"Mumps! You struck them, sure enough! But did they say anything about the girl?"

"The tall man said that he would see to it that she was there--whatever he meant by that."

"I can't say any more than you, Mr. Castor. But I guess they are going to carry Dora Stanhope through to Albany from all appearances."

"Then perhaps you had better follow."

"I'd go at once if I had the money that I have telegraphed for.

You see, my brothers and I came away in a hurry, for the Stanhopes are close friends of ours."

"Don't let the matter of money worry you. Do you know how much I have with me?

"I haven't the slightest idea, sir."

"Nearly eleven hundred dollars--and if those rascals had had the chance they would have robbed me of every dollar of it."

"I shouldn't think you would carry so much."

"I don't usually; but I was paid a large bill today, and went to the circus instead of the bank--not having seen such a show in years. But to come back to business. Will a hundred dollars see you through?"

"You mean to say you will loan me that much?"

"Perhaps I had better give it to you, as a reward for your services."

"I won't take it, for I don't want any reward. But I'll accept a loan, if you'll make it, and be very much obliged to you,"

continued d.i.c.k.

"All right, then, we'll call it a loan," concluded George Castor, and the transfer of the amount was made on the spot. Later on d.i.c.k insisted upon returning the money.

CHAPTER XVI

THE SEARCH FOR THE "FLYAWAY"

"Tom! Sam! Get up at once!"

"What's the row now, d.i.c.k?" came sleepily from Tom. "Have you discovered anything?"

"Yes! I've discovered a whole lot. Get up if you want to catch the next train."

"The next train for where?" demanded Tom, as he hopped out of bed.

"The next train for Albany."

"Have they taken Dora to Albany?" questioned Sam, as he too arose and began to don his garments.

"I think so," was the elder brother's reply, and while the pair dressed, d.i.c.k told of what had occurred and what he had heard.

"This is getting to be quite a chase," was Tom's remark. "But I reckon you are right, and we'll land on them in the capital."

"If we aren't too late," answered d.i.c.k.

"I'd like to know how they are going to take Dora to Albany if she doesn't want to go?" came from Tom, when they were dressed and on their way to the railroad station.

No one could answer this question. "Josiah Crabtree is a queer stick and can do lots of queer things," was what d.i.c.k said.

The train left at half past two in the morning, and they had not long to wait. Once on board, they proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as possible, each having a whole seat to himself, and Sam and Tom went to sleep without much trouble. But d.i.c.k was wide awake, wondering what would be the next move on reaching Albany.

"Poor Dora!" he murmured. "Oh, but that crowd shall be punished for this! If she comes to harm it will almost kill Mrs.

Stanhope." And his heart sank like a lump of lead as he thought of his dearest friend in the power of her unscrupulous enemies.

It was just getting daylight when the long train rolled into the s.p.a.cious depot at the state capital. Only a few working people and newsboys were stirring. Tom and Sam pulled themselves together with long yawns.

"Sleeping in a seat doesn't come up to a bed, by any means,"

remarked Tom. "Which way now?"

"We'll go down to the river and look for the _Flyaway_," answered his elder brother.

"It will be like looking for a needle in a hay-stack," said Sam.

"The boats are pretty thick here."

"That is true, but it is the best we can do," replied the elder Rover.

Once along the river front they began a careful inquiry concerning the boat of which they were in search.

"Not much progress," remarked Tom, after two hours had been spent in vain. "This climbing from one dock to the next is decidedly tiring."

"And I'm hungry," put in Sam. "I move we hunt up a restaurant."

An eating place was not far away, and, entering, they ordered a morning meal of ham and eggs, rolls, and hot coffee.

While they were eating a man came in and sat down close by them.

It was Martin Harris, the fellow who had come to their a.s.sistance after the collision between the _Spray_ and the _Falcon_.

"Hullo, how are you?" he said heartily. "Still cruising around in your yacht?"

"No, we just got back to Albany," replied d.i.c.k. "We've been to school since we left you."

"I see. How do you like going back to your studies?"

"We liked it well enough," put in Tom. "But we left in a hurry!"

he went on, thinking Martin Harris might give them some information. "Have you been out on the river yet this morning?"

"Yes; just came up from our place below to do a little trading."

"Did you see anything of a yacht called the _Flyaway_?"