“And run plump into King! Not for mine. You go! I’ll tell you where the house is, and you can go and bring them back.”
“If King hasn’t arrested them, perhaps I can,” Alex added. “He may have caught them, you know. Well, where do I go? I’ll make a bluff at finding the boys, and then we’ll go on up the river. Trouble is too thick down in this country! Show me where the house is.”
“You see that old tumble-down structure on the river bank, just a little below the city?” asked Don. “Well, that’s it.”
“What would they go there for?” demanded the other. “More mystery!”
“They will tell you that! Now, while you are gone, I’ll fry more cakes and get a good breakfast. I’m going up the Colorado with you, you know, and I may as well begin to make myself useful.”
“You say it well!” returned Alex, but he did not appear to be much annoyed at the thought of taking on this agreeable passenger.
Alex descended into the rowboat and cast off. Then he stood up, excitedly, and pointed to the old building Don had designated.
“What’s the matter with the old barn?” he called out. “Get the glass and look at it. It seems to me to be tumbling into the river.”
“It surely is!” Don cried, looking through the glass. “There’s been something exciting going on there, and the old house is sliding into the water. I guess I’d better go ashore with you!”
“No you don’t!” the boy answered. “You’re going to guard the boat while I find out about this. If King comes on board, set Teddy at him!”