ly to clear herself of the sunken tree trunk
with its immense limbs.

"Well, there is one thing to be thankful for," said Dick, as they
rested from their labors. "That trunk might have gone through our
sides or bottom and sunk us."

During the next hour two steamboats passed them, but not near enough
to be asked for help. They cleaned their lanterns and hung them high
up, so as to avoid a collision.

"It's queer that no craft came out to learn why the rockets were sent
up," said Dick.

"Perhaps they thought some celebration was going on," answered Harold
Bird.

"It's nearly two o'clock and I am dead tired," announced Tom. "Any
objections to my going to sleep?"

"Not if you can get to sleep," answered his older brother.

"Half of us might as well turn in, while the other half remain on
guard," said Sam, and so it was arranged. Two hours later the guard
was changed, so that all got some much-needed rest, although a sound
sleep was out of the question.

With the coming of morning the youths looked around eagerly for some
craft to give them assistance. Yet it was a good hour before a
steamboat came down the river and stopped at their call.

"What's wanted?"

"We want to be towed down the river," said Dick. "We'll pay you for
the job."

"Are you stuck?"

"Yes, but you can easily pull us back and out."

"Where do you want to go?"

Those on the houseboat had already talked the matter over and decided
to move on at least as far as Baraville, about twenty miles from New
Orleans. Dick had once heard Sack Todd speak of the place and knew
the man was acquainted there, and had also heard Solly Jackson say
he had once lived in that locality.

"I'll tow you to Baraville if you wish it," said the captain of the
small steamboat. "It will cost you ten dollars."

"All right, but get there as fast as you can," answered Dick. "We
are in a big hurry."

A line was thrown out and made fast, and in a few minutes the houseboat
was freed from the sunken tree. Then steamboat and houseboat swung
around and the journey to Baraville was begun. It did not take long,
and by half-past ten o'clock the _Dora_ was tied up at the town levee,
much to the astonishment of many colored folks who had never seen
such a craft.

The Rovers' first movement was to ask if the launch had stopped there,
and from a colored riverman they learned that the _Venus_ had come
in very early in the morning and had left again after those on board
had go