Tramp_, while Josh got the mudhook
overboard.

"That's what is beginning to worry me," admitted Jack. "I knew you
couldn't outrun us here; but they had a great send-off. Of course
something happened. It always will with that cranky speed boat and the
big horsepower motor it carries."

"I warned George that sooner or later it would shake the plagued boat
to pieces," declared Herb. "Hope that didn't happen when they were
away out on that rearing, tearing flood, though. My gracious, how it
does rip along! Guess we could have made six or eight miles an hour
without using our engine."

It was then after three. Another hour passed and not a sign of the
absent boat could they discover. Several false alarms caused a thrill
to pass over the four boys; but night finally drew near without the
hoped-for arrival of the _Wireless_ manifesting itself.

And although they found a snug harbor in the mouth of the creek that
had proved so secure a refuge to the _Tramp_ on the preceding night,
none of the boys rested as well as they might. They were worried over
the strange absence of their two chums, and imagined all sorts of evils
as having overtaken the crew of the _Wireless_.

CHAPTER X.

IN A KENTUCKY COVE.

"Turn out, you sleepy heads! The sun's coming up!"

"That's Jack, of course," grumbled Josh, thrusting his tousled head out
from the curtains of the big launch, and digging his knuckles into his
eyes. "Say, have you been awake all night? Don't you ever sleep,
Jack?"

All were soon astir, and preparations made for a meal. Jimmie, of
course, was keenly awake to the fact that he could pick up a few points
by watching the boss cook of the entire outfit; and hence he turned his
eyes toward the _Comfort_ many times while busy with his own duties.

Jack and Herb took things easy, sitting in the bow of their respective
boats and swapping experiences. Of course both the others had been
deeply interested in the story about the descent of the police and the
daring escape of the mysterious boat manned by the two robbers. And
Herb never wearied asking questions concerning the thrilling events of
that night.

When breakfast was finally a thing of the past, both boats were started
out of the creek. Finding a good anchorage not far distant, they
settled down for a wait, the length of which no one could prophesy.

But Jack, after making preparations for an indefinite stay, electrified
the rest when he declared