
ago, sah, yes, sah. But nobody 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 Dick. "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 Dick.
"Yes," was the reply. "What can I do for you?"
"Let me introduce myself, Mr. Bird. I am Dick 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 Dick, "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 Dick 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 Dick. "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."
"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 treat
the boys to light refreshments. He was a capital fellow, with a
winning, 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 stirring
times 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 left
to 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 great
deal--that and for another reason." And the face of the young man
clouded for the time. Evidently he had something on his mind, but
what it was he did not just then mention.
He told them how he had come to buy the gasoline launch and said it
was big enough to take on board a party of twelve or fifteen with
comfort. It was decided to take some provisions along, for there was
no telling how long the chase would last.
It was evening before all arrangements were completed and the whole
party went to town. There they met the ladies and the girls, and
Harold Bird was introduced.
"I should consider it an honor to have you remain at my plantation
while we are off on this search for the houseboat," said the young
Southerner. "You can stay there as long as you please and make
yourselves 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 accept
the offer, and thanked the young man very much. Carriages were
obtained, and inside of two hours the ladies and the girls were at
Lee Hall, as Harold Bird called his place. There were rooms in plenty
for all, and each was made to feel perfectly at home. It was decided
that Aleck Pop should also remain at the plantation for the time being.
"The hospitality in the South is certainly marvelous," said Dora to
Dick. "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 greater
gentleman 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. "Really
they won't let me do a thing for myself!"
"I should think Mr. Bird would be very happy," said Mrs. Laning, for
at that moment the owner of the estate was not present.
"You'd think so," answered Dick. "But do you know, notwithstanding
his smiling face he appears at times to be very sad."
"I thought so," said Mrs. Stanhope. "He acts as if he had something
on 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 what
it was we shall learn as our tale proceeds.