"He's a bad egg, that Watermelon Pete," said the storekeeper in speaking of the affair. "I wish he'd leave this locality for good."
When the boys got back to the houseboat, they found the others hunting all over the Dora with lanterns.
"What are you looking for?" asked Tom.
"Grace thinks she saw a big negro come on board," answered Dick. "We are trying to root him out."
The houseboat was searched from end to end, but nothing could be discovered of any intruder.
"Must have sneaked off again," said Sam. "If he did, I hope he didn't steal anything."
"We'll keep our eyes open after this," said Captain Starr.
The night passed quietly enough, but, for some reason she could not explain, Grace awoke long before the others. She tried to go to sleep again, but, finding that a failure, dressed and went out on the deck.
She had been out only a few minutes, when, on walking past the dining-room window, she saw a sight that filled her with amazement. By the closet was a burly negro, filling a carpetbag with silverware!
"Oh!" she cried. "Stop that!"