d
nothing to do with the post office robberies. The motive for a similar
theft was now much stronger. It was evident that the criminals had come
to Beartown, or as near to it as they could come, by water, and their
boat was somewhere in the neighborhood. They were likely to discover the
_Deerfoot_, if they had not already done so, and knowing its superior
speed, would either make use of or disable it so it could not be employed
for pursuit.

Alvin and Chester kept to the road which connected the landing with the
village, for it was much easier thus to advance than to pick their way
through the pines and firs. They did not meet a solitary person, for the
night was well along and daybreak near. When the rickety frame work
loomed up in the moonlight, they turned off into the shadow of the wood
and moved with the utmost care. All the time they kept within sight of
the gleam of water. Alvin was in advance, with his comrade close upon his
heels.

"Hello! here she is!" was the pleased exclamation of the Captain a few
minutes later.

"Has she had any visitors while we were away?" asked Chester, as the two
stepped down to the margin of the river.

"I see no signs of it, but we shall have to examine further."

The launch lay as close to shore as it had been possible to bring her--so
close indeed that the two stepped aboard without use of a plank. The
position of the moon in the sky was such that the shadow of the trees was
cast several feet beyond the boat, which, as a consequence, was wrapped
in obscurity. Peering here and there, the youths began a visual search
for the evidence they did not wish to find. Alvin tried the covering,
which had been drawn over the cockpit, preliminary to taking the bunch of
keys from his pocket. It slid back easily.

"I thought I locked that," he said in surprise.

"I remember you went through the motions, but you must have missed it."

"So it seems."

He stepped over, seated himself and grasped the steering wheel.

"Nothing is wrong here----"

"Hark!" whispered Chester.

The two listened and heard the muffled exhaust of a launch not far off.

"It comes from down stream," said Chester.

"It's their boat!" exclaimed the excited Alvin. "They are hurrying off."

"Let's chase them!" added Chester, catching the glow of his chum.

"All right! Light up and cast off."

[Illustration: LIKE A SWALLOW SKIMMING CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.]

Chester quickly fixed the lights, sprang from the taffr