The Hilltop Boys on the River

an must not escape!"

we've got to watch h

, seeing the man running toward the

that man!"

im!" ech

is man made directly for it, sprang in, started the engine in a few moments,

ready!" shouted Jack to young Smith whom he

ried the boy. "Do wh

boat, started the engine and set of

hesitate, relying on getting help to stop him before he had gone much farther,

e could; Jack realized that his boat was a good one, and would have some trouble

had not had a lead on me I would have been up to him by this time. I think I can beat hi

might get aid to stop the man even if he had no

ng mine in good shape. I could do better with her, but he is doing very well. I on

nce ahead to see if there was any one coming to whom he coul

is great annoyance he saw the man in hi

go now!" he muttered in disappoin

ntered the creek, having put on extra speed,

, and the runaway presently disappeared ar

f the man, but of his boat, tied up at

uefully, "and that is something I suppose. I wanted the m

and down the river, disappointed, of course, but, on the whol

s on his way back, the boys questio

get him

wn boat back anyhow.

ack?" asked Percival. "

t out of sight around a bend tied up my boat an

I hoped that yo

k all the more of his

s. "You made

hat he could get spee

etorted wi

race with Jesse W.

ake fun of his boat n

d and went back with him, "and now I suppose he will be h

ut Bucephalus looked after them, and the doctor readily

said Jack, "but I recovered m

why you were so anxious to apprehend the man. I was prepared to turn the watch over to him, b

to the Van der Donk house and see the nurse, as they m

eed to be careful how you proceed with that excitable creatur

earn anything. These foreigners are very excitable, especiall

the Van der Donk house, being met by Margaret

it does not look very tidy here you must excuse it.

cantly at Percival,

? She was

with the cleaning and dusting, to assist the cook, to look after thing

le do all th

been a difficult matter to keep them all contented and busy. Ga

now that she has

the fire, but we don't know. She has never gone away like this before, but I suppos

e without help at such a time

d Margaret hurriedly. "By the way,

er," said Jack. "It is a very handsome one, and

it myself. How could it have been here when

hat the man who stole it put it in Jack's pocket by m

if thieves were about they would try to pick up something when

a time there was a very pleasant conversation, but at last the old gentleman got upon the

up, "but we boys had very little sleep last night,

nd when once clear of the ho

his genealogy, although we could

to yawn, and I must confess t

girl, Jack," said Percival a little later. "Our plans o

as before regarding the real owner

like that,