e'll have to do that--if the three keep on drinking."

Baxter and Flapp were on deck. They had had their breakfast, but had
given nothing more to the girls.

"I'm going to tame 'em," grumbled Flapp, who had not forgotten how
the door had been slammed in his face.

"That's right, we'll make 'em come to terms," added Baxter. "We'll
have 'em on their knees to us before we get through."

Presently both walked to the window of the stateroom Dora and Nellie
occupied.

"Well, how do you feel--pretty hungry?" questioned Baxter.

"Not so very hungry?" said Dora, as lightly as she could.

"Don't you want a nice hot breakfast?"

"I'd rather have some fruit."

"Oh, by the way, we've got some nice harvest apples on board--and
some berries. Wouldn't you like some berries, with sugar and cream?"

"And some fresh breakfast rolls?" put in Flapp.

"Not if you baked them," came from Nellie. "You can have a good
breakfast, if you'll be a little more civil to us," resumed Dan Baxter.

"We are more civil than you deserve," said Dora.

"Do you want to be starved?"

At this both girls turned a trifle pale.

"Would you dare to starve us?" cried Nellie.

"Why not--if you won't be friendly?" asked Lew Flapp. "You've been
treating us as if we were dogs."

"Yes, and we--" began Dan Baxter, when he chanced to look through
the bushes and down the creek. "Great Scott, Flapp!" he yelled.

"What's up?"

"The game is up! Here comes a tug with the Rovers and a lot of other
people on board!"

"The Rovers!" faltered Lew Flapp, and for the instant he shivered
from head to feet.

"Oh, good! good!" cried Nellie. "Help!" she screamed. "Help!"

"Help! help!" added Dora. "Help us! This way!"

"We are coming!" came back, in Dick's voice, and a moment later the
steam tug crashed into the side of the houseboat, and the Rovers and
several others leaped on board.

"Stand where you are, Lew Flapp!" cried Tom, and rushed for the bully
of Putnam Hall. "Stand, I say!" and then he hit Flapp a stunning blow
in the ear which bowled the rascal over and over.

In the meantime Dan Baxter took to his heels and made for the front
of the houseboat. From this point he jumped into the branches of a
tree and disappeared from view.

"Come on after him!" cried Sam, and away he and Fred went after
Baxter, leaving the others to take charge of Flapp, and round up the
horse thieves and Sculley.

But Dan Baxter knew what capture meant--a long term of impri