"We must be careful here," observed Tom, and just then sank up to
his ankles in water and mud. But the tramp could now be seen
heading directly for the river, and they continued to follow him.

They were still fifty yards from the shore when Sam uttered a cry
of dismay. "He's got a boat!"

"So he has. Stop there, you thief!"

"Stop yourself, or I'll shoot one of you!" growled the tramp, as
he leaped into a flat bottom craft moored beside a fallen tree.
He had no pistol, but thought he might scare the boys.

They came to a halt, and an instant later the flat-bottom craft
shot away from the river bank. By this time Dick came up, all out
of breath.

"So he has gotten away!" he cried in dismay.

"Yes," answered Sam, "but here is your pocketbook."

"And what of my watch -- the one father gave to me before he left
for Africa?"

"He's got that yet, I suppose," said Tom.

At this Dick gave a groan, for the watch was a fine gold one which
Mr. Rover had worn for years. Dick had begged for the timepiece,
and it had been entrusted to him at the last moment