"All of which doesn't answer the question, What are we going to do?" said Sam.
"I wonder if I can charter a small tug or steamboat to go down the river after the houseboat," came from Dick.
"There isn't much to be had in the town," answered Fred Garrison.
"Still, we can try."
The Rovers with their friends returned to Shapette. Here they ran into the chief of police, who also acted as a sort of detective.
"Boat stolen! Is it possible!" burst out that official. "Never heard of such a thing befo', sah, never! I am sorry, sah, exceedingly sorry, sah! Have you any idea who is guilty, sah?"
"I have," answered Dick, and told what he knew.
"A bad man, sah, that Gasper Pold—ought to have been arrested long ago, sah, yes, sah. But nobody would make a complaint—all afraid of a shooting—very quick man to draw a pistol, yes, sah."
"That's interesting," said Tom. "He'll be a fine man to confront, if we catch up to him."
The chief of police said he would do anything he could, but in the end refused to leave Shapette, and so did nothing. The Rovers soon learned that all he was good for was to talk, and they left him in disgust.
"We must take this trail up ourselves," said Sam. "And the quicker the better."