THE ROVER BOYS Boxed Set: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward

to Mr. Rover brought a characteristic reply, running as follows:

       "I send you the money you want. Be careful and keep out of danger. Will come on by the first train."

       The message to Larry Colby brought that student up to Detroit oh the first train from Sandusky.

      "I know just the steam tug you want," said Larry, when the situation was explained. "It is run by old Jack Parsons, who knows my father well. I know he will do all he can for you, if he is paid for his time."

      Larry Colby undertook to hunt up the tug, which was named the Rocket, and found her tied tip at one of the city docks. He introduced Dick, and before the hour was out a bargain was struck with Jack Parsons which was satisfactory all around. Parsons knew Luke Peterson, and said he would be glad to have the lumberman along on the hunt.

      "He knows this lake as well as I do, and between us we ought to find the Peacock, sooner or later," said Parsons. He had heard about the raft disaster on Lake Erie, and was pleased to be able to inform Peterson that his friend Bragin was safe. The tug, however, which had been towing the raft, was laid up in Buffalo for repairs.

      At first Dick thought to remain in Detroit until his father's arrival, but then he realized that it would be best for one of them to remain on shore while the other went on the hunt on the lake.

      "We will sail at once," he said to his companions, but this could hot be, since Aleck had not yet provided all of the necessary provisions for the trip.

      While the colored man was completing his arrangements a newsboy came to Dick with a note, running as follows:

       "If you want news of the Peacock, and will promise not to harm me, come with the boy to the old grain elevator. The boy knows the place."

      Dick read the note with interest, and then showed it to Peterson.

      "Perhaps it's a trap," said the lumberman. "I wouldn't go alone, if I were you."

      "I will go," answered Dick, "but I wish you would follow me up on the quiet," and so it was arranged.

      When Dick reached the place mentioned he found it practically deserted.

      "Who gave you that note?" he asked of the newsboy.

      "A man. Here he comes, now."

      The newcomer proved to be a lame man, who had in former years been a sailor. He lived in a shanty behind the grain elevator, and he came to Dick with difficulty.

      "Come into my shanty and I'll tell you what I know," said the lame man. " I'll not hurt you, so don't be afraid," and he hobbled off again.

      Waving his hand to Peterson, who was in the distance, Dick followed the lame man and sat down on a bench in front of the shanty, the odd individual seating himself on a stool opposite.

      "Want to find Captain Gus Langless, eh?" said the lame man, closing one eye suggestively.

      "Yes."

      "I read of the case in the papers. He's a bad un, eh?"

      "What do you know of the case?" demanded Dick impatiently. He realized that he had a decidedly queer individual with whom to deal.

      "Know everything; yes, sir, everything. Jock Pelly don't keep his ears open for nothing, not me. An' I said to myself when I read the papers, 'Jock, you've learned something of value — you must sell the news,' says I to myself."

      "But what do you know?"

      "Gettin' to that, sir; gettin' there fast, too. Did you offer a reward of a hundred dollars?"

      "Yes."

      "Who's going to pay that amount? It's a pile of money, a hundred dollars is."

      "It will be paid, you can be easy on that point."

      "Well, supposin' a man is lame and can't go after those rascals? What does he git for puttin' somebody on the track?"

      "If you put me on the right track, I'll give you fifty dollars."

      "Dead certain?"

      "Yes. Now where has the Peacock gone to?"

      "Needle Point Island," was the abrupt answer. "Go there, an' you'll find the Peacock and her crew, sure."

      CHAPTER XVI

       OFF FOR NEEDLE POINT ISLAND

       Table of Contents

      "Needle Point Island?" repeated Dick.

      "Exactly, sir — Needle Point Island. Most of the lake pilots know it."

      "How far is it from here?"

      "About sixty miles."

      "And how do you know the Peacock has gone there?"

      "Overheard Captain Langless talking about it, yes, sir — overheard him talking to a man named Baxter and a man named Grimsby — he as used to be a smuggler. Langless used to be in with Grimsby, although few know o' that. They talked a lot, but that wouldn't interest you. But the fact that they are goin' to Needle Point Island interests you, eh?"

      "When did you hear this talk?"

      "The morning you escaped from the schooner, accordin' to the newspaper."

      "Where did you hear it?"

      "Up on the other side of the elevator. The men came out of one o' the saloons to talk it over."

      A long conversation followed, and Dick became more than half convinced that what Jock Pelly had to relate was true.

      The man described the Baxters clearly, showing that he had really seen the pair, and also described Captain Langless' appearance on the morning in question.

      "I will follow up this clew," Dick said, when ready to depart.

      Jock Pelly caught the youth by the arm.

      "Hold on!"

      "What do you want now?"

      "My reward. Don't I get that fifty dollars?"

      "You do, if I catch the captain and his schooner."

      "That aint fair — I ought to have the money now."

      "I must prove what you have told me first You may be all wrong in your suppositions."

      Jock Pelly's face fell.

      "'Taint fair — I ought to have the money now. Maybe you won't ever come back."

      "Don't alarm yourself, my man. If the information is of real value, you'll get paid for it. Here is something on account."

      Dick slipped a five-dollar bill into the old man's hand, at which Jock Pelly's face relaxed. A few minutes later the elder Rover had joined Luke Peterson and was telling the lumberman what he had heard.

      "Needle Point Island!" exclaimed Peterson. "Yes, I know the spot. Years ago it was a great hanging-out place for smugglers. But our government cleaned out the nest."

      "Then it is likely that this man told the truth?"

      "I don't know as Captain Langless could find a better hiding place. The island is in the shape of a five-leaf clover, and the bays are all surrounded with tall trees and bushes, so that a vessel could be hidden there without half trying. Besides that, the island is a rough one, full of caves and openings, and that would just suit a crowd holding those boys prisoners."

      When the pair reached the Rocket a consultation was held, and it was decided to start for Needle Point Island on the following morning. Jack Parsons said it would take from five to six hours to reach the locality.

      Now that Dick had received what he thought was definite information, he was anxious to go to the island that had been mentioned, consequently the night proved a long and sleepless one to him. He awaited further news from his father, but none