"Not a bit," replied Dick. "He has given us the slip nicely."
The hunt continued until nightfall, and was kept up all of the next day. But it proved of no avail. Dan Baxter had left the vicinity of the lake entirely, and the Rover boys were destined not to see him again for many days to come.
The arrest of Josiah Crabtree had occurred on Friday. On Monday came a letter from Mr. Anderson Rover, stating that Alexander Pop would arrive in Cedarville on Tuesday and might remain at Mrs. Stanhope's cottage as long as the lady and the boys wished.
"I wish Aleck to be near you," wrote Mr. Rover. "It alarms me greatly to hear of the trouble that you are having. It seems to me that our family are bound to be in hot water all the time. I cannot understand Arnold Baxter. As he is in prison at Albany I do not see how he can trouble me, at least for the next few years.
"I have looked up that mining property in Colorado very carefully, and shall go out there as soon as the coming winter is at an end. Perhaps I will take one or all of you with me, but that will depend upon how good you do at your studies this winter. I shan't take anybody along that can't show a good report."
CHAPTER XI
BROUGHT TO TRIAL
"By jinks! we'll have to be on our good behavior," observed Tom, after he had read his father's letter.
"That's so," responded Sam. "Father means to have us study, or else we must stay here during the spring term."
As anticipated, Alexander Pop reached Cedarville Tuesday afternoon.
He came first to Putnam Hall, and was warmly received both by the
Rover boys and by the others who knew him as an old hand around the
Hall.