"Right you are," came from Hamp Gouch. "As you say, it beats horse stealing."
"Have they got the money?" asked the other Kentuckian.
"They have a good deal more than that between them. The Rovers are very rich."
"But they are only friends?"
"More than that. Dick Rover is very sweet on Dora Stanhope, and Tom
Rover thinks the world of Nellie Laning."
"Then of course they'll help pay up—especially if they hear the girls are likely to suffer. We can write to 'em and say we'll starve the girls to death if the money don't come our way."
"Exactly. But we've got to find some place to hide first. We can't stay on the river any great length of time. They'll send word about the houseboat from one town to another and the authorities will be on the lookout for us."
"I know where you can take this houseboat," put in Hamp Gouch. "Up Shaggam Creek. There is a dandy hiding place there and nobody around but old Jake Shaggam, and we can easily 'buy him off, so as he won't open his mouth."
"How far is that creek from here?"
"About thirty-five miles."