The River Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence

last chapter were taking place in the forest. It is one thing to face a desperate situation in the company

derers in the forest. Then an unexpected visitor arrived.

e meeting with the steamer people, but it was his opinion that the canoeist was none other tha

ly has a well-developed nerve to come bac

and its occupant clambered alertly to the deck. Case stood for a moment regarding him w

doing here?"

rest you. I know you have good reason to doubt my friendship, but

pulse of the moment that the boy's information was more than l

e peninsula early this morning, were lured into a boat passing down a

ll this?" demanded

e was nothing else for me to do except to obey. I was not far from St. Luce yesterday when you boys went aboard the Sybil. The steamer touched at

e about my chums?" Case exclaimed. "You don't

I knew from the Captain's conversation that you were over here. Not long ago I came upon a boat leaving the

membered the treacherous act which had sent the disabled Rambler drifting

what your interest

you mean

you cut o

sually over the west bank of the strea

to do so," he s

u know that you might have been the cause of our death? Is everything you have told me

seemed that he was listening for s

"who it was that ordered you to cu

us and uneasy, and Case turned his own eyes towa

name of my employers,"

se. "Why did the men who ordered

w," was the

have destroyed the Rambler with a stick o

ommitted murder,"

to-day," Case said. "Who was it that

tell yo

e of your

was

whom you are acqu

im until to-da

to speak to you o

ys evidently under a restraint in a boa

hree men and three

mention an

re the sole occupants

hat the ma

mory a trifle. You saw Captain Joe and Teddy on board the Rambler the night you cut our cable.

e dog and the bear," Max insisted stubborn

ctly to the Rambler to

"Of course, I didn't know exactly where you were, but Captain Morgan said that when y

on his lips, "what do you expect me to do und

ould go down the river, and make your

asked Case. "Do they want the boys to come out of the forest a

t I say, and won't take advantage of the honest info

an untying the line which held his canoe to the Rambler. Cas

e not going to leave the Rambler until

intend to keep me pr

or I believe that as a prevaricator, you have Ananias backed off the board. I dislike to use the shorter and uglier

you keep me here," Max threatened. "You

d. "Have you got any weapons about yo

his head

"you would have known all about it the

oat without attempting to escape if

nothing!" was

ght," C

but in the end, Max was overcome and sto

ted vocabulary for words to express his feelings, Case went out to

here to induce me to take the

uld make their appearance. He disliked very much to take the Rambler away from the plac

there timid creatures of the jungle came out to the stream to drink and peer with questioning eyes at the stranger who had invaded their le

own, swing up to the other end of the peninsula and investigate the west stream. If the boys come back while I am g

by the outlaws. In that case, his first act ought to be to secure help. If he returned to the S

to popping and headed the Rambler down stream. The boat proceeded at full speed

se could see four men moving about in the cockpit at the rear of the little trunk cabin. He immed

e Rambler?"

answered Case. "Are

were told that you were here by Capta

ments two bright-looking young men ascended

this is my friend, Sam Howard. We were just going up the r

Case explained, certain that it was safe to t

rter. Captain Morgan, I am told, related the story to you. For myself, I have little faith in the quest, but father insists that I make a try t

of the lost charter and the mi

possibly in this country, but there is

wondering, too, if it would be safe for him to tell this youthful representative of the French family all that he knew of the

, "that you boys were placed in

is what you mean," Case replied, "and Capt

tes' are pirates only for the purpose of this occasion. We have alwa

hes?" Case asked, "or opposed onl

," he added. "At least, your inference is that those who are opposing us really know more about the

ty sought for is in this vicinity, their knowledge fails when they try to put their hand upon i

"In fact, father is positive that the search for the charter

seriously wounded. Our enemies are certainly becoming desperate, and if, as you say, your chums appear to be

n't get back there too quickly. Come over here and look through the cabin window," he cont

abin. Max was nowhere to be seen. He had disappeared as completely as if the hull of the Rambler had opened a

wer to Fontenelle's looks of inquiry, Case briefly told the story of

The chances are that they are still in the forest, pr

in the game before to-day. He is a wharf rat at Quebec, and is being used by t

the voice. It was Captain Joe, and he was deploring the absence of his floating home. Case smiled ha