Dave Brandon laid aside his gun. Such a sudden backdown came as a total surprise to him, and he rightly guessed that the two men were without weapons. Presently, he had the satisfaction of seeing the "Rambler's" nose turned toward the bank. The "Nimrod" followed.
The two men ran their boat diagonally across the river, shut off the power and allowed it to come to a stop where the limb of a great tree jutted out. By the aid of this, they quickly managed to reach the shore and disappear amidst the foliage.
The poet laureate, left alone, experienced a feeling of great triumph.
"Oh ho," he murmured; "Dave Brandon, you're a real little hero, aren't you?"
[CHAPTER XI]
DAVE COMES BACK
The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
"Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
"Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.