CHAPTER II
ABOUT A MISSING HOUSEBOAT
"Let us go down the river and see if the Dora is behind yonder trees," suggested Sam, after he had had time to digest what his brother had said.
"All right, if you say so," answered Tom. "But I feel it in my bones it won't do any good."
The two brothers ran along the wet and slippery bank of the river, which at this point sprawled out into almost a lake. They had to walk around several wet places and were pretty well out of wind by the time they gained the patch of wood the youngest Rover had pointed out. They ran to a point where they could get a clear view of the stream for a full mile.
"Gone—just as I told you," said Tom, laconically.
"Oh, Tom, do you really think that planter stole the houseboat?"
"I don't know what to think, to tell the truth. We have fallen in with all kinds of evil characters since we began this trip."
"Even if we go back to Dick and the others and tell them, what good will it do?"
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