The Rover Boys Series (Illustrated Edition). Stratemeyer Edward

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      "O' course they are carrying off your brother fer a purpose," said the lumberman. "Like as not they'll try to hit your father through him."

      "I presume that is the game."

      The morning wore away slowly, but as the sun mounted higher the breeze gradually died down.

      The Peacock was the first to feel the going down of the wind, and slowly, but surely, the Swallow crept closer to the schooner.

      But at last both vessels came to a standstill, about quarter of a mile apart.

      "Now what's to do?" questioned Sam dismally.

      "I reckon we can whistle for a breeze," returned his brother.

      "Whistling won't do us any good. I've been wondering if we could not do some rowing in the small boat."

      "Hurrah! just the thing!"

      There was a small rowboat stored away on board the Swallow, and this was now brought forth, along with two pairs of oars.

      "Gwine ter row ober, eh?" observed Aleck Pop. "Racken you dun bettah been careful wot youse do."

      "We shall go armed," answered Tom.

      The boys soon had the rowboat floating on the lake, and they leaped in, each with a pair of oars, and with a pistol stowed away in his pocket.

      From the start those on board of the Peacock had been afraid that the yacht was following them, and now they were certain of it.

      "Two boys putting off in a rowboat," announced Captain Langless.

      "They are Tom and Sam Rover," answered Arnold Baxter, after a brief survey through a marine glass.

      "How did they get to know enough to follow this craft?"

      "I'm sure I don't know. But those Rover boys are slick, and always were."

      "What will you do when they come up?"

      "Warn them off."

      "I've got an idea, dad," came from Dan.

      "Well?"

      "Why not get out of sight and let Captain Langless invite them on board, to look for Dick. Then we can bag them and put them with Dick."

      "By Jove, that is a scheme!" exclaimed the rascally parent. "Langless, will you do it? Of course, we'll have to get out of sight until the proper moment arrives."

      "But if you bag 'em, what of those left on the Swallow?" questioned the captain.

      "There is only one man, a negro. He doesn't amount to anything."

      "There may be more — one or two officers of the law."

      Arnold Baxter used his glass again. "I see nobody but the darky. If there were officers at hand, I am sure they would have come along in that rowboat."

      "I guess you are right about that."

      "If we capture the boys the darky won't dare to follow us alone, and it may be that we can capture him, too," went on Arnold Baxter.

      By this time the rowboat was drawing closer, and Arnold Baxter and Dan stepped out of sight behind the forecastle of the schooner.

      A few additional words passed between Captain Langless and the Baxters, and then the owner of the Peacock awaited the coming of our friends, who were now almost alongside, never suspecting the trap which was set for them.

      CHAPTER IX

       CAUGHT IN A TRAP

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      "Do you see anything of the Baxters?" asked Sam, when the rowboat was within a hundred feet of the schooner.

      "I thought I did before, but I don't see them now," answered Tom.

      "Rowboat, ahoy!" shouted Captain Langless. "What brings you?"

      "I reckon you know well enough," Tom shouted back. "We are after Dick Rover."

      "Dick Rover? Who is he?"

      "Your prisoner."

      "Our prisoner?" The owner of the Peacock put on a look of surprise. "Really, you are talking in riddles."

      "I don't think so. Where are Arnold Baxter and his son Dan?"

      "Don't know anybody by that name."

      "They went on board of your boat," put in Sam.

      "You must be mistaken." Captain Langless turned to his mate. "Find any stowaways on board?"

      "Nary a one," was the mate's answer. "And just came up from the hold, too."

      This talk perplexed Tom and Sam not a little.

      Was it possible Luke Peterson had made some mistake?

      "We have it on pretty good authority that the Baxters are on board of your boat, and that Dick Rover is aboard, too," said Sam.

      "It's all a riddle to me," answered Captain Langless. "We are not in the business of carrying prisoners. We are bound for Sandusky for a cargo of flour."

      This talk completely nonplused the boys, and they held a whispered consultation.

      "I don't believe him," said Sam.

      "No more do I. But what shall we do about it?"

      "I'm sure I don't know."

      "You can come on board and look around, if you wish," called out the owner of the schooner. "I want you to satisfy yourself that you are mistaken."

      "Shall we go?" whispered Tom. "It may be a trap?"

      "He seems honest enough."

      "Supposing I go and you stay in the rowboat? Then, if anything happens, you can call on Aleck and Peterson for help."

      So it was arranged, and in a minute more Tom was climbing up the ladder which had been thrown over the Peacock's side.

      "Is the other young fellow coming?" asked the captain, who did not fancy this move.

      "No."

      The captain scowled, but said no more.

      Once on deck Tom looked around him curiously, and then moved toward the companion way leading to the cabin. He felt instinctively that he was in a dangerous position. As he crossed the deck several ill-appearing sailors gazed at him curiously, but said nothing — being under strict orders from the captain to remain silent in the presence of the stranger.

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