m, in order to learn his plans. Plater walked aft, and
through the engine-room window saw that the mule was already in his
treadmill, where Solon had just completed his harnessing. Without
alarming the negro by making his presence known, the big man stole
away, and gaining the pilot-house, rang the engine-room bell that meant
"Go ahead." To the great satisfaction of at least two of the
"river-traders" this order was promptly obeyed. Within a couple of
minutes the city had disappeared, and the _Whatnot_ was slipping down
the fog-enshrouded river.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Gilder, as he followed
Grimshaw into the pilot-house. "Are you crazy that you are going off
with this boat and leaving the raft behind? Or do you mean to run in
to where it is, take our stuff aboard, and continue the cruise in this
craft? Because if you do, you can count me out. This is too
conspicuous a boat for my use. Why, man, she'll be spotted by the
police inside of twenty-four hours!"

"I expect it's about time we counted you out, anyway," answered the
other, gruffly. "Plater and I have about made up our minds that you
are playing a double game, and had some hand in the disappearance of
the raft."

"The disappearance of the raft?" exclaimed the other, blankly. "What
do you mean? How did the raft disappear? And when did it disappear?
And where were you, whom we left to look after it? If you have lost
that raft you'll answer to me for my share in it, and I'll see that you
make it good too, you sneaking--"

"Come, come, Gilder! Simmer down!" interrupted Plater, who had entered
the pilot-house in time to hear these angry words. "This isn't the
time nor place for us to quarrel. We've too much at stake. The raft
has gone, and we are after it. That's all Grim and I know. Whatever
information you can give concerning its disappearance will be
gratefully received."

[Illustration: "'The raft has gone, and we are after it.'"]

The interchange of high words that followed had almost led to blows,
when Mr. Gilder suddenly became silent, and stepped quickly to the
pilot-house door. He had just caught sight of Sabella holding Don
Blossom in her arms, and staring through the open doorway with an
expression of frightened bewilderment. She had expected to find her
uncle and Billy Brackett and Winn, and had hastened to announce the
joyful news of Don Blossom's safety.

Now as Mr. Gilder led her aft and down into the