connecting rooms they had engaged for the
night.

"So Aleck saw Dan Baxter!" cried Tom, when told of the news. "That must
mean the rascal is on our trail."

"Just what I am thinking, Tom," returned Dick.

"We ought to have the authorities arrest him," put in Sam.

"Perhaps, but we've got to locate him first. Now that he has been
discovered he will do his best to keep shady. Maybe he has already left
the city."

They talked the matter over for an hour, but could reach no
satisfactory conclusion.

"Better take matters as they come," said Powell. "He won't dare to
molest you openly."

"No, but he will molest us in secret, which will be worse," replied
Sam.

"None of the ladies or the girls must hear of this," said Tom. "It
would spoil their whole trip, even if Baxter didn't show himself
again."

"I ton't oben mine mouds apout noddings," declared Hans. "I vos so
quiet like an ellerfaunt in a church!"

Bright and early the boys were astir on the following morning, and
Dick, Tom, and Sam went off to interview Captain Starr before
breakfast. They found the captain a thick-set fellow, with a heavy
mustache and big, bushy whiskers. He had eyes of the dreamy sort, which
generally looked away when speaking to anybody.

"This is Captain Starr?" said Dick, addressing him.

"I'm your man."

"I am Dick Rover, and these are my brothers, Tom and Sam."

Dick put out his hand, but the captain merely nodded.

"Is everything ready for the trip, captain?" asked Tom.

"Yes, sir."

"You had the boat cleaned up?" said Sam.

"Yes, sir."

"We'll look her over," said Dick.

"Yes, sir."

They walked over the houseboat from end to end. The craft was certainly
a beauty and as clean as a whistle. There was a living room, a dining
room, a kitchen, and eight sleeping rooms--four of the latter
downstairs and four upstairs. Each sleeping room contained two berths.
There was also a bunk room below, for the help, and a small room for
the captain. In the living room, was the piano and also a bookcase
containing half a hundred choice novels.

"This is certainly great," said Tom.

"Better than I thought it would be," answered Sam. "It's a perfect
palace."

"And see how the brasswork shines," went on Tom. "The captain certainly
had things cleaned up.

"But he is a queer stick, if ever there was one." came from Dick, in a
whisper. "I must say, I don't half like him."

"He acts as if he was asleep," was Tom's comment.

"Or