rs will be after us
hot-footed when once they learn the truth of the situation."

"Do you know anything about the river around here?"

"A little, but not much. Do you know anything?"

"No,--I never cared for geography," answered Flapp. "It's getting as
black as pitch, and the rain--Hullo, there's another light!"

Flapp pointed to the Kentucky side of the river. Through the mist
appeared a dim light, followed by another.

"Wonder if that is the shore or a boat?" mused Baxter.

"Better yell and see."

"Boat, ahoy!"

No answer came back, and for the moment the lights appeared to fade
from sight.

"Must have been on shore and we are passing them, Baxter."

"More than likely, and yet--There they are again!"

Dan Baxter was right; the lights had reappeared and now they seemed to
approach the houseboat with alarming rapidity.

"They'll run into us if they are not careful," said Flapp, in fresh
alarm. "Boat, ahoy!" he screamed. "Keep off!"

"Keep off! Keep off, there!" put in Dan Baxter.

If those in the other craft heard, they paid no attention. The light
came closer and closer and of a sudden a fair-sized gasolene launch
came into view. She was headed directly for the _Dora_, and a moment
later hit the houseboat a telling blow in the side, causing her to
careen several feet.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE HORSE THIEVES

For the moment it looked as if the houseboat might be sent to the
bottom of the Ohio River, and from the stateroom in which the two girls
were confined came a loud cry of fright. Dan Baxter and Lew Flapp were
also scared, and rushed toward the gasolene launch, not knowing what to
do.

"Keep off!"

"Don't sink us!"

Loud cries also came from the launch, and those on the deck of the
_Dora_ could see several men, wearing raincoats, moving about. The bow
of the launch was badly splintered, but otherwise the craft remained
undamaged.

"What do you mean by running into us in this fashion?" cried Baxter,
seeing that the _Dora_ was in no danger of going down.

"Running into you?" came in a rough voice from the launch. "You ran
into us!

"Not much we didn't."

"What boat is that?" came in another voice from the launch.

"A private houseboat. What craft is that?"

"None of your business."

"Thank you." Baxter put on a bold front. "I'm going to report you for
running into us, just the same."

"Not much, you won't!" came from the launch. There were a few hurried
words spoken in a whispe