"We want to get another boat, if possible, and follow him. Do
you know where a boat can be had?"

"Yes; Ike Welby has a boat. His farm is the next one down from
mine. I'll go along. I want to catch him ez much as yeou do."

In a few minutes they were off in a body, all of the boys accompanying
the farmer to the next farm. Ike Welby was not at home, but his
wife said they could have the boat and welcome, and procured for
them two pairs of oars from the barn.

"I am glad that negro didn't come here," she declared. "I should
have fainted dead away, too, and he would have gotten everything
in the house. I trust you catch the rascal."

"We be a-goin' to try mighty hard," answered Simon Lundy.

There was a small boathouse at the end of the grounds and here
was a good round-bottomed boat built for speed as well as pleasure,
for in his younger days Ike Welby had been quite an oarsman and
had won more than one race. They ran the rowboat into the river,
and all jumped in. Then Snap shoved off, and all of the boys
got at the oars.

"Now, then, to make things hum!" said Shep. "We must try to spot
that nigger before he thinks of going ashore."