"Dan Baxter," burst from Dora's lips. "Oh, how did that fellow get
here?"

"Dora Stanhope!" muttered Baxter, and then he and Lew Flapp ran towards
the girls.

CHAPTER XXIII

A RUN IN THE DARK

Both girls were thoroughly alarmed by the unexpected appearance of Dan
Baxter and his companion and brought their horses to a standstill.

"How do you do, Miss Stanhope?" said Baxter, with a grin.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Dora, icily.

"Oh, nothing much."

"Do you know that that is the Rovers' houseboat?"

"Is it?" said Baxter, in pretended surprise.

"Yes."

"No, I didn't know it." Baxter turned to Nellie. "How are you, Miss
Laning? I suppose you are surprised to meet me out here."

"I am," was Nellie's short answer. Both girls wished themselves
somewhere else.

"My friend and I were walking down the river when we heard a man on
that houseboat calling for help," went on Dan Baxter, glibly. "We went
on board and found the captain had fallen down and hurt himself very
much. Do you know anything about him?"

"Why, yes!" said Dora, quickly. "It must be Captain Starr!" she added,
to Nellie.

"He's in a bad way. If you know him, you had better look after him,"
continued Dan Baxter.

"I will," and Dora leaped to the ground, followed by Nellie. Both ran
towards the houseboat, but at the gang plank they paused.

"I--I think I'll go back and get Dick Rover," said Dora. She did not
like the look in Dan Baxter's eyes.

"Yes, and Tom," put in Nellie.

"You shan't go back," roared Dan Baxter. "Go on and help the poor
captain."

His manner was so rude that Nellie gave a short, sharp scream--one which
reached Tom's ears, as already recorded.

"Don't--don't go on board just yet, Dora," she whispered.

"You shall go on board!" went on Dan Baxter. "Make her go, Flapp. I'll
attend to this one," and he caught hold of Dora's arm.

At this both girls screamed--another signal of distress which reached
Tom's ears but did no good.

"I don't see the reason--" began Lew Flapp.

"Just do as I say, Flapp. We can make money out of this," answered Dan
Baxter.

He caught Dora around the waist and lifted her into the air. She
struggled bravely but could do nothing, and in a moment more he had her
on the houseboat. Lew Flapp followed with Nellie, who pulled his hair
and scratched his face unavailingly.

"Where--where you going to put 'em?" queried Flapp.

"In here," answered Dan Baxter, leading the way