"How did the houseboat look?" asked Tom.
One of the officers of the law gave a brief description of the Dora and told what he could of Baxter and Flapp.
"It's our houseboat beyond a doubt," said Sam. "And those two fellows were Flapp and Baxter."
"Did you see anybody else on the houseboat?" questioned Dick.
"Not a soul. So the houseboat was stolen?" went on the police officer, curiously.
"Yes, and, worse than that, two girls have been abducted."
"Creation! That's serious."
"It will be serious for those rascals if we catch them!" muttered
Tom. "Where did the houseboat go to?"
"It was heading straight down the river when we saw it last."
"Then come!" cried Dick. "Let us go after the craft and lose no time."