d. "And it looks as if they would
succeed," he added, as the launch seemed to fade utterly from view.

"If we only had that gas lamp,--to keep them in view!" sighed Sam.

"Are you certain there is nothing of the kind on board?" questioned
Songbird. "Didn't you buy some rockets when we stopped at--"

"Sure I did!" shouted Dick. "Just the thing--if they are still on
board. And they may be--for I put them in a closet we don't often use."

Dick started on a hunt and soon put in an appearance with several
rockets, such as are generally used on a ship as a signal of distress.

"They'll be good in more ways than one," said Tom. "They will keep
those rascals in sight and also let folks know that we need help."

"Py golly! Ve vill haf a regular Fourth of Chuly, hey?" came from Hans.

A rocket was placed in position at the bow end of the houseboat and
the eldest Rover touched it off. It sizzed for an instant and then
shot forward over the water in the direction of the gasoline launch,
making the scene light for the time being. It came down just over
the _Venus'_ bow.

"Hi! stop that, or we'll fire at you!" came from the launch, and then
a pistol rang out and the ball whistled over the deck of the _Dora_.

"Are they really shooting at us?" asked Songbird, nervously, while
Hans sought the shelter of the cabin in a hurry.

"I reckon not," answered Harold Bird. "That was simply meant as a
warning."

Those on the houseboat waited for several minutes and then, imagining
the launch was turning to the shore, Dick prepared another rocket.

"Get behind the woodwork," he said. "They may take it into their
heads to aim at us when this goes up."

All sheltered themselves and with a rush the second rocket flew
skyward. It had not been aimed at the launch, yet it cut the water
within a yard of the _Venus'_ side, much to the alarm of those on board.

"They are trying to shoot us with rockets!" yelled Dan Baxter.

"Take that!" said Sack Todd, and fired point-blank at the houseboat.
The bullet hit a pane of glass in the cabin window, and there was a
jingle followed by a yell from Hans.

"Sthop dot! Ton't kill me! I ain't vos tone noddings alretty! Of you
schoot me again I vos haf you but in prison for a hundred years,
ain't it!"

"Are you hit, Hans?" questioned Dick, running to the German boy.

"Putty near, Dick. Dot pullet knocked owit der glass chust ven I vos
going to look owit!"

"They have hit on something!" came from Ha