houseboat was seen passing Benton yesterday at about five o'clock, and headed towards the west shore. That ought to give us something to work on."
"It will," answered Harold Bird. "Come, the sooner we get started the better."
All stepped aboard of the Venus, as the launch was named, and soon the gasoline motor was buzzing away at a good rate of speed. Then the power was turned on the screw, Harold Bird took his station at the wheel, and away they sped from the landing and out onto the broad Mississippi.
"Hurrah for a life on der oceans vafe und a ship on der rollings deeps!" sang out Hans, who sat near the bow.
"Gosh, Hans is getting poetic!" said Tom, "That's right, Hansy, my boy, keep it up and you'll soon put Songbird out of business."
"What I want to know is," came from Fred, "if we strike a sunken snag is this launch safe?"
"As safe as any craft of her size," answered Harold Bird. "But I shan't strike a snag if I can help it. I am not running at full speed, and if you'll notice I am keeping where the water is fairly clear."
"Which isn't saying a great deal," came from Sam. "I never saw a river as muddy as the Mississippi."
