"Confound him," thought Dick. "Why doesn't he say something else? He is a regular automaton."
"By the way, captain," put in Tom, "have you noticed a stranger watching the Dora the last night or two?"
At this question Captain Starr leaped to his feet, allowing his corncob pipe to fall to the ground.
"What made you ask that question?" he demanded.
"We have an enemy, named Dan Baxter. We suspect he is following us and is spying on us."
"Yes, I have seen a young fellow around half a dozen times. In fact, I caught him on the houseboat once."
"You did!" cried Dick. "What was he doing?"
"Going through the stuff in the living room."
"What did you do to him?"
"I yelled at him, demanding to know what he wanted. As soon as he heard me he ran ashore and disappeared."